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JUNE 18, 2007 VOL. 21, NO. 10

Oyo: An Honourable’s Ordeal

**Comfort Obi**

The national newspapers of Tuesday, June 5, gave it an inside page treatment. It ought to have been a front page story. But I can guess why they did that. Media managers, and most sane Nigerians have become so angry with the bizzare happenings in Oyo State that they have decided to ignore them and get on with their lives.
But I disagree. We should never be tired of publicising, and exposing the scandal that is Oyo State. We must strive to keep it on the front burner until God rescues the long suffering people of Oyo State.
For the latest incident, I opt to use the Daily Champion’s version of what happened at the inauguration of the Oyo State House of Assembly on Monday, June 4. According to the paper, thugs allegedly loyal to Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, invaded and desecrated the chambers of the House of Assembly as it was being inaugurated. And who was their target? It was Hon. Kayode Animasahun, a House of Assembly member voted in on the ticket of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP).
According to the newspaper, everything seemed okay until a few minutes after the state governor, Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, inaugurated the members. Then, hell was let loose. Suddenly, thugs invaded the chambers, and made straight for Honourable Animasahun. They were allegedly led by one Abass Oloko. As soon as they reached Animasahun, they proceeded, in the full glare of everybody, including Adedibu and other honourable members, to strip him bare.
First, they forcefully removed his cap. Then, they removed his pair of shoes. And then his Prayer Rosary. Oloko then, allegedly, proceeded to carry the spoils of war straight to Adedibu, discussed with him, and went back to his seat.
For record purposes, Oloko is not a member of the House. He is not a government official. He is just a leader of a band of thugs loyal to Adedibu. But I digress .
So Oloko, after showing Adedibu his spoils of war, went back to his seat. All this while, Honourable Animasahun sat down in the chambers without his cap, his shoes, and more importantly, his prayer rosary. He was stunned. So, you ask: What was the response of Animasahun’s honourable colleagues? What was the response of the scores of security agents around? What was the response of everybody? Nothing. They just watched.
After sometime, a couple of Animasahun's colleagues recovered themselves, and went to Oloko, not to challege him, but to appeal to, and beg him to release Animasahun's cap, pair of shoes, and prayer rosary. They failed. So, Animasahun went to Adedibu, the lord and master, who was having handshakes and exchanging greetings with party faithfuls and prostrated before him, before whispering something into his ears. But the strong man of Ibadan politics ignored him. And Animasahun went back to his seat.
He proceeded to sign his papers capless, shoeless, and without his prayer rosary. At about 2.00 p.m, he realised he has to leave the House of Assembly chambers without his things. He did, sandwitched between a couple of his colleagues who saw him to his car.
Animasahun must count himself lucky. Considering that it is Adedibu and his thugs, God was on his side. Otherwise, he would have been a dead man now. And dear readers, this bizarre incident, for emphasis, took place before hundreds of people, including the newly inaugurated honourable members.
In Oyo, nothing is sacred. Anything goes. Not even things belonging to God. Animasahun’s prayer rosary was seized. Nowhere and nothing is sacred. Lawlessness brazenly reigns. Innocent people are usually either killed by political thugs, and/or maimed. Properties worth millions of naira are usually, always destroyed. And the people are helpless. Guns boom at random, indiscriminately. Matchetes and axes are wielded always. The amazing thing: Neither the security agents, nor the federal government thinks anything of it. The not-so-surprising thing: Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu is in charge. Nobody can confront him. He is the emperor. For a state like Oyo, which people are very educated, it is a shame that they are controlled by a barely literate man.
A couple of weeks ago, it was the turn of the Oyo State-owned radio and television stations. They were invaded by Adedibu’s thugs. And vandalised. And the strong man’s response: It was for the good of Oyo people.
So, who can control and confront this man? Senator Ahmadu Ali, the PDP National Chairman, himself a medical doctor, and a retired army officer, told those complaining about Adedibu that “Adedibu is the Garrison Commander whose orders must be obeyed.” I was disappointed. Being a medical doctor, I thought Ali would have said that perhaps the old man needed to see a psycho-analyst. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a great admirer of Adedibu, also told party faithfuls that they have to manage him – all because he has been in politics for over 55 years.
I beg to differ. My reading is that both Ali and Obasanjo found Adedibu useful to their party, the PDP. Only an Adedibu can manipulate votes for the PDP in a state as volatile as Oyo.
But for how long are Oyo people going to manage Adedibu? This garrison commander no longer commands respect anywhere. He is putting his troops to shame.
We now have a new President and a new Inspector General of Police. Some retirements are going on. The time for President Umaru Yar’Adua, and IGP Mike Okiro to retire the Garrison Commander is now. His actions stink to high heavens.