I read the statement of the former Senator Adesoji Akanbi where he lamented what he perceived as the maltreatment of Oyo state by president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Soji Akanbi is the founder and coordinator of the Coalition Movement for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, (COMBAT), one of the support Groups that worked for the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as presidential candidate of the APC and later as president of Nigeria.
Soji Akanbi’s contribution to Tinubu’s aspirations is unflagging and not in doubts.
An analyst and Senior staff TV Continental, a Television station allegedly owned by Tinubu gave credence to the activities of Soji Akanbi and others in one of the Television’s programs, Journalists hangout some weeks ago.
Up until now, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu is yet to consider Akanbi for any position in his Government as a recognition of his hard work.
When I read his statements a couple of days ago, I had mixed feelings.
On the one hand, I genuinely pitied him because his frustrations are understandable.
Here is a man who threw everything he had in the ring to ensure the success of a Principal, who, having got the coveted price, now chose to overlook him in favour of others, who, apparently didn’t dedicate themselves to the aspirations of Tinubu as much as he did.
You can not pinch a child and expect him not to cry.
On the other hand, I felt that the predicaments of the former Senator and others like him are partially self inflicted.
What do I mean by that? It is obvious that they worked for a man they thought they knew very well.
Secondly, they were so carried away by the confidence of their perceived closeness to Tinubu to the extent that they allowed their emotions to take control of their conscience when they and them were dashing Oyo state away to Makinde and the PDP.
After all, we will be given something in Abuja, whatever happened to the party in Oyo state was not their headache they must have thought.
Unfortunately, it now obvious that to the Lions in Abuja, every other animal is supper.
When a meal was being made of the party in Oyo state, were they not the ones fetching the firewood?
All of them pounced on the party stucture in the state and tore it to pieces just because they didn’t like the faces of those in charge and because of the cocksuredness that Abuja will take care of them.
Sadly, they’re now realizing, albeit painfully that whatever they thought they knew about the president is just a make belief.
It must really be painful.
Something else caught my attention in the statement of Senator Soji Akanbi.
He drew attention to the fact that Oyo state gave Tinubu the highest surplus votes of 265,000, followed by Ondo state with 260,000 votes.
He is correct but isn’t it some coincidence that the man they and them villified and robbed of the Governorship in Oyo state scored exactly about that same 265,000 votes in the gubernatorial election three weeks after the presidential election?
Though, they have told a plethora of lies and half-truths about him, but they have never said he didn’t support Tinubu’s election.
If you pull out the number, 265,000 votes from president Tinubu’s votes in Oyo, then, perhaps, Atiku would have taken Oyo state and there wouldn’t have been nothing to brag about even by the Senator and others.
Yes. Tinubu have not been fair to Oyo state, no doubts. Most especially, to the APC.
Like Senator Akanbi said, only God knows what the president has against the state because this handshake is already going beyond the elbow.
If you look at how the president made appointments of the two key men in his Government, that is, the Chairman of FIRS and the Minister for Power, you will definitely be worried.
Zach Adelabu was rumored to have supported the Labour Party while Bayo Adelabu was still in the Accord Party when Tinubu appointed them into his Government.
The president have no regard for the party in Oyo state and have consistently shown disdain towards It.
The president’s kinsman in Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola has been compensated with a Ministerial appointment having lost in his bid to secure a second term in office as Governor of Osun state.
What has the president done to compensate the gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Oyo state, whose ambition was sacrificed for the president?
Nothing!
My advice for Senator Akanbi and others in his shoes is to see the maltreatment of the APC in Oyo state as a collective struggle.
One which everyone who has genuine concern must unite to fight.
I have no doubts that Senator Soji Akanbi does have genuine reasons to be annoyed just as the APC in Oyo state does have valid reasons to feel cheated.
Those in Abuja have shown that they enjoy fishing in troubled waters for their personal benefits.
Injustice to one is injustice to all.
The only way to tame the masters of divide and rule in Abuja is through a collective resolve.
The situation in Oyo state is very unpleasant.
It is a case of monkey dey work, baboon dey chop.
Those who did not suffer the scratches of the palm fruits are the ones enjoying the fresh red oil extracted from the palm fruits.
It is very very unfortunate but, I think there are lessons here for everyone to learn.
When you dig a grave for your enemy, do dig too deep. You might be the one to fall into it.
The chaos deliberately orchestrated by some stakeholders of the APC in Oyo state during the last general election is the root of all we are seeing now.
Fortunately, a man who brings an evil charm into his home with a long pole shouldn’t found it difficult to take it out with the same long pole as Chinua Achebe said.
It is those who sold their kinsmen for a token who must find whatever it will cost to bring the kinsmen back home.
I think it is the likes of Senator Soji Akanbi, who, I think should still have their ways to whisper to the ears of people who could whisper to the ears of the president, who should call the attention of the president to the plight of the APC in Oyo state.
It is not too late.
Eng. Oluwasina Adeyemi.
