Ajimobi’s beer parlour gist (I)

“THIS man sha, he would always get himself embroiled in controversy”.

“Who is that?”, Kolawole asked his friend, Aremu.

“It is this Governor of ours o. I mean Ajimobi, Mr Ajimotokan”.

“What has he done again?”,Kolawole inquired.

“It is this controversial chieftaincy review matter of his that has caused wahala. What he must have thought to be a walk-over has now been giving him sleepless nights”, replied Aremu

“Sleepless nights? Do you think the review wasn’t well thought out before venturing into it? Remember, it is typical of people to resist change. In fact, every new concept of his has been resisted since 2011, including “No Street Trading”, “Environmental Beautification”, “New Education Policy of Participatory Management and No Automatic Promotion”. The man is a man of vision, a change agent. There are no gains without pain, and no one makes an omelette without breaking eggs. If you want to effect any positive change in life, you must be ready to endure some hardships,” Kolawole explained.

“What is the meaning of this esoteric allusion you are making? The issue is that the man has caused controversy in Ibadanland. The age-long and enviable tradition of peaceful ascension to the throne of Olubadan of Ibadan has now been desecrated,” insisted Aremu.

“Desecrated, did I hear you say? What tradition has Governor Ajimobi desecrated?”Kolawole asked.

“When has it happened before that you will have any oba in Ibadan wearing beaded crown except Olubadan? Would the 21 certificated obas that the governor just installed be willing to prostrate for Olubadan? Where have you seen an oba prostrating for another oba? And if those obas with crowns and coronets refuse to prostrate for Olubadan, would that not amount to desecration of our tradition?”Aremu asked.

“The most cherished thing is the succession and ascendancy to the Olubadan stool and the review has not changed it in any way form or shape. Meanwhile, respect is not only demonstrated in prostrating ke! After all, I was at the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan recently where the high chiefs newly crowned as obas, paid obeisance to the Olubadan, the Imperial Majesty. Baba was still accorded his respect by sitting on the raised platform with the Alaafin, Iku Baba Yeye while others sat below. The gazette is unambiguous about disrespect for the Olubadan. While the Olubadan is the imperial majesty, the high chiefs are royal majesties and the elevated Baales are addressed as royal highnesses. There is no controversy over that.

“Aside that, why should we remain static in our traditional observance? The world is changing fast, and the dynamics are those that would not be confined to the dustbin of history. Aside Ibadan, where in the whole of Yorubaland would you see a king like Olubadan going to any public function without a retinue of other obas accompanying him? See the Alaafin of Oyo; Oba Akiolu of Lagos; Oba Adeyeye (the Ooni of Ife); Alake of Egbaland in Ogun State. These are paramount rulers who have lesser obas that accompany them and add glamour and glitz to their royalty at every public function.

“Aside this, nothing changes in the status of the Olubadan. The crowned high chiefs still maintain their ascendancy status according to the Olubadan chieftaincy line. The only difference is the added appellation and fashion of crown wearing which does not even rival that of Olubadan. Mind you, if the Ooni does not even wear a crown to any occasion, does that detract from his recognition as the Imperial Oonirisa? No. Nobody and nothing compares to the Olubadan as the Alayeluwa of Ibadanland. And also remember that the title Olubadan is not borne by any other person except Oba SaliuAdetunji, the Aje Ogungunniso I. Apart from that, the suffix ‘land’ is not added to the titles of other obas. I think the Governor is in order here.

“But for some elements that have politicised the government policy, and negatively influenced the Olubadan, do you know that our Baba initially agreed to the government proposal to review the law? Governor Ajimobi met with him and the Olubadan-in-Council members in the Governor’s office severally. At some point he agreed but later changed his mind. Apart from one of the 11 high chiefs in the Olubadan-in-Council, who is still dissenting, all others supported the governor’s action. Even the Ibadan Elders Forum and the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) endorsed the review of the chieftaincy law. These are people who want positive changes in their environment. Truly, it is not about the man but about the elevation of the status of the stool.

