Our Man of the Year 2016

I will not want to vote this column’s “Man\Woman of the Year 2016” alone; I love to throw it open and allow my readers have a say. Indeed, I would rather have you lead the way. If the mavericks and hawks are smiling home with the coveted prize on the international scene, what is our take on the home front? Feel free to send in your choice, stating reason(s). Remain blessed!

Pardon me that I have to publish more reactions on Aketi this Sunday, even after I had thought I would not. Some highly-respected persons who wanted to be heard on the subject-matter swayed me; one of them being Ranti Ajeleti. Ranti must be my senior in age but we were employed same day in October 1985 at the now defunct Sketch Newspapers, Ibadan; I as a rookie fresh from the M. Sc. class at the University of Ibadan but himself with cognate experience in the profession. I owe him the duty to be heard, especially as he was such a pleasant colleague.

Another “must to be honoured” personality is elder citizen Yacoob Abiodun. His letter to me speaks for itself: “Dear Bola, before you go to press to publish the next batch of readers’ reactions, please I stand to be counted as part of the Vox Populi. Immediately I read the article online, I wrote my own reaction at the end of the piece under the readers’ column online. I crave your indulgence to refer to my online comment and consider its inclusion in the next batch you promised to publish next Sunday. I look forward to it. I read your column every Sunday like Christians read the bible! I want to refresh your memory about my humble self. I was one of the contributors to the book you published about Buba Marwa’s years in Lagos as Military Governor. I wrote the piece on housing in Lagos State. Tpl Moses Ogunleye and others were among the contributors. Unfortunately, due to inexplicable reasons, the book was published but not launched as you had wished and planned then. Although we have never met one-on-one since then, I constantly read your column for delight and to be abreast on burning national issues, which you often write about. May your ink never dry and I wish you more wisdom to your literary wisdom!” More importantly, all the views expressed on this subject-matter have been useful to both sides of the argument.

“The problem with most politicians in Yorubaland is that they are easily carried away by the aura of office, forgetting that “odo to gbagbe orisun re, gbigbe ni yoo gbe” (a stream that forgets or neglects its source will automatically dry off). You cited many examples which are not strange or new to our politicians. Nevertheless,”aja ti yoo sonu kii gbo fere olode “(a dog that is destined to get lost will not listen to the whistle of the hunter). Those who think their political appointments will last forever should have a rethink that “a kii tori pe a nlo Ede ki a ba eede je, tori ti a ba ti Ede de, eede la nbo”(Don’t destroy your base because you are going on a trip because you will eventually return to base). Your historical reference to the dog-eats-dog approach to politics in Yoruba land is not only apt but also instructive. Akeredolu equally needs to learn from Gov. Segun Mimiko, the man he is about to succeed. To the best of my knowledge, Mimiko can hardly be faulted in the area of respect for elders, at least in public. Hardly can anyone accuse him of verbal attack on elders. Even when ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo verbally abused him openly, he was evasive in responding .Such is one of the attributes of a Yoruba man with traditional wisdom of an “Omoluwabi”. Aketi, rora; ile n yo (Aketi tread softly, the ground is slippery) – Odedokun Adeyemi.

“A good piece but in the realm of philosophy you would have been found guilty of “hasty       generalisation.”  Your conclusion on Aketi was based on only one un-verified premise. The alleged offensive statement was made shortly after he was declared the winner of the hard-fought election; between me and you, victory could have gone anywhere. On this statement, Aketi was in a euphoric mood; just alighting from the soapbox. As an experienced reporter you must distinguish between soapbox oratory and lecture room speech. A few days ago he met with the outgoing Governor Olusegun Mimiko on the handover process; he paid glowing tributes to Mimiko. He said that he would build on Mimiko’s “achievements”.  This is the same Mimiko that Aketi took to the cleaners during the campaign. My fear is that of “bad media” for Aketi; According to you, some journalists are already complaining of Aketi being temperamental, arrogant/pompous; No. Aketi works on conviction, on principles but he is freely disposed to a better argument on the means to achieve such a target without necessarily changing his principles.  I can assure you that Aketi is going to have a bad media because he does not believe in calling a white object black just to have his way. Those who invested in his Governorship who thinks that they could make profit from their investment are going to lick their wounds. I can see Aketi in the mould of Ajasin who would not spend a kobo of Security vote; Ajasin said, “the Army is there, the police is there; what security vote are you talking about?” If Aketi plays it the Ajasin way, which he is likely to do; today’s military, Policemen, and DSS would ensure there is day-light robbery, day-light kidnapping, every day violence to ensure Aketi spends security vote for them; even the traditional rulers will refuse to perform their traditional role of appeasing the gods, thus creating problems for Aketi. May I use your platform to warn directors of parastatals, permanent secretaries, Government officials who are already planning to use state money to congratulate Aketi on his swearing-in that Aketi would make them refund the money to the State Government! On Yoruba leadership, whatever the shortcomings of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he worked for it and he has earned it. – Ranti Ajeleti.

