Canonising Elujoba

SOMETHING unNigerian, unstudent and unGreatIfe (permit my neologism liberty) is manifesting in the alleged corruption trial of the immediate past Acting Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Professor Anthony Elujoba, by EFCC. I should know because I’m an alumnus. Even men, who had led the institution in various capacity, including past vice-chancellors, who the society would still consider decent and above board, had been thoroughly messed up in the past, whenever the spirit of Aluta descended on the ever-volatile student community. For mere suspicion that facility meltdown was occasioned by unproven mismanagement of fund, past VCs, at different phases in the life of the Ivory Tower, had their manliness reduced, personality molested and even physically assaulted. A particular one was brought to the notoriously-historic Amphi-Theatre almost naked. All leaders were taken to be thieves and maybe apart from Professor Wande Abimbola (the fabled Ifa man), nearly everyone in recent time, got crooks’ treatment, when nothing was proved against them and there was no indictment whatsoever by any constituted authorities. The Aluta-possessed students were the investigators and jury, convicting and punishing as desired.

Fast forward to a rescuer. Elujoba was a popular fill-in choice during the interregnum, occasioned by succession crisis in the school. His tenure was brief and well-applauded. Then the EFCC bang. What was supposed to be a joke-taken-too-far got him into detention and in an unprecedented scenario, the entire university community, including the usually-emotive and irrational (no disrespect meant) students raised a defence for him, shouting his innocence from the rooftop and going the Aluta way to tell both the judiciary and EFCC that Elujoba isn’t a thief. In a nation, where mob mentality now reigns supreme and anyone accused of corruption is deemed guilty until proven otherwise, Elujoba is enjoying an uncommon favour, considering his main defence bulwarks are students and Great Ifes for that matter! Regardless of how his trial ends and whatever he is passing through and will still endure in the course of this extraordinary journey, he should always count himself among those with inexplicable grace. While it may not be out of this world for the teaching and non-teaching staff to support one of their own, it is a rarity to have the students completely aligning with the staff, without resorting to the usual “na dem dem, dem dey chop together”. And to think, Elujoba’s alleged accomplice, the former bursar, Ronke Akeredolu, didn’t enjoy same confidence from the students.

It is tempting asking the law court to take its cue from the public opinion court and acquit the embattled academic. It also seems an easy task to tell EFCC to stop the “falana” (Yoruba’s way of condemning interlopers) intervention. Funny enough, that was the rebuke Femi Falana SAN, got from a judge when he sued the National Assembly over the budget row with the Presidency. Some names indeed.

Well, the entire OAU community says its money isn’t missing. EFCC says N1.4b is missing. Who does one believe between the owner and an interloper? But EFCC isn’t just an ordinarily “falana”. It is empowered to poke-nose. While it is more convenient to side with the Elujoba crowd, the anti-corruption body should be allowed to do its job. If the Aluta was to showcase Elujoba’s integrity, harassing the court and intimidating the trial judge, would be an exact opposite of the Elujoba being sold to us.

When you have a confirmed unbreakable, you don’t get so worried when tested with a bang. Trying to shield their hero from trial could be interpreted as a titanic struggle not to expose his soft underbelly. If every side to him is rock-solid, EFCC should be given a lifetime to test this OAU-Job. The result would be predictable, that is, if his proverbial head didn’t shake at all while in charge, which conventional wisdom says it is not possible. Allowing a smooth running of the on-going trial is the first right step to his canonization. The final sainthood rituals can now begin when he is discharged and acquitted by a court of law. Forcing the hand of the trial through Aluta will be an eternal stain on this uncommon hero. Any cymbal brought out to celebrate such forced freedom, can only produce a dirge, mourning a deconstruction not needed.

Osunmesi

I congratulate Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun for being sportsmanly in defeat and not looking for excuses to explain away, why one-third of the state thinks he isn’t doing a good job. Considering the quantum of affection the same Osun West Senatorial District has shown him in past electoral contests, even more than his Osun East base, he should understandably be in pains. The trouncing his party received in the hands of Senator Iyiola Omisore-led coalition is not a desirable epilogue to a gubernatorial journey. Analysts have ascribed the defeat of APC to tons of reasons. Social media wild owanbe celebrating the 9-1 wallop and comments from emergency political scientists should form a compendium. But as long as hunger remains the central theme in governance discourse in the state, future electoral outcomes will produce worse heartaches. Change in style, attitude and policies are being advocated and expected aftermath the defeat, but is it not a little too late? The preponderance of opinions is that the traumatized people are past caring. The desire for something new is palpable and not expected from Aregbesola’s team. In a kind of telepathy, the people of the state seem to have found a collective antidote to Aregbemania and they are bellowing their “solution” loud and clear. What can Ogbeni do now?