Otoge: Modest theory, conflicting practicum

WHILE I have been very curious about science itself, I wish I could know much about prominent scientists. Scientists are wonderful individuals, but one thing got me to respect their approach much more than ever: under no circumstances, do they subscribe to any assertion unless it’s experimentally proven.  Could that be the reason for the popular saying, “Seeing is believing? No wonder, scientists agree to what they see and sense only. It’s natural that a first-time reader, who doesn’t feel at ease with the headline above may want to know many things and ask different questions? Rest assured, we would get there. Today, many terrible and ridiculous issues are happening under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Government in Kwara State. From food shortage to inflation in price of commodities; from intra-party crisis to clampdown on fundamental human rights of critics. Most unexpected of recent is the suspension of much anticipated Ilorin Emirate Durbar yearly activities and cultural display under the guise of insecurity. But as drama keeps unfolding by the day, the mess would not cease to become messier.

As one would first see it, the Otoge movement is a symbolic emancipation of the people, translating into “enough is enough” under the APC; to end decades of political hegemony of the Saraki dynasty in the state. But after the beautiful, hard-earned ‘walk to freedom’, the euphoria of barely two years now would be short-lived. The Otoge was a movement presented in theory. It talks about the people defining their own lives. It highlights making Kwara work again and work for the people. It said that the people could no longer be enslaved and impoverished on their own wealth and resources. It says the people are the architects of their own future. These are the theoretical words of emancipation called ‘Otoge’ However, in practical terms, ‘Otoge’ is filled with much embarrassment. It doesn’t represent the will of the people as a whole. It would later come out that major players in the struggle for political rebirth were aiming swords at one another because their individual interests were not being preserved.

Isn’t this a simple case of the modest theory and the conflicting practicum? Keen watchers and individuals who are regular observers of Kwara politics and who witnessed the struggle, the acceptability and the victory, of course, that demystified the Saraki dynasty under the famous ‘Otoge’ movement would feel sorry for how the state is pitifully reduced to a platform for mockery of democracy and the rule of law.

The wrangling for the past two years seems as old as the victory itself. The party is split. From household to household. Camp to camp. Everyone, now, is  on the defensive. Interesting! But here’s the fact, it’s not like there has not been crisis elsewhere too. It isn’t that there can be no differences among individuals. Perhaps it’s not lost on us all that conflict is inevitable. But it is disgusting that individuals who had so successfully fought together as liberators, freedom fighters and true democrats, barely a couple of years after, would be ridiculously immersed in a conflict regarding how some campaign funds were spent, pocketed and financed and diverted. Politicians are no different from one another. They’re one set of initiated people or group who do not know friends from foes. They would wine with friends at night, and dine with enemies at dawn. Betrayal. They are one set of individuals, again, under the devil, controlled by devil and for the devil alone . They’re desperate and ready to make their people’s lives miserable only to realise their selfish goals. My submission in part!

Like I had first argued, Otoge was a struggle presented in theory but the practice was much annoying and embarrassing. It was neither seen nor sensed but it was widely believed and acclaimed. It’s no respecter of science. Science isn’t acknowledge din the first instance if not experimentally proven. That is what is called practicum. My final take: the deed has been done. The masses have been hurt, terrified and forsaken. But do we repeat same mistake as we face yet another election in 2023? No, let’s think about this dearly. Let’s make our lives better, and let’s respect science. Lest we forget, Rick Warren reminds us: “We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.

• Adeyemi writes in from Ilorin, Kwara State.

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