Faces & Culture With Olusegun Ariyo Email.olusegunariyo@urbanexpresslive.con Phone 08023936827
Olusegun Ariyo
One thing is sure about live when looking at it from the point of political em-anticipation with leadership impact on you and me, the purpose it was meant to fulfill, and not the other way round. My ardent followers would ask, what do I mean with this assertion? Before I let the cat out of the bag, I must not fail to congratulate my viewers on this new platform called ‘’Urban express news’’ where unfiltered and up to date news is rolling out for audience digest, and also to put their heart on the track about the incoming local government election in the state of Lagos that is pregnant with loads of political activities.
Even though I must not fail to wish my viewers well, it is in my considered opinion not to also forget the unfolding political activities that we are seeing in site coming. Let me once again wish you all the blessings that come with season .
As Lagos state steadily approaches its local government election Next year, the polity has been heating up with various permutation and conjectures as the fate of its local government is going to be decided by those political leaders of various spheres and strata, coming from local constituencies.
The faith of our constituency in particular, which happens to be the major point of entry into this discussion is being decided by our internal democratic mechanism which is expected to be displayed by every existing political party in the country, starting from the hurdle of delegate’s nomination that comes with numerous contestants for chairmanship and councilor positions and at the end, seeing winners coming out outstanding among other fellow contestants.
Also, where after all said, would become the flag bearer of its party, and also come out in an open contest with other fellow candidates in other parties when the time is ripe for its election proper, that we are about to see it unfold, going by the recent appointment of Lagos state independent electoral commission’s chairman by His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu , as stipulated by the ground norm used as laid dawn principles, binding those political offices, paving way for qualified Nigerians who are willing to fill those positions of leadership. But then, another focal point here that opened up area of interest that should serve as lesson in the cause of this narratives, is what played out in the last election that gave birth to smear campaign against so many political gladiators in the time when house of representative primary were conducted and that which came out with shocking revelations that is serving as lesson to those, who in their wildest imagination, never seen it coming. True, though not surprising to others, given the way some of our politicians do their things.
Yes, I would only say its only added to my adulations, and that precisely is the point, and such events was for long a time, envisaged.
This contention is indeed one salient points and tonic considered sweet for audience of this column, where also, its open up a vista of x-raying the scenarios with lessons to learn in these coming local government election, essentially in those intrigues that played during and after process which took place in the last exercise in Ojo federal constituency that saw the incumbent Toyin suarau failing in a bid to regain back his ticket, to usher another representative that throws more flash of many color effects, with-which, reeled out results that did not come as surprise to many .’’In that scenario, one can only adduce to this fact, that ‘’favor can be deceitful, beauty is but veil’’.
As the dead to the undead, the lock to the key, pencils and erasers, what is done may be undone. If Ojo constituency must burn, then let it burn, but at least let’s have a reason for striking the match. Be gone with sympathetic undertakers and white washed sepulchers filled with nothing but decayed bones; I am not going to let another’s coffin rest on my conscience, if there is to be any more rape of injustice, it will not start with me.’’ ‘’SPEAK’’. The crux of this discussion is in the underpinnings of colossal failure of leadership which is usually what determines the continuity of any leaders in any political positions essentially, at the grassroots where the line of this discussion is drawn from. Also, as factors that determines the stand of any political party that should have prominence and patronage essentially on this subject matter. Given what was reported in the last house of representative primary of All progressive congress party primaries that took place during 2015 general election in Ojo federal constituency, where it was reported that Yinka Durosinmi garnered the highest score with two hundred and four vote, followed by another close rival M. M. Hassan scoring one hundred and thirty-three vote whilst the incumbent, Toyin suarau, was said to have scored list digits amongst them.
To me, it’s echoed loud voices with new varying signs that shows that Nigerians had begun to truly know when their expectation should be meet and how they should go about, especially coming from how events of these scenario played out, cutting short their expectation, and that which did not come as surprise, given the outcome.
‘’Democracy is more pronounced at the grassroots when its outcome is usually the definition of how some so called honorable such with incumbency status could go with that kind of ‘’leverage”, in terms of evaluating the dividends of democracy offered to their constituents, after when such person is given another opportunity to serve again’’.
