OYO STATE: THE DISTINGUISHED AND THE HONOURABLES

By Michael Egbejumi-David

It is about a year now since Oyo – the Pace Setter State – produced another first and became Lamidi Adedibu State.  Chief Adedibu is the 81 years old current owner/care taker of that State.  Hear current figurehead Governor Christopher Alao-Akala: “Ladoja (the former governor) should have involved him (Adedibu) in forming the government; you cannot exclude this man from decision-making. For God’s sake, this man is an old man, you cannot reform him. This man belongs to an old school of thought. If, for example, he asked me, Mr. Governor, I want you to kill this one tomorrow I would say, ‘Yes, sir.’ Then I would go back the following day and say, ‘Why do you want us to kill that man?’ Then I will provide another solution— we will not kill him, let us bring him to order. If he asked me for N100, I will say, ‘Yes, sir.’ But then the next day, I will say, ‘Baba, I am sorry, I don’t have the N100, here is N20 for you to manage.’ That is only an example. I will recommend Baba as a lecturer at the University Ibadan to teach, to lecture students about practical politics.”

It was reported on May 13 2008 that whilst Alao-Akala paid the N5million deposit for Adedibu’s recent 10 days admission at the Reddington Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos; the three Senators currently representing the State coughed up N2million each.  Adedibu himself had this to say: “They (newspapers) reported that I was even fighting with Senator Folarin for not paying my N2million hospital bill. The point is that we have three Senators representing Oyo State. The three Senators are from my bedroom, all of them.  I even took from the money when I was coming. The money is more than the amount peddled in the media. If not for the money I was even collecting there I would not even come home. I have to take permission.”

Yes.  This used to be a regal State; an intellectual hub.  Today, apart from Alao-Akala, also in the front row and presently speaking for that once dynamic corner of the country are the following:

In the Senate:

Kamorudeen Adekunle Adedibu (PDP) He is of course, Lamidi Adedibu’s son.  Some people think he was the Adedibu’s son who was arrested in 2004 for allocating government forest reserves to timber merchants without authorisation.  That was actually his brother Akeem.  I understand he is the only one of the Adedibu scions with some modicum of education.  Despite a lot of effort however, I couldn’t find his educational records.  Neither could I find previous work history.  But he’s got the name that matters.    And that name cropped up as one of the shareholders in one of Lamidi Adedibu’s construction (or rather, contracting) firms – specifically the one that got the N200million contract to renovate Mapo Hall.  Kamorudeen in fact replaced former Senator Lekan Balogun (Oyo South).  Balogun it was who was attacked and beaten black and blue along with his security details by Adedibu’s thugs at the Oyo State House of Assembly in January 2007 where he had ventured to attempt some peace initiatives.

During the screening exercise for members of the board of the Federal Character Commission, Kamorudeen Adedibu asked one of the nominees Professor Shuaib Abdulraheem, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, “Are you a thief?”  The gathering was stunned.  So was Prof Abdulraheem; who after regaining his composure retorted “I am not a thief; rather, I am a thief catcher.”  Kamoru couldn’t come back from that.  That was basically the end of his participation during that screening exercise.  At the last Sallah, Kamoru turned up at the home of former governor Lam Adesina with a truckload of ram as Sallah gift.  Adesina’s son, Adedapo Adesina prevented Adedibu from entering their compound with his rams.  The carload of people accompanying Adedibu alighted and squared up for a showdown; but the security and other people around the Adesina’s home and area stood up as well.  But for this, only God knows what could have been slaughtered for Sallah that day.  Anyway, Adedibu called off his goons but promised to “catch up” with Adedapo later and deal with him.

Kamoru is the Chairman of the Industry Committee. Member; Defence & Army, Information & Media, Federal Character & Inter-Governmental Affairs, Employment, Labour & Productivity Committees.

Teslim Folarin (PDP) This chap is the Senate Majority Leader. He is Adedibu’s godson and was his aide before ending up in the Senate.  He’s got something called an MSCE from someplace called Elite College in London.  Elite College is one of those corner shop places in the UK targeted at foreigners looking for a visa.  Their equivalents in Nigeria would be called Advanced Lessons.  They only offer four subjects: Computing, Business Studies, Travel & Tourism, and English as a second language.  MSCE means Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.  It basically means you can manage a Microsoft computer and Server.  It takes all of fourteen days to achieve this.

Earlier this year on a UK TV Station, Folarin citing “classified information” declared that the Beechcraft 19900 aircraft belonging to Wings Aviation that was reported to have crashed and/or missing is not actually missing.  He said on the programme “somebody’s trying to pull a fast number on us” adding that as far as he was concerned, “there was no missing plane.” Just this month, he was again in the news - this time for knocking down parts of, and attempting to demolish a house adjacent to a plot of land leased to him in Iyaganku GRA, Ibadan.  The Oyo State Government had to formally issue him a warning against trespassing and continued demolition of the house.  What was Folarin’s excuse?  He did not realise he was issued 1 plot of land.  He thought it was 2!  Even if he thought he was issued 2 plots of land, would that include a complete modern house that is fully occupied?  Not just that, the part demolitions were carried out with the occupants of the house still in there!  Nobody had ever gone to them to ask them to leave.

