Some of the recent events in the Ogun State chapter of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), appear to have birthed some new age revisionists and offered other willing hands, a momentary ‘job for the boys’. It’s nothing unfamiliar; the season is here.
From
slinging the proverbial mud to both real and perceived enemies to attempting
to launder evidently irreparable images, as well as standing truth on its head, the bot and troll army, are currently on the loose. But, when summed up, they are
few and far between. Even more, the timing is not unusual.
The
story of the birth of the APC in Ogun State is not a closet history. Whilst
some of the intrigues and high-power theatrics culminating in the final product
might be exclusive to a few of the leaders, albeit expectedly, the general
formation story is public knowledge and relatable by many a people.
Thus,
taking off here, how do you write this same story and discountenance the role
of a former governor of the state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and his group, in what
the party has become today?
Unfortunately,
for the fickle-minded, Senator Amosun is not the devil the emergency hirelings
are attempting to sculpt in the minds of their unsuspecting followers and has
never played God either, even though their failed narratives have tried,
effortlessly, to imply so.
Let’s
dimension the issues, but first, ask yourself: what were those things the
fault-finders accused Senator Amosun of, in the lead-up to the 2019 elections,
that the incumbent hasn’t done even worse? Or shall we ask: what reconciliatory
move or effort has the incumbent undertaken since assuming office almost four
years ago to improve the lot of the APC in Ogun State? Rather, he’s always in
competition with himself and illusory rivals.
But
when things got to a head, the national leadership intervened in Ogun and a few
other states, where the internal crises seemed to have peaked with threats of
implosion and came up with a sharing formula just so the contending forces
were accommodated for peace's sake. What did the incumbent do? He declined the
recommendations – all of them – and further set the party on fire.
Isn’t
it obvious this was what forced some of our loyal members out of the party to
seek placement in other parties that could accommodate their interests? Should
Senator Amosun take the blame for the obvious failure of the incumbent,
compounded by his arrogant and infantile choices, a disposition evident in his
underwhelming performance in the state?
Needless
to say that Senator Amosun did a lot to stop some of his men from leaving the
party, but how was he able to stop them from crying when the incumbent wouldn’t
stop flogging them, deliberately feigning a sense of control and as well boast
the structure he does not command?
Suffice
it to state and for the record, that even when many of our core members
considered it expedient to leave the party in the face of the unceasing
persecution by the incumbent, they still left for a party that would not
undermine the politics and aspiration of the party at the national level.
This
is because they had resolved that head or tail, our presidential candidate,
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, would be elected Nigeria’s president in 2023 and would
work hard enough to see it through. But this resolution cannot be extended to
the local politics of Ogun State, which directly affects them, their
aspirations and their support base.
For
the record, Senator Amosun nurses no more ambition since he yielded his
presidential bid to Asiwaju Tinubu. In addition, his decision to leave the
senate was personal and he has yet to renege on it. To this end, those
concocting lies and imaginary possibilities just so their retainership is
secured can start pondering other avenues to survive.
Conversely,
however, while this is not in any way entertaining any form of distraction or
dignifying helplessly inane and feeble minds, with questionable character,
occasioned by defective upbringing, Ogun State has never been anyone’s
inheritance and no one could lay claims to such, even if under an influence.
But, indeed, it is our commonwealth – too important and too dear to the people
of the state, to be left in the hands of simpletons or plunderers of our common
patrimony.
Let
it be known, therefore, and for the record, that the battle to save the state
is not personal, but in collective interest and for the good of all. But if
anyone is too shock-stricken to consider this an avenue for trade-tackling or
waiting for a sparring partner in some sort of pig fight, that is not going to
happen, and this, on our honour, shall be our final notes, as far as the
contradictions in the Ogun APC are concerned.
May
God preserve us all beyond the 2023 elections.
*Odebiyi
is the current senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District.
0 Comments