June 12 is the authorized Democracy Day in Nigeria, therefore, let us discuss some evil being perpetrated by Governors against their Deputies, especially, in Oyo state.
In 1999, at the beginning of this present democratic dispensation, late Alhaji Lamidi ADESINA (Ibadan zone) had Barrister Iyiola Oladokun (Oke-Ogun Zone) as Deputy. Lam was somehow liberal and cordial in his relationship with Oladokun. Moreso, both Lam Ade and Iyiola Oladokun were from the staple of late Uncle Bola Ige. If Oladokun experienced any ill treatment from Lam’s administration, it was from the powerful Secretary to the State Govt SSG, Chief Michael Koleoso, an Oke-Ogun elder.
In the 2003 PDP administration of Oyo state led by Senator Rashidi Ladoja (Ibadan zone), I didn’t know exactly what went wrong between Ladoja and his Deputy, Alao-Akala (Ogbomosho zone). But I was privy to how Akala was forced on Ladoja by our great leader, late Baba Lamidi Adedibu. We would recall that Ladoja became a Senator (SDP) through Baba Adedibu. Akala was also in the same party (APP) with Baba Adedibu in 1999. When the relationship between Baba Adedibu and Sen. Ladoja went sour, Akala became a suspect. The rest is now history.
By fire by force through the ministration of Obasanjo’s INEC, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao Akala (Ogbomosho zone) became the Executive Governor of Oyo state in 2007 having Oluomo Taofeek Oladejo Arapaja (Ibadan zone) as Deputy. Governor Akala, having been a Deputy once, treated Arapaja well. Moreso both the Governor and his Deputy are graduates of Molete Political Dynasty. And at the demise of Baba Adedibu, Akala retained Arapaja as Deputy in the 2011 election the PDP lost to ACN. Ambassador Arapaja could be described as the best Deputy Governor Oyo state ever had. And this was made possible because Akala is more politically responsible and dependable than others. I could recall that during the impeachment period (Jan 12, 2006 – Jan 12, 2007), Akinrogun Gbolarumi Azeem (Ibadan zone) also served as Deputy to Alao Akala. And I knew Gbolarumi was given more political mileages than Alake and Olaniyan added together. Alao-Akala seniyan.
Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo (Oke-Ogun) served as Deputy to His Excellency, late Ishaq Abiola Ajimobi (Ibadan zone), the Executive Governor of Oyo state 2011-2019. Right from onset, it was apparent that Ajimobi would completely overshadow his Deputy, Alake. I can say that Moses Alake Adeyemo is the most politically matured Deputy any governor ever had. With all the frustrations coming from the Number One Office, Alake was never found publicly declaring fatwa against his overbearing boss. And when the Unity Forum broke away from the APC, Alake remained glued to Ajimobi. May Allah forgive late Ajimobi of his political faux pas. Amen.
#2019OyoDecides was the first time a party (PDP) presented a Deputy who is older in age than his governor, as declared by INEC. In 2019, His Excellency, Egnr Seyi Makinde (Ibadan zone), through the Coalition of other political interests, defeated the eight year old APC administration of Ajimobi. Seyi’s Deputy is His Excellency, Chief Rauf Aderemi Olaniyan (Oke-Ogun zone), an astute administrator of many years of civil service experience. Olaniyan, according to my findings, had served about 10 governors in the past, both military and civilian.
It was the belief of majority of us in the Coalition that Deputy Olaniyan would be a bridge builder between Governor Makinde and other interests – leaders and elders in the Coalition. But na lie. The Office of the present Deputy Governor of Oyo state is completely bypassed and abandoned by Governor Makinde. Is it not an embarrassment for a governor to declare that “when I am not available, my Chief of Staff is there to represent me at any Security Meet”. I could recall that when the Dr Saka Balogun Reconciliation Committee visited the Deputy who is obviously aggreived, Olaniyan frankly narrated his sad experience in the Egnr Seyi led administration to the Committee.
I am sure that no consideration was given to the Office of the Deputy Governor in the just concluded OYSIEC LGAs election. Sad! Thakulah.
To conclude this piece, may the good Lord reorientate the minds of those occupying the Agodi Governor’s Office as relating to their Deputies. But if man sees and fails to say it as it is, Olorun a da. Our governors should be more democratic to and less covetous and suspicious of their Deputies.
Happy Democracy Day.
