Politics of Relevance : Reflecting on Oke Ogun Politicking !! Waheed O Lawal
Politics of Relevance : Reflecting on Oke Ogun Politicking !! Waheed O. Lawal .
” POLITICS OF RELEVANCE
One would expect that after the demise of late Chief Lamidi Adedibu, the exit from active politics of one Ibadan prominent politician and dwindling political fortune of one former big politician of this state, Okeogun politicians would have learnt how to organise themselves and be self- independent. Alas, they still have to get to one leader in Ibadan to resolve who should be , even, a ward chairman.
It is very shameful that till date, we could not rally around one personality who can tell whoever that comes from Ibadan to go back to Ibadan and leave him with Okeogun, by saying he is up to the task.
‘A i f’agba f’enikan, ni ko je ki aye o gun gege’.
When shall we recover from this political malady?
What of townism? You can’t follow a leader from Saki, Okeho, Iseyin, or Kishi but you are ready to submit yourselves unconditionally to one Mogaji in Ibadan. ‘ Haaaa! Oluwa ma se e loponu ‘.
Yes, average politicians from Okeogun still prefer Ibadan political godfathers . They cherish and adore them to the level of taking them as demigods and they obey such leaders without terms and conditions .
The funniest thing is that if a political meeting is scheduled to hold in Ibadan, they will depend on Ibadan political father(s) to bear the cost of transportation, feeding and accommodation . Tell me, if those political godfathers ask them to vote against the interest of Okeogun in the zoning and sharing of party offices, will the Okeogun political liabilities and beggars have the gut and audacity to say NO to those god fathers?
Your guess is as good as mine .
Unfortunately, average money bags from Okeogun are not ready to spend on politics. You reap nothing if you invest nothing. Political game is a very risky venture. You can’t complain you are not given positions without investing in the campaign and election. An average Politician appreciates and compensates political financier than political mobiliser unless that mobiliser delivers without taking money from the candidate.
If we want God to liberate us, we must first of all determine to liberate ourselves, talk to our money bags to build people and invest in the sponsorship of Okeogun indigenes into politics .
Warn whoever positions himself as a political leader in each town to stop collecting money for political mobilisation. That’s the only way, the victorious candidate can compensate and respect them after electoral victory.
By: Waheed O. Lawal,
Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, Nigeria .