For instance, Hon. Durosinmi had been the local government chairman for two term of constitutionally acceptable provision and the incumbent has, in equal, served in same capacity where at present, the other happens to be the incumbent of the position the duo are jostling for. But off-course, the justification of the outcome of its primary election happed to have shown otherwise at that time.
What could have happened, given its power of incumbency and other golden opportunities embedded with such position? ‘’When we see the likes of Barrack Obama of the United States today, for those of us who know little about him, would give an account of some of his attributable leadership prowess that metamorphosed him to where he is and instructively, to help some us in the way leadership qualities help transcend progressively with quality assurance. Obama had started from state representatives to becoming congress man, moved from there to become senator, and then as president of the United States. if, for whoever fails in this direction is now looking for the option of cutting the grass in the bush to line a part and navigate way in a most cruel manner to clinch such ticket by whatever means, then such an individual should have his face raised dawn in shame.
If, for instance, Barrack Obama had not been able to hold in trust, the change his people need from his entire sojourn of leadership disposition, and in turn hold on to the trust of his people then, occupying the position of united state presidency today would have been a dream in mirage. Should we then conclude by saying he has indeed justified his movement to the top? Given the requisite experience and excellent leadership antecedents? other than the parochial way with which many of our politician back here in Nigeria thinks is formidable? ‘’plying every corrupt means possible?
Where also speculation is ripe that one of them that lost the battle in that same primaries is seeking way of involving the speaker of house of representative to influence such position for himself? Which if ascended to, could spell doom for their party’s chances of winning during the general election? True, should we then say we have not reached such levels of playing the games by the rule in Nigeria? Honestly, Durosinmi had shown otherwise in leading by example.
True, He has given hope to all that indeed, the voice of the people is the voice of hope and doing this means that he was able to understand the needs of its people and was what gave rise to the outcome of that primary election that took place in Ojo constituency and not when other consideration, which should not necessarily coincide with the aspiration of the people arise to scuttle the balance of assumed political equations, calculations and projection as it seems.
The out pouring about whispering campaign for another candidates who had failed to emerge through the primary conducted is gaining voice in certain quarters to suggest that Yinka Durosinmi should be overlooked is winning toward political suicide, a rather scandalous notion for anyone to hold on. Those who seem bent and intent on denying him his ticket of nomination should know how better to drive that wedge between him and Tinubu given the fact that effective and synergetic partnership has been his focus of delivering leadership promises. I do hope for this sake that those forces are disappointed in their schemes. There has never been a doubt in the minds of politically aware that this mandate was freely given to him through the action of those delegates as a result of leadership failure of the incumbent which stand the basis of this discuss in retrospect. The selection that brought in the incumbent was made possible between you and i. in few month times, the continuation of the various cycle of election permutation and pillage shall continue because of you and i. will you rather fail than win?
The late Gani Fawehinmi [of blessed memory] once told me sometime in an encounter with him. I am grateful I had the opportunity to meet this great man before he passed on.’’ hear him’’ ‘’I am having a short time as my strength is failing me.
I was often called the conscience of this nation as a result of my stand against injustices and corruption’’. Is this not another kind of corruption that he was pointing at, that we are grappling with in our political system? When you fail in your responsibility as leader from what is expected of you to those that elected you into office, and in other words,
you think you have another short cut to victory and then start having another thoughts on towards whilst those that you even represent are no more relevant, and where the people in return, find you not worthy, and eventually succeeded in using their votes to remove you from continuing, then what is remaining should now mean that their voting should equally be manipulated with man know man idea?, using that corrupt means which chief Gani described as problem of this country’ ’or as means of sailing out from the murky waters of Ojo local government politics to sway their way through?… If not, how then do we explain an elected representative whose thought it is, to module up in such controversy? the next option should now be clinching ticket by force through the top hierarchy of its party, and living those you intend to governed that are supposed to determine your coming back behind? An injustice without conscience like the legal icon rightly puts it cannot be far-fetched.’ The injustices late chief Gani mentioned in an encounter with him did not just come from heaven other than an illustration of these kinds.
The people ‘s will shall definitely triumph and our conscience will likewise judge in the event otherwise.
