09 Jun 2006 |
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| THE war of attrition in Ibadan politics is getting messier by the day. It is only a matter of time before an explosion occurs in that city, with undoubtedly foreseeable consequences for the democratic process. It is useful that President Olusegun Obasanjo has summoned the Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala and his Deputy, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi to Abuja but it is doubtful if that would make much difference. When Ahmadu Ali, the PDP chieftain referred to Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu as the Commander of the Ibadan garrison whose word should be considered law in Ibadan politics, we had asked him to shut up for describing civilian politics in military terms. But what is now happening in Ibadan is truly best described as "garrison politics". The only difference is that Adedibu is no longer truly in control. His "garrison politics" has bred junior commanders, with troops of their own, and sub-plots within the main plot, mini-battles within the theatre of war. Every weapon in the arsenal of power competition is being deployed: rhetoric, arms and ammunition, physical combat, violence, and ego. Each camp is determined to cancel out the other: there is a big battle for the control of the city of Ibadan, its politics, and the PDP in Oyo State - with the eyes of the combatants trained on the ultimate prize: the Governorship of the State. This struggle for power in Ibadan is unique, compared to similar crisis in other states in part because of its constantly mutating nature; its capacity for self-reproduction and the underlying fear that the situation could spiral out of control, leaving corpses and ghosts on the field of battle. There are four fronts to this battle. The first is the unsettled conflict between former Governor Rashidi Ladoja and his erstwhile godfather, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu. The story of their clash is already well-known, it needs not be repeated at great length. The Godfather wanted the Governor to give him on a monthly basis, a percentage of the state security vote. He also wanted his own appointees as Commissioners in charge of strategic portfolios. In other words, Adedibu wanted to run the Government of Oyo State, with the elected Governor as his stooge. When Ladoja began to insist that he had a different mandate, he was publicly reminded by Adedibu that he, Adedibu made him Governor by manipulating the electoral process in his favour! To prove this point, Adedibu divided the State House of Assembly down the middle, and with the majority of the lawmakers on his side and the state judiciary willing to do the bidding of the powerful, Ladoja was excised like a malignant tumour from the Oyo Government House. Adedibu was openly supported in the execution of this coup by Aso Villa, specifically by President Obasanjo. The Ladoja saga remains one of the dark episodes of Nigeria's Fourth Republic. It exposed, as did the Anambra debacle, the underdeveloped nature of Nigerian politics and the fragile character of our democracy. But the dust has not settled. The supporters of Adedibu and Ladoja have since then continued to exchange gun-fire and threats. Heads have been battered, clothes have been torn; lives have been lost, limbs have been cut. Reconciliation meetings have ended in physical combats. On Tuesday, this scenario was re-enacted at the Ibadan North West Local Government Council. The Chairman of the local PDP branch, one Alhaji Dosu Akanni reportedly described the outbreak of violence as "some house cleaning exercise in the area"; and "what happened this morning is part of politics ... what is happeninig now is part of the on-going reconciliation". We do not need to consult the Oracle at Delphi to know that the possibility of reconciliation between the Adedibu and Ladoja groups is foreclosed. The latter is determined to fight a loser's battle and turn the tables. Adedibu is determined to hold on to the command of his "garrison". His authority is being challenged by the rebels. The second battle -front is occupied, ironically, by the present Governor Adebayo Alao Akala and his imposed Deputy, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi who is acting as Alhaji Adedibu's agent in government. Thus, Alao-Akala vs Gbolarumi, is the same as Alao-Akala vs Adedibu. Alao-Akala, Ladoja's former Deputy, was used by Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu to sabotage, and humiliate the former Governor. Alao-Akala, a former policeman was too glad to be used. He refused to support his boss. He teamed up with Adedibu and his henchmen to organise the removal of Ladoja from office. These conspirators must have described their plot as "politics", but on Alao-Akala's part, he was guilty of treachery, most brazen, most unconscionable. At the moment, he has no peace. His supporters are up in arms against the aides of his Deputy Governor who is not hiding the fact that he too, would love to be Governor, now if possible, but most certainly in 2007. In the last week, Alao-Akala's Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy was reportedly kicked, slapped and threatened by the Gbolarumi camp. Akala's supporters who have been campaigning for his candidature in 2007 have been beaten and abused. In retaliation, Alao-Akala has had to fire three of his Deputy's aides with an express instruction, in the fashion of a military commander, that they must not be seen anywhere near Government premises henceforth. Gbolarumi is alleging "bias". He says he is not running in 2007, but his Godfather who has now disowned Alao-Akala, has made it clear