MC Oluomo’s Republic

THE first time I heard about Musiliu Akinsanya, the motor-park thug-turned-APC pollster, a secular minstrel was serenading him as being of bigger and wider influence that the King of Oshodi. Something like “ko soba loshodi, a fi MC Oluomo (his much-known sobriquet). Then he was shot at Lagos APC rally, flown abroad, dominated airwaves for a while, returned as Twitter pollster, asking his followers and trolls alike, to Like or Retweet (with thousands obeying his last command) support for either his choice presidential candidate or the challenger. Though he claimed the first poll he initiated which favoured his candidate’s opponent was rigged, by now, with the expected conduct of the rescheduled poll yesterday, he is likely mobilising his agbero-colleagues in Lagos NURTW to storm Bourdillion, the shrine where he worships like countless others, to shout either Sai Baba or we-no-go-gree.

At an editorial meeting recently, there was a simultaneous smirk immediately his name was suggested for consideration alongside certain “heavyweights,” to feature in a top-notch package. But before the laughter could drown, a couple of attendees were already pushing the positives; record sales, et al. After all, it is MC Oluomo, the thug, worshipped by the low and mighty.  From stories in circulation, the bleaching cream-loving future kingpin of NURTW national body had what could be considered a bibire (well-sired) background. The mum is said to be a major textile dealer on the Island and Akinsanya was reportedly sent to a solid school, but the one touted as an American citizen, decided to pursue his passion in thuggery and motor-park commerce. He likely never knew the venture-cum-passion, could become this big and himself, a VIP.

If his social media appeal is a reliable measure, Musiliu is a hero and role model to many including the youth; the generations expected to be the hope of the nation. In our politics, Akinsanya and his ilk call all shots. When President Muhammadu Buhari would not consider it a necessity to mean with professors leading ASUU and the medical profession, possibly due to the usual excuse of pressing state matters, there must be time, to pose with Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, the Ayinde Barrister-labourer-turned Fuji legend and Bola Tinubu right-hand man. In fairness to the president, such photo-ops are of devastating electoral impact during an election cycle like this. KWAM 1’s worshippers would go like this, in a whoop of joy “eeyan wa ni Sai Baba, ohun ati baba (Wasiu) na jo po (posed) sibi” (Buhari is our man. Here he is, posing with our god-man). Gibbers won’t even be bothered if MC Oluomo surfaced in the presidential villa days ahead, as a part of the Lagos contingent on congratulatory or sympathy visit to the president. Whatever anyone might say, his head is already there, as the street would couch his growing influence.

• Wear the mandarin in the most dapper way

Is it wrong to start small? Apart from the Word of God recognising little beginnings, I have always believed that only those who grow, will stay up. If you suddenly go up, you may whither overnight for lack of firm root. According to those who know, Akinsanya has “paid” his dues in his chosen path. Of course, he has. While he is yet to be indicted for any serious crime, his name has featured prominently in bloody clashes and killings in his Oshodi empire and other parts of Lagos. There is hardly any blood shedding, wanton destruction and open-field political battle, allegedly without the imprints of MC. Is there a better way of growing and keeping the growth?

Akinsanya is in a good company of avant-garde idols for the coming generations. If you have issues with a violence promoter climbing social and political ladder so rapidly, to be dining with kings, what about those before him? What even about the president who sees men like tree that must be caught down for just about anything deemed wrong! When men dangle the rope of morality like they never sinned, they have a way of ending up in the noose. When the president’s men were snatching “victory” in Osun and Ekiti States, there were no orders to terminate their lives. And men think such hypocrisy would endure!

IPOB’s Nnamdi Kanu, Asari Dokubo, Nasir el-Rufai amongst others, including today’s venerated Aare Ona Kakanfo, had their legend steeped in violence, so why should MC Oluomo not have a fiefdom, ruled at his whim? Afterall, of all his siblings, including those who must have progressed beyond the educational phase where Musiliu branched out, he’s the most prominent today, hoisting the family’s name and banner “very high” and making all, including his mum, “proud”.

Monkey-tail concoction and other narcotics are now the desired beverage for the youth who lionize MC and co, because they are studiously picking from the success manual of their heroes. For the leaders of tomorrow who found garage commerce and street industry too strenous, yahoo plus has come to fill the aspiration vacuum for them. Days back, at the same editorial meeting, I was driven to the edge of the ludicrous when told that beyond the lady panties’ business, those striving to take over from today’s lord of manor, had graduated to eating s..t with bread, in the name of yahoo extra. God have mercy!