When Folarin is not in the Senate he can be found at the Molete residence of Adedibu.  Even his spouse knows enough to go there to look for him.  Anyway, he is also the Vice Chairman, Rules & Business Committee of the Senate.  Member, Marine Transport, Appropriation, Committees although he says his legislative interest is foreign affairs.

Gbenga Andrew Babalola (PDP) He is Adedibu’s son-in-law.  Again, couldn’t find this man’s educational records.  To ensure his trouble-free nomination during the PDP Primary Election at Soun Stadium Ogbomoso, his supporters brought out a few guns and started shooting into the air.  That cleared the place fast as everyone but his supporters ran away.  Most people thought that was the end of the Primary; no election that day.  They were wrong.  Babalola was nominated by a 100% landslide.  He is touted in his home quarters as an “international consultant” – whatever that means.

Babalola is the Vice Chairman, Agriculture Committee. Member; Land Transport, Works, Public Accounts, Ethics & Petition Committees.

House of Representatives:

Due to space constraint, we’ll look at just a few of the Honourables.

Mudashiru Kamil Akinlabi (PDP) Akinlabi is actually a very likeable fellow.  He is reputed to be a HND holder.  He was recently on a national TV programme discussing with others, recent national events.  He was asked whether the health of Yar’Adua has become an issue.  He responded that no, it has not.  I wished he had stopped there.  He didn’t.  He went on to add that “it is all politics, PDP opponents must say something, you know we are still in Tribunal.”  When he was asked about the government’s less than satisfactory performance as regards the economy, he said that what Yar’Adua inherited was “a holistic system, economy, and everything that were packaged for a particular purpose.”  Now, what the hell does that mean?!  He further explained that Yar’Adua has achieved a lot in the area of corruption.  When asked what has been achieved since Nuhu Ribadu was removed from the EFCC.  Again, he responded “a lot.”  He was then pressed to mention just one.  He said “Ribadu was not there when James Ibori was prosecuted.”  Everyone had a good chuckle.  They were kind enough to remind him that James Ibori has not been prosecuted.  But Akinlabi was just warming up.

He reminded the other discussants that before the 2007 elections, “Ribadu went to Ibadan and told the people that Akala and Adedibu are not fit people to rule the government.  But today, Akala is the governor of Oyo State which mean he (Ribadu) told the nation lies.”  When asked if that was his understanding of what took place in Oyo State, he responded that indeed, that was his reading. [Sigh].  From that point on, any time a question was directed at him, another House of Representative colleague from Edo State would jump in.

Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo (PDP) This is Adedibu’s neighbour’s daughter.  She was a frontline member of the “Due Process Group.”  That was the group of House of Representative members who came together to counter the anti-Etteh group in those smelly bad hair days.   Olunloyo-Ohinowo was among the about twelve House members that announced the formation of that group.

Festus Adewale Adegoke (PDP) Adegoke was among the 10 or so House of Rep members that accompanied former House Speaker Etteh to Maryland, USA August last year to celebrate her 54^th birthday.  He was a staunch Etteh supporter during the N628million contract saga.  It was he who muted the idea that the former Speaker be left alone so that Yar’Adua can present the budget.  He was always going about assuring everyone that Etteh was going nowhere.  She did.

Muraina Saubana Ajibola (PDP) I understand this gentleman has a law degree.  Just a few days ago, he condemned the House of Representative Committee investigating how Obasanjo spent some $16b in Nigeria to generate a bit more darkness.  He said the invitation by that Committee to Obasanjo asking him to come and explain himself was a “parliamentary blunder.”  Amazingly, Ajibola is member of the investigating Committee.  He declared that “respect begets respect.”  Unfortunately, he did not see the irony in his own statement.  Mind you, he was speaking from outside Nigeria where there was enough electricity for him to charge his cell phone battery.

The House of Assembly

I started to write about the folks here but I just had to discontinue that exercise.  The less said about that joint and its motley crew of largely ex-motor park retirees and its other occupants, the better.  Suffice to say that Human Rights Watch reported that during Alao-Akala’s previous 11-month illegal tenure his supporters in the House – the 18 lawmakers that still form the core of the present House - siphoned off more than N45 million ($346,000) each month for their own personal use.