that Alao-Akala is merely a regent: he should forget about the 2007 crown. The third battle-ground is occupied by the foot-soldiers of the aforementioned Commanders of the emergent Ibadan garrison politics. These include the factional leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Ibadan Metropolis: Tokyo and Tawa . These drivers, with a ready army of thugs and political henchmen are under the command of the Godfathers in the battle. They are ready and willing to engineer violence at short notice. They operate at the crudest level of Ibadan politics. They are willing to go in and out of police detention; so secure are they that they think of no consequences in form of official sanction when they move onto the streets with their troops. They are feared. They are bold. They are in fact, above the law. Before the removal of Ladoja as Governor, Adedibu had boasted that Tokyo, who was then in police custody on a murder charge would be released immediately after Ladoja's exit. He even gave a date. Tokyo was eventually released as predicted by the all-knowing Adedibu who parades himself as the de-facto ruler of Ibadan. There are other foot-soldiers who are no less a part of the problem in Ibadan politics. These are the lawmakers, the Councillors and Council Chairmen, and the retinue of Special Assistants who with the rumours that they carry, the sycophancy that they display, have all helped to promote tension in Ibadan politics. Many of them are profiting from this, but the painful losers are the people of Oyo State who are being denied the benefit of governance. Since Alao-Akala assumed office as Governor, he has not been allowed to govern even for a day. There are bad roads in Oyo State, schools that do not function; unpaid salaries... What deductions can we make from the foregoing? How can politics in Oyo State be rescued from the clutches of the PDP adventurists and the contumacious Lamidi Adedibu? What is happening in Ibadan is not politics, it is not part of a reconciliation process - Alhaji Dosu Akanni obviously needs some education! - rather what is on display is the continuing failure of the PDP as a political party. It is a divided party which no longer represents the people but factional, individual interests. It further lacks internal democracy and the essential values of a political party as an organised body that is committed to a vision of social reality. In Ibadan, as in Anambra, the National Assembly and elsewhere, the PDP has made more impact (negative of course) on society with its internal incoherence. Its continued survival as the dominant party in Nigerian politics is ironic. The conduct of the party in Oyo State ought to provide solid ammunition for the other political parties in that state, to wake up, and begin to challenge it. The people of Oyo State deserve an alternative. The political culture that breeds and promotes "Amala" politicss is bad. There should be a kind of reformation in Oyo State politics. The destiny of the people is in the hands of people who should be in the background. Akala is a former policeman who has shown a desperate interest in power as an end in itself. Gbolarumi's School Certificate is doubtful. Tokyo and Tawa are constantly fighting. The man who has brought all of them together - Adedibu - his only qualification is that he has mastered the art of intimidation. The effect of his influence is catastrophic. To grant the PDP victory in Oyo State in 2007 would be an unfortunate accident. But before then, the question must be asked: where are the voices of reason in the Ibadan community? Ibadan, the largest city in West Africa, and one of Nigeria's historical cities, is the home of intellectuals and distinguished public figures who have made their mark in business and the professions. It is sad that the Ibadan elite is comatose, they appear unconcerned; they have joined the band of spectators, they are shamelessly silent. Do they know Adedibu at all? Do they know the other gladiators? Do they talk to them? In Yoruba communities, when a few persons constitute themselves into a threat to public peace, there are laid-down traditional procedures for calling such persons to order. It is noteworthy that there is an Olubadan on the throne in Ibadan. What is the role of the Olubadan-in-Council in the present crisis? Are the members also watching and waiting for Ibadan to explode? Or do they think "what is happening is politics or reconciliation?" There is an element of poetic justice to the entire debacle. The Adedibu group had managed before now to present Rashidi Ladoja as the main problem in Ibadan politics. What has been exposed since his exit is their own lack of sincerity and the crudity of their methods. Adebayo Alao-Akala is also learning some bitter lessons about power and politics. Those who used him are now his great enemies. The relationship between Godfathers and their sons, we have now seen, is not based on principles but expediency. Adedibu is a lion on the rampage; if he looks for a prey and he cannot find it, he devours the people around him. Akala is his current target. And Akala does not have the people behind him. Nobody is sympathising with him. Within the first week of his emergence as Governor, he went to Adedibu's house every morning to prostrate. He also bought cars for all the members of the Oyo State House of Assembly who voted against Ladoja, and thus brought him to power. What is it that he has since done wrong? Did he stop prostrating to the Godfather? Did he refuse to give Adedibu the share of the security vote that he wanted? Alao -Akala rode the tiger to power, he is about to end up in its belly.
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