“It is obvious that you are contented with what you have, little be it or much; otherwise, someone like you will be praise-singing Aketi, he being your kinsman, so as to make the list of his special advisers or special assistants or even more. Coming hard on him shows that you are a patriotic Nigerian. It is only when all commentators in Nigeria forget about the crumbs that fall from the masters table that social critics will play the role that they are cut out for, for the betterment of our nation. Unfortunately, poverty and fear of the unknown have not allowed us to do this. Unfortunately, also, the nation has been the worst for it. Edmond Burke has warned that “the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing” I hope Aketi will take time to read your piece and give honour to whom honour is due. After all, his candidature as the ACN gubernatorial candidate four years ago in Ondo State was made possible by Tinubu and that was the precursor for his present accomplishment. I am against your conclusion that Tinubu reaped what he sowed as per his dealings with the Afenifere “old brigade”. The fact is that Tinubu was cut out by providence for a special purpose. But for him, PDP and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo would have overrun the South-West in the 2003 election; that singular act would have altered the history of the South-west in particular and Nigeria’s in general. I want you to understand that Tinubu’s divine role gave birth to the new dispensation that we have today. Tinubu, however, must be conversant with this Yoruba adage: “the blood of the one who aided a king to the throne is trampled on by the king on his way to the throne” -Adewuyi Adegbite.

“I want to commend you for your frankness, straight-to-the-point and unbiased style of writing and analysis of issues. May the Lord continue to replenish, refresh, and renew the source of your wisdom and understanding in Jesus name. Please keep to your promise to, in your own words, “hold Aketi’s feet to the fire”. That would be an avenue for him to have the truth and nothing but the truth so as to have a successful tenure of office. It is our prayer that the man performs outstandingly. I am happy seeing an Owo man at the helm of affairs; though I am not a direct indigene of Owo, I am from Owo by marriage. -Pastor Julius Olaoye.

“It is a good piece, politics apart. Aketi is a good man and a jolly good fellow; a good friend of many years when we were both in the palm-wine drinkers’ club. I wish him all the best. – Adesiyan Oyewale.

“Brilliant piece! – A. Olateru-Olagbegi.

“Your article was a masterpiece, thought-provoking, and food for thought all in one. You were very frank in your critique of governor-elect Rotimi Akeredolu’s faltering step for his act of veiled disrespect and arrogance to Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu who, incidentally, was the architect of the political visibility which Akeredolu is enjoying today in Ondo State. Watchers of contemporary political development in Ondo State knew how it all started. The governor-elect should not have quickly forgotten this incontrovertible fact. As you rightly advised, he should retrace his step, mend his ways, bury the hatchet, watch his utterances and after his election victory, “embrace everyone”. Honestly, you have given more than enough advice to help your kinsman from Owo. It is left for Akeredolu to heed your down-to-earth advice in order for him to succeed on the job. If he chooses to align with sycophants and political jobbers who would not tell him the home truth, time will tell. Eni t’oba l’eti ko gbo…. He who has ears, let him hear.

• Tpl. Yacoob Abiodun, former pioneer Secretary, Housing Policy Council, FMW&H, Abuja; now resides in Hayward, California, USA.