Governor Makinde decided to give approval for the Installation and presentation of the Staff of offices to some Obas in Oyo state this week.
The trio of the Alaawe of Aawe town, The Onifiditi of Fiditi and the Elempe of Tapa got reprieve from the Emperor.
Sadly, Governor Makinde still keep the world guessing about the stool of the Olubadan.
Neither did he think it is time for him to allow the ancient town of Oyo have the Alaafin.
Governor Makinde must be enjoying the spectacle. The privilege to tell everyone that he is in charge.
Unfortunately for the Governor, it is only him, his Olentelafas and perhaps, a small number of accomplices who found the present show of shame funny.
To a larger percentage of the people, the Governor, in the present circumstance, is like the myopic king in a particular story, who wish to be acclaimed as one who did things never done by anyone.
In the end, the king was led to dance naked at the market place by a cunning man, who leveraged on the king’s folly and vanity.
The cunning fellow told the king that he had made for him an invisible regalia which no ordinary eyes can see.
He made the king to be derobed and by gestures, pretended to hand over the invisible regalia to him. He thereafter made the king to wear the invisible regalia through gestures.
Having succeeded in doing that, he led the king to the market square where the idiot was made to dance naked while he thought he was putting on such wonderful robes that no one has ever and will ever put on!
I love the Yoruba race. They have analogies, proverbs and wise sayings that fit into all circumstances.
Yorubas will say, ” a ki nda mase lekun”. When a man chose to embark on a perilous journey, no need to discourage him.
While ruminating about this very sad situation, a lot of analogies readily came to mind.
I remember the misguided young man of whom Chief Ebenezer Obey sang about.
The fellow, having made too much money, decided to do what no one had ever done and for the purpose, he ordered his father to be the drum beater while he danced on a horse.
Those who are familiar with that lyrics know how the foolish young man ended up.
I know that we were taught , as Yorubas, growing up, never to point at our father’s house with our left hand.
When the Elders told us that, the message they were passing across was to warn us off actions that could bring shame and dishonor to our father’s house.
I know we were warned to treat Elders well so that we would have the grace to live long.
Hmmmm… and I remember that very powerful warning statement, ” ohun to ntan ni eegun odun…”. The Egungun festivities doesn’t last forever.
It is a general belief that power is transient.
I do not think Governor Makinde believes in that statement.
It does look like the Governor have mastered a secret that will keep him in power forever.
Unfortunately for the Governor, power is like a grain of sands. The tighter you hold onto it, the more it falls from your grip.
He has been holding on to the stool of the Alaafin of Oyo for more than two years now.
He has held on to the stool of the Olubadan for more than ever witnessed , if I’m not mistaken.
We have been told that he had approved the nomination of the Olubadan.
However, it does look like the Governor have decided to be writing the conveyance of approval a letter word per day.
Or, how would you explain the statement made by his erstwhile Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy affairs that the Governor had actually approved the nomination since June 14 and yet, no date have since been announced for the presentation of the Staff and Instruments of office to the Olubadan?
There is an Ostrich game going on here and it’s no longer funny.
In fact, it is embarrassing.
There is a cloth made with the gaze of the eyes. ” Aso oju”.
When Yorubas clothe you with such clothes, then you have to watch yourself. ” E je ka daso oju fun”.
I had once opined that Governor Makinde was embarrassing Ibadan with the hide and seek game he has been playing with the Ibadan stool but I think, at this point, he is seriously embarrassing himself.
” To ba buru tan, Iwo nikan ni o ku”. When repercussions come, as it is certain to do, no one will share the consequences with the Governor.
I am certain that the Governor’s actions is no longer amusing, even to his admirers.
No matter what Governor Makinde does, moving forward from here will no longer attract accolades.
” Ohun a se niyi naa la nse te”. It is usually the same action that attracts praises that also attracts condemnations if not well managed.
Governor Makinde has rolled for too long in the grass. If he’s not ashamed, he ought to have itchy skin.
His actions are fast becoming comparable to that of the proverbial ” Omoye” who had entered the market naked before those who wished to clothe her arrived with some clothes.
” Aso o ba Omoye mo, Omoye ti rin ihoho woja”.
Whoever is telling the Governor that these actions will not attract consequences is not his friend.
If he is the one who convinced himself that the present route is the right one to choose, then he is his own greatest enemy.
You can not, with your bare feet step on thorns and expect not to be pricked.
There will be consequences for this wicked actions.
People’s emotions, aspirations and expectations are being toyed with and trampled upon and wickedly so.
How will there not be retributions?
Definitely, there will be retributions from Man and God.
When the consequences for this indescretions visit, I will say I said so.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