“Have you even ever averted your mind to many other benefits this new arrangement is capable of bringing to Ibadanland? For example, reduction of the rungs of the ladder that any Olubadan would have climbed and the number of years it takes them to get there. Many who started as Mogaji, climbed the ladder for several years and at last die before getting to the position of Otun Olubadan or Balogun Olubadan. Instead of spending about 40 years on the ladder, with Ibadan producing octogenarians and nonagenarians as Olubadan, younger Olubadans would soon emerge few years to come. This will be made possible by the reduction from 23 and 22 rungs to 13 and 12 on either lines. Not too long, Ibadan will soon be having Olubadans of the energetic, youthful, exposed, and vivacious status like the present Ooni of Ife.

“And remember, what Ajimobi has done is not new. Some other past administrations tried it, only their efforts could not transform to implementation like this one which the builder of modern Oyo State has done. And if you may care to know…”.

“Ok. That is all right”, Aremu interjected. “I’m not convinced. Can’t you see that many traders are now suffering because of the fact that they have been chased away from their shops by Ajimobi’s hyenas?”

“Did you say they were chased away from their shops or away from the streets?”

“Whatever! Why would any governor take away people’s sources of living only because he wants to beautify the streets? Was that not how his own parents got money to send him to go and school abroad?”Aremu said.

“Hm…, don’t be sentimental or be guilty of argumentum ad hominem,” said Kolawole. His father was a tailor and we didn’t hear the man, when alive, was displaying his wares on the street. And even if any of his parents did, must we continue to do what is retrogressive? Have you forgotten in a hurry how some people were run over, I think, at the Oja’Ba Market one night when a vehicle driver lost control? What of the Apata ugly incident where an electric wire from high tension poles cut and dropped on some women, killing them? You may even say that Ajimobi was wicked for ordering traders not to sell their wares under high tension cables and that stalls or shops directly erected under such cables must be removed. Is that not for their safety? If any of the past victims of such electrocution at Apata had been your relation, would you be saying the same thing now? I imagine what the essence of government is, that does not protect the lives of its citizens?

Also Read: Ibadan Obaship: Those who condemn me, will praise me afterwards ―Ajimobi

“And didn’t the government build neighbourhood stalls as an alternative, free of charge for the traders? Are you not aware of that, for example, at Scout Camp area of Challenge? What else is expected of Koseleri, OmoAjimobi than that? Abeegi, talk another thing. Your accusation holds no water,” Kolawole said dismissively.

“Na you sabe. Bootlicker!

“This is not a case of being sycophantic. I don’t support anything for the sake of it. I’m pragmatic, and I am bold to tell you that modernisation has been brought to the whole system by Ajimobi. A drive through some streets of Ibadan in the evening few years past would make you appreciate what I am saying regarding defacing of our environment. Many streets would be so clogged that hardly would a vehicle be able to snake through the horde of traders displaying their wares on the road without the shout of ‘Maawooja mi o!” (Watch my wares and don’t step your vehicle on it) being heard”, Kolawole explained.

“Your mouth is sweet. It sounds to me you have eaten dodo (plantain), and so cannot speak the real truth again. If you are defending Ajimobi as much as this, don’t you still see it as a mark of wickedness the way he has sacked some workers in the last few months, just on flimsy excuses?” Aremu asked.

“Ah! Na wah for you o”, Kolawole responded. “But why don’t you try to investigate issues before jumping to conclusion? Are you aware that series of discoveries of cases of multiple salary payments into single accounts or to single names, as well as revelation of employees who have passed retirement age still drawing salaries, were unearthed by the consultant that handled the audit?  Are you aware that many fraudulent cases were exposed through invalid BVN, invalid bank accounts and name details, as well as mismatch of names? These set of people caught in the web totalled 16,532, out of the 100,259 workers verified. I can authoritatively tell you that many of those who have cleared themselves have been re-absorbed by the government. What would you say of those that took to their heels immediately they were exposed, to avoid investigations and being brought to book?

“I know of some primary school teachers who obtained their NCE certificates through fraudulent means from a College of Education in another South-West state. The rogue who connived with those teachers collected N30,000 for each of the certificates which he forged for them. Many of these people had failed some of their sandwich courses and instead of re-sitting, took such short cut. Some of them could not go to the School to validate the certificates. Is that not a confirmation of the fact that the verification exercise was not a witch-hunt? It has been disclosed according to records from the government that the exercise has reduced the state’s huge monthly wage bill. So, what else does your Thomas want to tell me?” Kolawole queried sarcastically.

“Hm…, Na wah o!” said Aremu.

• Olowolagba sent in this article from Ibadan.