OPINION: Between Ogbomoso and Ibadan leaders
Femi OGUNLANA
The battle to get the installation of the Olubadan-designate Oba Owolabi Olakulehin hastened, inspired this piece. The Oyo state governor Engr Seyi Makinde had been characteristically dragging foot on the matter positing earlier that the Olubadan-elect would only be enthroned when his health condition improved. But swiftly his submission faced backlash from Ibadan people and elders. Former governor Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, who is Otun Olubadan, in a scathing remark pointed out point-blank the state of health of Oba Olakulehin was not a concern of Governor Makinde but of Ibadan people whom the monarch would rule over. He underlined unequivocally that what concerned the state helmsman was giving of Staff and Instruments of Office to a new Oba. That is the truth. The second day, Makinde granted approval as required. The new Oba has begun his installation rites.
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On the other hand when the reigning Oba of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, was to be installed, Governor Makinde took his time, yet there was no loud whimper from either Ogbomoso people or leaders. They only grumbled even though the majority wanted a fast tracked process. The kingmakers did their job which they completed in March 2022 and subsequently forwarded their nominee to the governor for endorsement. The choice of the kingmakers resonated with the majority but the governor ignored his statutory duty of acceding to the nomination on the premise that there were pockets of opposition. He waited for close to one and a half years before doing the needful. It was needless wait if considered now. However no public outcry emanated from the leaders of the town urging the governor to ratify or disapprove the selection.
The Yoruba people say ti oro ba pe nle o ma ngbon ni (a contentious issue put off unnecessarily gets more complicated). The delay thus ignited all sorts of theories put forward by the opposition on why the nominee of the kingmakers should be discarded.
The difference with the Ibadans is unobscured. There is one fact about life, everybody abhors resistance or criticism, we all cringe in its face. A little uproar from the people of Ibadan made the governor to capitulate.
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Ogbomoso leaders have always been cautious, careful not to ruffle feathers. It is not known whether it is timidity or fear or an inclination to be in the good book of superior authorities. Ibadan contrarily employs outspokenness and confrontation (when need be) in order to expeditiously gain their end. They dialogue not from position of weakness but of strength thus they show off an intimidating posture which makes them more readily achieve their goals. They are rarely played or taken for granted. Perhaps that attitude of pacificism is partly why Ogbomoso lags behind in developmental indexes. Had her people been more vociferous and clamorous her lots in terms of development could have been better. How many leaders of Ogbomoso or socio-cultural organizations have spoken out publicly in regards of non-completion of the new Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin highway started in 2001 (which remains 5km alas in the Ogbomoso axis) or the Ajeja/Temidire 132kv power station begun over a decade ago urging government to expedite action on them? When government initiated the balkanization of LAUTECH no recognized leader thought it expedient to speak out even though many are depressed by the move. The few that spoke surprisingly egged the government on.
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Being non-discorteous has its place and plusses but to be excessively courteous, refraining from being decisive can come with lots of downsides. It is a case of a valiant man taken over by reticence, he will be bogged down and will yield the initiative to opponents most times. Taking a tough implacable stance by then General Muhammadu Buhari and the APC impelled incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan to forfeit the presidency lamely in 2015, just as the same assertiveness won incumbent President Bola Tinubu his present position. He audaciously said it was his turn, today, we all knew how it ended. Extreme circumspection impairs and stiffles growth and progress.
One disturbing thing with us in Ogbomoso however is this attitude of running one another down in excessive manner. And it’s all down to envy. We bicker, we pull one another down. We easily find our groove fighting our kinsmen down engaging outsiders. When an indigene rises to a position of authority, we find excuses to disagree with him, we exacerbate his/her weakness(es) to escalate hatred against him/her and hatch all forms of conspiracies. It is agreed though many cannot also manage success – they become arrogant and full of themselves thereby evoking envious among envious-laden people.
For Ogbomoso to realize its full potentials the people need to be more clamorous and smother to a minimal degree the spirit of invidiousness. To be valiant is good, evincing aura of invincibility is laudable but in this age, enhanced visibility via landmark indexes of growth and development is paramount.
