Tag: south west

Dele Sobowale

“Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.”

Mankind discovered that truth several thousands of years ago. And, the more turbulent the era, the more problems confront the leaders at the time. This open letter to you had become necessary for three reasons. First, Nigeria is now entering the most dangerous period since 1914. Second, the outcome of the widespread conflicts, violent and verbal, lies mainly, in the hands of a vital few Nigerians. Third, irrespective of how anybody feels about it, you are one of the vital few. Indeed, you are today, the most influential politician in the South West in general and Lagos State in particular.

It is not my intention to flatter you by calling you the most influential politician in Yorubaland. Regular readers of this column will testify to the fact that flattery of the powerful is not my style. Quite frequently, I quarrel with them and carpet them. But, I don’t evade facts; irrespective of my feelings about them. History will record that you deserved to be leader of the progressive movement. When, in 2003, the leaders of the Alliance for Democracy/Afenifere were duped into surrendering the South West to President Obasanjo and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Lagos State, under your leadership and the Action Congress, AC, was the only SW state that was not captured. Your political sagacity mostly prevented Nigeria from becoming a one-party country under Obasanjo. I can also testify to your support, financial, political and moral for the struggle to defeat President Obasanjo’s third term ambition.

We also want to recollect the long and rewarding battles, with the PDP, to reclaim the stolen mandates of progressive governors in Osun, Ekiti, Ondo and Edo. You were everywhere defending the right and ensuring votes counted. You deserve the crown. It was the political clout and organisation, which you carefully built up over the years, which made it possible for you to lead the SW into the coalition of six political associations which became the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in 2015. The success of the APC, against all odds, was largely credited to you. All the commendations were fully merited.

“Men make history; but not just as they wish.”

Karl Marx,1818-1883, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ.

There was a great deal of hope that the coalition would last a long time; help deepen democracy and become an all-inclusive political party. Trouble started early. A dissident group within the alliance ambushed the new ruling party and seized control of the two chambers of the National Assembly, NASS for four years. The party has not fully recovered till today. Now, all the problems of coalitions are revealing the fundamental cracks within the party. Nobody can hold you responsible for what has happened to APC. You remain loyal to the party; even now that it is clearly divided on various powerful and explosive issues — insecurity, grazing, rotation and Local Governments, to name four.

I will not deal extensively with all of the matters now. I merely want to start by pointing out that, more than ever, progressive politicians in the SW need your leadership in order to be able to re-group and fight together in an increasingly divided Nigeria. Two reasons for my appeal will be sufficient for now.

“A group without a leader [or leaders] is a mob.”

Nobody can accurately predict whether shouting will continue to prevail over shooting in our current conflicts. It is immaterial whether it is “jaw-jaw” or “war-war”, the united group is always at an advantage over the mob. Your leadership is urgently needed in this zone. Certainly, very little will be achieved — without your active leadership. You still possess the power to bring other leaders together in a way nobody else does. It will be an unpardonable blunder if you don’t step forward. The South West will suffer unnecessarily; but, you will too. One way or the other, a leader will emerge; because politics abhors a vacuum. Your support is, therefore, mutually beneficial.

“You are only as good as your last show”. The wisdom of Hollywood, USA.

All politicians are actors. The most gifted or fortunate get to centre-stage – where they receive most of the attention. A lucky few remain popular almost forever – Ahmadu Bello, Awolowo and Azikiwe, in alphabetical order – despite political setbacks. But, most risk their reputations with every major conflict. Alhaji Jakande, Dr Olu Onagoruwa and Ebenezer Babatope refused to resign from Abacha’s cabinet when the June 12 struggle started; and went into political oblivion since then. You were thrown into the lime-light of progressive politics because of the invaluable assistance you rendered to those who were forced into exile. One day, the proper history of that heroic rescue will be told. You have since then made implacable enemies. Some, you literally brought from the gutter.

We are at another milestone in our history; when one false step could spell disaster for a hitherto glorious political career. The risks are high for all concerned. As with June 12, 1993, a time will come when nobody can sit on the fence. I hope and pray you make the right decision.

Irrespective of what happens next, there is one legacy you can help leave behind.

“Lagos second worst city in the world.” News Report.

I recollect a statement you made when you were newly-elected Governor of Lagos State in 1999. You said “Lagos is filthy”. And, you promised to clean it up. You tried your best; so did your successors – including Sanwo-Olu now. So, why is Lagos still in the terrible situation we now find it? My shortest answer is: Local Governments are not functioning. Too many elected or selected Chairmen and Councillors are unfit for the job. Consequently, the State Government is over-burdened. The Chairmen in particular have operated as if they were not under the control of the voters – whose votes apparently don’t count. They only have to please somebody; and their job is secure. We see them only before elections and never again until the next one. Politicians in the state have held you responsible for that situation which can never breed excellence in council service.

