In Ancient Rome, the noble ruling class had a strategy for taming the masses whenever they were agitated.
The masses who were always common people were referred to as the mob by the ruling class who were referred to as Nobles.
Any time there were agitations and discontents within the common men against the Nobles, some days of games were quickly announced, during which time, free food and drinks were given to the common men.
The only popular game that served the purpose of distracting the masses of Ancient Rome was a fight to the death between gladiators ( slaves turned professional entertainment fighters).
Such games were usually organized in the Arena if it was in the outer provinces or in the Colosseum if it was in the Capital.
The Colosseum was a magnificent structure, built almost exactly like the modern day Stadium.
These games surely always served purposes.
By the time it was ended, the masses always forgot their angers against their oppressors.
Those in positions of authority in our societies have surely mastered the secret of the Ancient Roman Noble men.
I have been thinking about the logic behind the decision of Governor Makinde’s spokespersons to avoid the opportunity provided for them by some Radio stations to set the records straight.
Several Radio stations had in the past few weeks provided the platforms for us to discuss and debate issues so as to give the public the opportunity to determine who, between us is saying the truth but the Governor’s spokespersons avoided a direct confrontation with me, even though I was ready and available at every opportunity provided.
Interestingly, the same individuals who could not appear on a Radio interview always make periodic toxic press releases on online Media where they resort to name callings.
I am sure that the fear of being exposed for their emptiness is a factor for their deliberate act of avoiding me and the fact that they are waiting for something to mature. I will come to that later.
I must say that they have a comfort zone where they are sure of safety and cover for their ineptitudes and they are always a free bird once they appear on the said platform.
You will marvel at the eloquence of Olanrewaju each time he gets to go mesmerized the public on the particular platform in reference.
I am sure that will be the platform where the silence will be broken and it will happen very shortly.
Don’t be surprised if the Emperor himself appears in his majestic carpet or if the Chief Press Secretary appears and the Emperor calls in to make some costly jokes during the pre arranged theatrics.
It has happened many times in the past. The floor belongs to the Emperor. The ground is adequately wet for a sweet reception always.
The Government of Oyo state is presently planning to employ teachers, non teaching staffs and health workers.
Immediately the employment is done and dusted, they will find their voices and they will break the silence.
That will be an appropriate time for the Emperor and his lickspittles to come all out and descend on their ” detractors”, ” Beelzebubs” and the ” Masqurades”.
Their paid Media are waiting with anxiety for the day.
Certainly, the purses will get fat. They will attempt to distract the public by praising the Emperor to the highest heavens.
They will do it to the extent that some unsuspecting members of the public would forget that employment in the civil service never ceased to happen across different Governments and that the civil service did not begin with the Emperor.
Some who were appointed as Teachers and none Teaching staffs by Ladoja may even be carried away that they will forget when and who appointed them.
Some, who were appointed as Health workers during Akala’s period would listen to the lyrics of the praise singers and forget where they were coming from.
Some will forget that Akala established the Oyo state College of Agric from the scratch, provided infrastructures and employed the staffs.
They will forget that Ajimobi brought the Technical University and citizens of Oyo state were employed as staffs.
They will forget that though, the Emperor completed the final stages of the takeover of LAUTECH, whereas ,Akala committed a great deal of resources on Infrastructures and manpower.
What can’t we forget?
Governor Makinde is very good at distorting facts. I recollect that his praise singers always referred to him as the one who brought the idea of the Parks Management System into being and that other states were copying him.
That is a lie from the pit of hell. Alao Akala, it was, in 2014, who, having proscribed the activities of the NURTW, introduced the PMS system.
Those who served in Akala’s Government and who are also serving in Makinde’s government should be living witnesses.
So, Makinde copied Akala’s template, though, he made a mess of the template by completely taking over the responsibilities of the Parks from the Local Governments.
Akala respected the Constitution by allowing the Local Governments to manage the activities of the PMS.
I will clap for the Emperor because any time jobs are provided, it is always something to commend.
Unfortunately, I will not be carried away. I will not be distracted.
I will do my duty as a citizen of the state by taking him back to the unanswered questions about the debts profile of the state.
I will continue to demand for answers about the Eruwa Farm Settlement and the Ido/Eruwa road rehabilitation.
I will remind the Governor to provide answers on Auxiliary and his trial that has suddenly gone cold and how his innocence or otherwise could not be decided on just one murder allegation.
I will continue to demand answers from Governor Makinde on his Agri-business ventures which to me and many is misconceived and I will demand from him why he thinks whatever he is doing in Fashola is better than what his brother Governors in Ogun and Lagos states have been doing with direct investments in Agriculture.
I will ask him to address the issues of Agbowo shopping complex and the Light Up Oyo which he himself, through Wasiu Olatunbosun admitted has failed and what has become of the inquiry into the activities of the contractor.
I will demand answers from him about when last he released monthly grants he promised to the public primary and secondary schools and how many months he is owing.
I will ask him about the alleged Loan he took using the Local Governments account as collateral.
I will be pleased to hear him explain how much of the N15 billion invested on the motor parks have been repaid.
I won’t forget to ask the Governor to come out and tell us the details of the agreements he entered with Public Private Partners on different projects.
Of course, I will not forget to demand for the outcome of his investigations into the exercise books contract he awarded to a popular Broadcaster ally of his.
It will be interesting to know from which purse, the money he used to buy exotic cars for some persons who are not holding any known Government offices came from and he has to provide proof so that the public can scrutinize.
This are questions Governor Makinde must provide answers to and we would not be swayed, no matter what.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
