From army barracks to political powerbroker: Amazing story of Hon Ayodele Olugbenga

The Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress yesterday appointed Hon Ayodele Olugbenga as the Grassroots Mobilization Director of the party.

The appointment did not come as a surprise to those who knew the absolute devotion of Hon. Olugbenga to the success of the political party he joined after retiring from the Nigerian army.

After Hon Olugbenga retired from the Nigerian army in 2011, little did one know that his charitable activities, large donations to developmental projects in different communities in Ekiti State, provision of money to individuals with diverse problems, and even establishing a soup kitchen in his community, Ijesha-Isu, where indigenes of the community, including those from neighbouring communities and villages enjoyed free meals, were all scheme to endear himself to the people of Ekiti State, preparatory for a life in the murky waters of Nigerian politics.

Today, Hon. Olugbenga’s wealth and schemes have earned him one of the most enviable positions in any political party in Nigeria.

With Hon Olugbenga’s tainted and controversial record in public service, he is indeed a lucky man. From being fingered as one of the army officers complicit in the poisoning and subsequent death in military custody of Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election, and his arrest, detention and release for lack of evidence for masterminding the extra-judicial killing of some Hausas during the Zango Kataf uprising in 1992, which stood out as two of the high profile indictments among sundry human rights abuses which he was alleged to have committed during his time in the Nigerian army, one would have thought that joining partisan politics would afford him another opportunity to cut a positive image for himself.

Unfortunately, like the proverbial tortoise whose name features in practically all the fables and stories told to children, Hon Olugbenga is in the limelight again after a crowded and eventful life in the Nigerian army.

Having been instrumental in ensuring the success of the party in local elections in Ekiti State through what many described as “unholy means,” the appointment of Hon Olugbenga is seen as the All Progressives Party’s way of rewarding him for allegedly using his wealth to financially induce voters and directing hoodlums loyal to him to carry out sundry acts of violence including beating, maiming, and inflicting injuries on members of opposition political parties.

Hon Olugbenga is also alleged to have used these hoodlums to carry out massive rigging, falsification and destruction of election results and materials that occurred in the state.

Despite the unsavoury circumstances that surround this appointment, congratulations are not out of place for the retired general.