For that reason, I was extremely delighted when you publicly announced that you have no preferred candidates in the primaries just concluded to select the flag-bearers for APC. I hope the PDP leaders will also allow the people at the grass roots to hire and fire their Chairmen – if they fail to perform. I strongly believe that allowing grass roots democracy is not only a moral imperative for believers in June 12, it is what will help clean Lagos up substantially. Getting the right people in Councils is vital. They are closer to the people.

Because of this, I paid particular attention to the APC primaries; and will do the same with the PDP exercise. Despite the reported violence and attempts to snatch election materials, most of the elections were satisfactory. I only hoped the official list of successful candidates will reflect the actual voting. My own branch of Sobowale families in Lagos State, which I head, owns properties in seven Local Government Councils in the three Senatorial Districts. We have stakes in what happens in those Councils – all of which are now in varying deplorable conditions. This current attempt to restore Councils to play their historical roles is, therefore, very crucial.

KOSOFE ON MY MIND

One of the Councils is Kosofe where the election was closely monitored; it was peaceful and the result was known at the end of the day. Surprisingly, a few days ago, there were reports of an attempt to rig the election. I was certain neither you nor Governor Sanwo-Olu was involved. My investigations indicate that the person behind the attempt to upturn the election is ex-Senator Ogunlewe. Ordinarily, any scheme designed to suppress intra-party democracy is absolutely reprehensible. To favour Ogunlewe in Lagos, by progressives, is unacceptable — given his track record. For the sake of those who might be too young to know, or too old to remember, let me issue from my “Fact File” the atrocities perpetrated by Senator Ogunlewe against the progressives, the people of Lagos State, his constituency (Lagos East Senatorial District) and against me personally.

Ogunlewe was voted a Senator from Lagos East. My people in Agbowa-Ikosi, Orugbo, Iganke and Ejirin delivered 97 per cent of their votes in that election. Ogunlewe got to the Senate and donated our mandate to the PDP. That is mandate robbery which is unbecoming of any honest person.

Obasanjo and Bode George rewarded his perfidy by appointing him Minister of Works. In that capacity he committed two major atrocities – one of which resulted in losses of lives and properties in Lagos – especially Lagos Island.

First, he unilaterally unleashed thugs dressed in FERMA uniforms on Lagos traffic to challenge LASTMA directly on major roads and to arrest civilians. The mayhem caused by the confrontation resulted in major upheaval in Lagos Island. Lives were lost. Shops were looted. Vehicles were destroyed – including my brand new KIA OPTIMA. Businesses were ruined. I was forced to call Bode George to come to his father’s house at Evans Street to see the extent of damage caused by Ogunlewe’s activities. I recovered from my loss. But, several of the people irredeemably financially crippled could no longer afford the rent in Lagos Island. Some moved to Kosofe low income areas. They were among the first people to draw my attention to the plan to favour Ogunlewe. Neither the dead nor the living will ever forgive Ogunlewe.

Second, as Minister of Works, he was the author of the BIG LIE told by the PDP and Obasanjo during the 2007 Presidential campaigns. He had deceived Obasanjo, who loved falsehood, that the FG had rehabilitated 500 roads since 1999. Three well-known facts exposed this lie.

One, all the Federal roads in Nigeria were not more than 170; and I knew and travelled all of them. Second, Abacha, despite his kleptomania, had appointed Major-General Buhari (rtd) as Chairman of the Presidential Special Task Force whose mandate included rehabilitation of FG roads. The well-funded PSTF had repaired dozens of roads before 1999 Elections. Ogunlewe and Obasanjo had fraudulently taken credit for work done by Abacha and Buhari. Third, and this is most important. The Ikorodu-Ijede-Imota-Agbowa-Itoikin-Epe road in Lagos is a federal road. Yet, it was not touched while Ogunlewe, from Ijede, was Minister. Is it possible that a politician who loves his people would take care of others nationwide and leave his own people to suffer?

He was eventually sacked after being known to be disloyal to his boss. OBJ and Bode learnt that they had a serial traitor on their hands!!! Obviously, this is not someone deserving any favours from the progressive camp. The dead and his victims, including children then, still alive, cry out ABO; meaning Anybody But Ogunlewe. True, his son is the candidate. But, even God promised to visit the sins of fathers on sons to the third and fourth generations. We did not select young Ogunlewe’s father for him. He has to live with the consequences of that.