Finally, the talk around town by those in the know is that Adedibu – health permitting - is waiting his turn to be the next Olubadan, and then his wife, Alhaja Bose Adedibu, whom he tried to get into some political office in 2007 but couldn’t because she is said to be a stark illiterate, will become the next Governor of his State. No lie…

demdem@hotmail.co.uk

Robot  Villager

# 1 “…you cannot exclude this man from decision-making. For God’s sake, this man...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 26.05.2008 09:56

philipikita  Villager

# 2 NO. This is not true. Are you writing about Oyo State, the state of the famous UI? That produced Bola Ige as governor? Where are the structures of the old Western Region? at least the old bureaucratic structures in Lagos, Kaduna, and Kano for instance, are very key to some modicum of checks on political cannibals of Adedibu's ilk... Posted by philipikita| 26.05.2008 13:37

Irasmus  JJC

# 3 Hi Michael, I read with kin interest your piece on Oyo State. one of the characters you described happens to be one I know personally. As much as the appropriate reaction to the sordid story of the motley crew - as you call them - and their escapades should have been one of horror, I find it difficult to say I'm shocked or surprised by any of it. Nigeria has long been in the strangle hold of gangsters for as long as I can remember and the fact that this criminals are doing business as usual is not much of a surprise. What does come as something of a surprise is that there are any Nigerians left at all with sufficient sense of decency and outrage to write about these people the way you have. If more of us did our bit to expose what is going on and hold these criminals to account, I believe we shall one day take our country and our government back from Adedibu and co. One of your subjects lived in the United Kingdom between 1989 and 2003. He and his wife apparently took advantage of the generousity of British bankers and took out a £15000 loan each for the express purpose of bribing Adedibu and the rest is history. Isn't it amazing that that is all it takes to hijack power in a country of over 100 million people? Irasmus Posted by Irasmus| 26.05.2008 18:31

Tej  JJC

# 4 Hi Readers, Anytime I read about Adedibu, Akala and their Politics of Gbegiri and Amala, I feel saddened that this is happening right in my State. This is a state known for excellence, intellect and sound political ideologies not only in Nigeria but outside the shore of this great country. I hope that well meaning citizens of Oyo state will wake up from their slumber and bring Oyo State back to its place of glory. Enough of this insults from Adedibu and his cohorts. Posted by Tej| 26.05.2008 22:11

i-go-better  Villager

# 5 =Tej;4295046762>Hi Readers, Anytime I read about Adedibu, Akala and their Politics of Gbegiri and Amala, I feel saddened that this is happening right in my State. This is a state known for excellence, intellect and sound political ideologies not only in Nigeria but outside the shore of this great country. I hope that well meaning citizens of Oyo state will wake up from their slumber and bring Oyo State back to its place of glory. Enough of this insults from Adedibu and his cohorts. Tej, Start something yourself! I watched the TV program in question (AIT FOCUS NIGERIA) and to see a character of that low quality as Senator from Oyo State leaves me with the impression that things are no longer the same with the Yorubas known for quality representation particularly at the National level. Ette as speaker from Yoruba land? Hmmm. Posted by i-go-better| 27.05.2008 07:45

Irasmus  JJC

# 6 The question I'd like to ask everyone who reads Michael's article and scrunch up their face in disgust at the very putrid stench of it all, is this: Are we just going to sit here in the comfort of armchairs and bemoan the sad state of affairs while these criminals get on unchallenged with screwing up our country or are we going to do something about it? Adedibu and others like him are playing a simple game of he-who-dares-wins! They are simply telling us "we will f*** you up all we want and there's not the sh*** you can do about it" This is why they are not making much of any kind of an attempt to hide what's going on. I personally feel there is a lot we can do about it and until we stop waiting for God to come down from heaven, the only change that will happen will be for the worse. How long before my mum and your dad have to pay protection fees to Adedibu's thugs before they can walk the streets of Ibadan? We can organize, form alliances , get the backing of well meaning influential people and institutions around the world, raise money, blitz the air waves with Nigeria's story and leave these people with no place to hide; start a ground swell of public opinion at home and abroad to tell these people we've had enough and we want our country back! No doubt there will be people out there reading this and thinking this guy is a dreamer. Gee, what can I say, it is dreamers like Irasmus who are exploring the outer reaches of the solar system at a time when parents in Edo state and elsewhere in Nigeria are having to sell their daughters to prostitution rings in Italy because they are forced into a corner by inept and corrupt leadership . I have no doubt in my mind that Nigeria has no business being in the sate that it is right now but for the failure of leadership and the failure of the citizenry to hold their leaders to account. Yes, the largest majority of our people are illiterate rural dwellers with sketchy concept of the ideals of democracy and it's attendant principles, they are no less deserving of the dignity that is taken for granted by people else where in the world. This is why we must organize, educate, drive up awareness of the issues at stake and mobilize our people into recognizing that their own fate is really in their own hands and until they take responsibility for it, they will always be victims of oppression and exploitation. Does anyone out there feel me? Please let me know. Irasmus Posted by Irasmus| 27.05.2008 08:19

toksyleigh  Villager

# 7 It can only get worse from here...you wait and see. God help us all, Goriola Abamieda Jr. Posted by toksyleigh| 27.05.2008 13:07

docokwy  Villager

# 8 Clanishness, incompetence, mediocrity and closeted existence. What more can I say? Posted by docokwy| 27.05.2008 16:57