By: Hon Comrade James Onifade
In the turbulent landscape of Osun State’s politics, where power plays and financial improprieties often dominate headlines, it’s crucial to revisit the warnings and critiques that have been voiced repeatedly.
As someone who has consistently highlighted these issues in past discussions, I’ve emphasized the dangers of complacency in the face of opposition maneuvers. Drawing from my earlier articles on the media’s role in shaping public perception, the unchecked influence of political godfathers, and the criminal handling of public funds, it’s evident that the current administration under Governor Ademola Adeleke, despite its commendable achievements has inadvertently ceded ground to the All Progressives Congress (APC) through a lack of aggressive media engagement and proactive countermeasures.
Let’s start with the elephant in the room: the brazen withdrawal of substantial funds reportedly up to 50 billion naira into private accounts linked to opposition figures. This isn’t just an administrative oversight; it’s a blatant criminal offense.
As I’ve pointed out in previous writings, since the inception of local governments in Nigeria, the sole signatories to these accounts have been the Heads of Local Administration (HLA) and the Directors of Finance (DFs), not individual politicians or their proxies. Yet, under the shadow of APC’s godfather influence, likely alluding to high-profile figures like President Bola Tinubu, who have historically propelled the party’s agenda in the Southwest the opposition has orchestrated such moves with impunity.
This echoes the controversies I’ve discussed before, such as the United Bank for Africa (UBA) scandal involving illegal payments to APC council chairmen, where pressure from institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria allegedly forced complicity, opening the door to potential imprisonment for all involved. How did we arrive here? Through a calculated push by these godfathers, who’ve elevated the APC to its current position, only to exploit it for personal gain.
In my past analyses, I’ve stressed that this kind of overreach couldn’t have occurred under previous governors or counterparts in other states, where robust checks and balances were in place. Aregbesola’s tenure, for instance, was marked by a no-nonsense approach to fiscal accountability, preventing such egregious abuses. But in Osun today, the opposition’s audacity stems directly from the present government’s relative calmness. I’ve been vocal about this since the early signs emerged, warning that allowing the APC an edge through inaction would lead to chaos.
The fear of an untraceable state of emergency often dangled as a federal threat has loomed large, but as I’ve argued before, it simply won’t work this time.
Osun’s sovereignty must be asserted, there’s no justification for sheathing our swords when the battle for the state’s integrity is at stake.
This brings me to a direct address to the state government, Governor Adeleke, and all political functionaries: You have not done the right thing by remaining subdued.
The party’s leadership and the administration’s restraint have emboldened the opposition to push boundaries they shouldn’t cross. Instead of running helter-skelter now, we should have been miles ahead with sustained media engagements.
As I’ve advocated in my earlier pieces on political strategy, series of press conferences, op-eds, and public briefings could have exposed these schemes early on. Why stop there? We should have looped in the international community organizations like the United Nations or Amnesty International to spotlight the erosion of democratic norms. Private and public agencies, from anti-corruption bodies like the EFCC to civil society groups, needed to be informed and mobilized.
And yes, organized protests, peaceful, strategic demonstrations should have been staged long ago to rally public support and deter federal interference. Remember, the state government is the rightful owner and chief commander of Osun. No matter the federal might wielded by the APC or its patrons, this authority can not be undermined without consequence. In my past praises of Governor Adeleke whom I’ve described as a “talk and do” leader, a messiah for Osun’s people, I’ve highlighted his strides in infrastructure, education (like the recent teacher recruitments), health, agriculture, and security. Awards for fiscal transparency and youth empowerment underscore these good works, as I’ve noted in discussions on his accountability. Yet, we’ve allowed panic and phobia to overshadow these achievements, letting opposition narratives dominate.
The internal APC divisions I’ve critiqued before their candidate disqualifications and behavioral lapses, like the disrespectful conduct of figures such as Bola Oyebamiji, should have been amplified through our media channels to weaken their stance.
It’s time to reclaim the narrative. The people of Osun deserve a government that fights fiercely, not one that reacts belatedly. By channeling these efforts now, media blitzes, global outreach, and public mobilization, we can ensure the opposition’s overreach is not just exposed but decisively halted.
As I’ve said all along, silence is complicity; action is sovereignty. Let’s not let panic eclipse the progress we’ve built. The future of Osun depends on it.
E-signed: Hon Comrade James Onifade
Advocate for Good Governance and A a Better Judicial System
