SUSPENSION: Ogbomoso Parapo home zone chairman defies national exco, opens Pandora’s box
Khalid ABRAHAM
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The chairman of the Ogbomoso Parapo home zone Prince Aderemi Olude has turned defiant against the national (or worldwide) executive committee of the organisation insisting they had no locus standi to remove him.
Recall that on Monday during a press conference the national body declared him suspended for six months and announced an acting chairman, Alhaji Iliasu Jamiu, in his place.
But a counter press conference Tuesday saw Prince Olude declaring his suspension null and void.
Addressing newsmen in the presence of members of the home zone from the five local government areas of Ogbomoso at the Ogunlola Hall, the embattled Prince Olude alleged among others that he was being persecuted because of his principled stance against actions capable of bringing backwardness to Ogbomoso.
He described them as enemies of progress who have nothing to show for their being in office, while going ahead to open cans of worms nay the Pandora’s box to counter the move.
“Firstly, why are they after me? It’s because of the LAUTECH issue. I offended the leaders of the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) who are in Ogbomoso Parapo who want to turn the organisation into a political tool. But that can never be possible. So, l am being persecuted and punished on the basis of that, because of my principled stance against the oppression Ogbomoso is subjected to. I am unyieldingly opposed to the relocation of the Faculty of Agriculture LAUTECH to Iseyin. This is indeed confirmed by listing it in their so-called query to me,” he said.
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“The faculty is the largest in terms of students population and so contributes significantly to the economy of the town. We contacted some traditional rulers at the beginning, there was no Soun at the time, but they couldn’t do anything to stave it off but we said no. That is where the problem started. Ogbomoso Parapo as a community organisation should always be in the forefront of protecting the interest of the town but the leadership allowed personal and party interest to override community interest.
“They put forward various arguments on why we should allow it but l insisted no. Dr Saka Balogun said Governor Seyi Makinde doesn’t change his mind once he decides on something. He said late Governor Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala was the one that began it. They said new faculties would be brought, they advanced other arguments but l stood my feet that those new faculties should be put elsewhere and not destroy an existing one. The home zone continues to resist the move.
“They said we should not hold press conference to address the issue, they said we should not hold protest to express our opposition, and so parents, old and current students, decided to pursue the matter in court and l am representing the interest of the parent body in the suit challenging the relocation. They said l should withdraw l said no that the organisation should always be found defending the interest of the town. I told them we are not fighting the governor or government but appealing so that they can start the promised new faculties elsewhere and that we are not against the development of other places. I said our people have contributed significantly to the development of the faculty in Ogbomoso in terms of infrastructure like Mr. Olusola Alagbe (Luther King) who donated the Bee House, Professor Sola Adepoju who facilitated building and planted trees and others. And that all those will go to waste.
“The President of the association Justice Afolabi Adeniran was in tandem with us but the PDP elders in Ogbomoso Parapo manoeuvred him to stand aloof. And we took the decision partly to prevent other faculties being relocated as we heard that Nursing, Engineering, ODL and others are being planned for relocation. In another perspective lbsee them as enemies of the former Soun because they want to destroy one of his legacies. So, these PDP leaders directed l either withdraw as a claimant in the suit or l resign as chairman both of which l declined. You cannot because of the love of your party hold us back as a community by allowing us being cheated. That is that! Or perhaps they received money from His Excellency for Parapo not to oppose the move, they should own up. Can anyone hold down CCII (Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes)? But they want to turn Ogbomoso Parapo into the proverbial book dog that cannot bite, they want to destroy our legacy of bravery against oppression, they now turn Parapo into a political tool controlled by two persons.
“I insist the governor has no hand in the relocation agenda, they are the ones pushing the agenda for their personal interest. The governor established the Iseyin campus for LAUTECH to use it for any purpose it deems fit like an institute in the mould of IITA (International Institute for Tropical Agriculture), Ibadan, but because of politics they manipulated the good plan. And these are people who have no achievements in Ogbomoso. We can point to what late Chief Alao-Akala did but not them. They are enemies of progress. So, one of the reasons they want me removed is because l oppose them on the faculty of agriculture issue.”
On the accusation that he claimed the home zone is superior, “Yes, l said so and l will continue to say so. This is because home zone is the origin, Ogbomoso Parapo started at home and so is above all. It is the head. But l didn’t just say that, circumstances led me to declare so. The PRO, Comrade Tolani Mumini Balogun, called me in December asking l go to Alhaji Monsuru Ejide to collect N5m to organise the AGM that the president, Justice Adeniran had approved it, however, l declined that we didn’t need up to that amount and so l wouldn’t go, he now sent my secretary who went. They were eventually given N500, 000. It is because of my refusal to go to Alhaji Ejide that he now decided to get me removed. But he cannot remove me, it is Ogbomoso people who put me there that can remove me.
“And these are people who have not been giving financial reports. Some of them, the general secretary, Okesanya, and the treasurer, Bukola, are facing panel on financial misappropriation, the committee has not been able to come out with its report since about 8 months ago. These are people who have no achievements since they came into office. It is the home zone that is changing the narrative of Ogbomoso Parapo with our achievements. Last year, we succeeded with our security initiative moving from one local government to another to meet with traditional rulers and Fulani herdsmen on how to allow peaceful coexistence and this year we decided on fostering unity in the zone through our Isokan Ogbomoso Lanfe (Oneness) initiative by meeting with the Obas. Let them point out their achievements.”
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This is as he alleged them of bias. “They brought the Chief Imam that has been insulting the Soun to say the prayer at the AGM in December over which the Northern zone later complained. The MC at the event, Oluwatanna, whom we did not even invite, was abusing the Soun’s chiefs at the AGM, is that not an abuse against the Soun? We asked they send delegation to beg the Soun after that they never did till now. Someone gave us a bus we suggested they first took it to Soun for blessing they didn’t. They wanted to give me award during the AGM l declined asking them what award when your bias and indiscretion caused the Soun and other traditional rulers and chiefs to shun the meeting. That also made me to offend them, and so they started to plan my removal.”
He was also accused of extortion of money from road construction workers and metal scrap scavengers (jaribola) but he dismissed the accusation, positing, “Let them come out with evidence. Even if we receive gifts l don’t collect in person and we never forced it. Road workers we should be appealing to, to expedite action, why would l go and be requesting money, let them bring evidence.”
Concluding, he urged the Soun of Ogbomosoland Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye to dissolve the national exco.
“Our father the Soun is the life patron of Ogbomoso Parapo and because of the many perfidies of the national exco l call on His Majesty to dissolve the national exco.”
Applause intermittently interrupted his declarations.
