By Christie Doyin
I had said I was not going to join issues with this government or any politician for that matter over anything but unfolding events in the supposedly state of harmony, our State, Kwara, has reached such a level that I’m finding it difficult playing dumb.
As much as I would love to applaud the young political minded friends who day and night are fighting for the rejuvenation of the state of harmony, yet, I cannot but give a few knocks here and there and hope it won’t go down the wrong way.
Reason being that as often as some of them would want to agitate for good governance, yet their outbursts and limited reasoning when it comes to reacting or responding to issues shows how much their physic have been eroded with bias and intolerance, especially with use of abusive and curse words. Each time they have to respond to issues, what you get is hatred, uncouth and foul words that rather than help move the state forward, is rather taking it several steps backward. Really, this could be hard but then the truth must be said. I feel alarmed, yet sad that those whom we thought would be able to build or perhaps correct some anomalies are causing disunity and are actually responsible for acts that would further alienate those who are not inclined to tag along their lines of thoughts.
We all know that the history of mankind cannot be dissociated from the authoritative, dictatorship, impositions and powerlessness of some individuals in the entire large society.
A book, which title and author I forgot says, “the history of mankind is the history of the powerlessness of individuals, and of the rule of authoritities,the history of authoritative, imposed and therefore, alienated categories of values of the alienated activities and, consequently, of alienated knowledge.”
It went further to say that “if one thinks that the development of society has improved the situation today, one is wrong”. Nothing can be this right I assure you. Not when the whole issues seem to be in a kind of motionless movement.
What we have now is what the Yoruba say ” kaka ko san fun iya aje, o fi gbogbo omo re bi obinrin”. More like saying from fry pan to fire.
I can tell you that change of government or, and party in Kwara state has only brought in new forms of governance that hide the needs of the individual to take control of another individual. I wonder where it is said that two wrongs make a right.
When the Abdulrasaq Abdulrahman (AA) government started the issue of land revocation, property confiscation and the likes, I, just like every right thinking individuals know that what is at play is politics of vendetta, hatred and ‘game of run him down’.
For those in the know, the age long silent and ego war as well as the Lawal factor is what is playing out now. But then, apart from the Abdulrasaq/Saraki cold war that has spanned several years, I see no reason why the late former governor Mohammed Lawal supporters should be this bitter so much that they want anything Saraki’s history be removed in Kwara. What came to mind was that the first three years of governor Lawal was hinged on the ile Arugbo and Ile loke anchor. I mean the pre and post emergence of the late governor was from Ilofa road home of the Sarakis, which they are now clamouring should be alienated.
The fact is that while the younger ones among these agitators could not be entirely blamed for obvious reasons, what of the elderly ones who whether they want to face reality or not, started their political careers from Saraki’s Ile loke arena and if not, I can say that many of them became ‘made’ from there.
I wonder why those that had hunted with the hood are now racing with the deer and if they will, why then join in clubbing the hoods?
I want to assure all that if the drum is beaten too hard, the desirous melody will not be achieved because the drum will burst. The governor, speaker and every one on the two sides of the divide should tread gently. Peace and harmony, certainly could and would not be achieved in an atmosphere of rancor, anger, hatred and vindictiveness.
Vindictiveness and politics do not tally. No, not in the least, rather than trying to break and mar legacies of the Saraki dynasty, why not build a lasting legacy for your family and all kwarans? Many of those saying ‘what goes round, comes around’, seem not to know the import because when what goes round comes around, it does not stop there, it keeps going and coming around. Posterity is there to judge all and no one can fight it. Oga governor and oga speaker, please tread softly and do the right thing without bitterness and, or anger. My take is that old family feud and political scores should have been kept as that and not brought into governance.
Politics should be devoid of hatred and all bitterness. For certain, demolishing and trying to erase Saraki’s name or legacy is ill conceived and an effort in futility, because of what have happened, positions held and so on have, whether we like it or not become part of history for posterity. I sincerely disagree with anyone that felt the best option available to the governor was the demolition.
Those that have benefitted or suffered one wrong or the other as a result of what posterity will give birth to will never forget one way or the other. We are the past which is history, we are the present that is here with us but will still become history and honestly, we are the uncertain future, whether there or not that will certainly become history. I assure, it is a delicate matter that revolves not just around history but also have to do with our culture, when you consider reactions of the old people and emotions been exhibited for or against.
Governor Abdulrahman’s belligerence and vindictivenss is in this instance not hidden, I can tell you that Mallam Lukman Mustapha would probably not act in that wise for obvious reasons. And for those on the other side, I can assure you that the late Admiral that I know, in spite of all, Kay not succumb to this cheap act of vengeance. I remember during some of the interviews I had with him, he said he was Arole and akobi Saraki. He went further to tell me that he ‘owed the Sarakis one’. We’ll continue to watch as events unfold however, I believe that a reform could have been a better option to demolition of the structure or better still patience and diligence.
From unfolding events in Nigeria for instance, it is obvious that as leaders or better put, rulers advocate and pay lip service to democracy, they in reality avoid it because they never believe in democracy as it deprived them of their despotic tendencies.
Some of the feelers in town is that the Saraki ile arugbo was demolished so that the one organised by Governor Abdulrahman in Surulere area of Ilorin may thrive. Uhmmm.
Let’s look at this, when Governor Fayemi came in for second term, he was under intense pressure to probe his predecessor, Fayose, and “embarrass” him. His aides and political jobbers were outdoing themselves to impress on Fayemi on the need to “deal with Fayose”.
According to reports, the regular line of his aides are :If Fayose were to be in your position, he would do worse”. However, Fayemi was also reported to have always tell them that “I prefer to face front and look forward”.
I live that answer, “I prefer to face front and look forward”. That is just a little part of the story and stance of a progressive governor. I give it to him, it was a big pass mark for Fayemi.
Someone opined that “The fact that Abdulrasak is not fighting Ahmed, his immediate predecessor, but Saraki says it all”. I couldn’t but agree with him all through. Really, not that I want a fight between the present administration and the immediate past, which of course we all know is part and parcel of the Saraki’s administration he is fighting, not minding what the Saraki/Ahmed supporters are saying.
I think it’s about time AA have a rethink and stop this war that brings no one any good.
*Doyin, former Editor of National Pilot Newspaper writes via e-Mail:[email protected]
