Connect with us

Opinion

Hon Sanni Ganiu Babatunde Okanlawon: A man of the people on a date with history

Published

on

With less than two months to the 2023 general elections, the stakes are getting higher as desperate politicians are coming up with different antics, including blackmail and outright lies to discredit their opponents ahead of the election.

While the story may be the same across all political offices, it is howevwer taking a strange turn in Kosofe Local Government Area, where the election for the state house of assembly constituency 1 is getting hotter by the day with desperate politicians pulling all the tricks in their arsenal to upstage the incumbent, Hon Sanni Ganiu Babatunde Okanlawon.

A man of the people, Okalawon, better known among his people as OKLA, is adored by many, not for his handsomeness, but for the beautiful jobs he has done in the last three and half years in the assembly.

That he has a large followership was at play during the last primary election of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, when the opposition went to town with huge sacks of money in their desperate bids to woo the people. Sources who were privy to the election disclosed that a particular candidate offered N1 million per delegate. But the people chose to stand with OKLA, who in their estimation has given them unprecedented representation in the assmbly.

If you think the war is over with the primary election won and lost, you got it wrong as the opposition quickly regrouped and opted to fly the flag of another political party.

However, the most intriguing act of the opposition has been the continued claim of their membership of the APC, while at same time campaigning on the ticket of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

READ  June 12: FUTA Young Democracy Activists 30 Years After: Ondo Uncelebrated heroes of June 12

But because the people have refused to take the lies and the baits being offered, the opposition has resorted to blackmails and lies to discredit OKLA and his unparalleled achievements.

A reliable source who is also a member of the APC in Kosofe, who spoke with The Post on condition of anonymity, expressed surprise at the trick being played by the opposition.

He said: “These people are just cheap fraudsters. How can you claim to be a member of a party while at the same time contesting against the candidate of that party on the platform of another party. He thinks he fool the people, eat his cake and still have. No, that’s not possible. The good people of Kosofe know the truth and they have chosen to stand with the party, APC and it;s candidate, Hon Sanni Ganiu Babatunde Okanlawon.”

The latest was a write-up which made desperate attempt to twist the facts and put truth on its head. The writer, in his mischief-filled story twisted the story of the second Oworonsoki access road.

But reacting to the story, the media team of the OKLA campaign organisation wrote a rejoinder, which explained the true story of the access road and several other irrefutable achievements of Hon Sanni Ganiu Babatunde Okanlawon as a true representative of the people.

Read the rejoinder below:

Our attention has been drawn to a reckless comment filled with lies made by one Olusegun Apena in his wicked attempt to discredit the achievements of Hon Sanni Ganiu Babatunde Okanlawon, popularly known as OKLA, particularly the wonderful role he played in bringing to fruition the second Oworonsoki second access road and other numerous life-changing projects he attarcted to our Constituency.

READ  The founder's war: Oba of Benin, ancestors and Lagos

It is on record that our immediate past Oba Oloworo, God bless his soul, personally gave OKLA the assignment to ensure that another access into Oworonsoki town delivered. He kept to his promise and diligently pursed the job until the second access road was delivered.

For the benefits of those who may not know and most importantly, the ignorants of the fact like Mr Apena, the assignment was given to OKLA when he was appointed as Special Adviser. As one who has the interest of the community at heart, he ensured the issue of the 2nd Oworo access road was placed on the front burner before the state executive council. It was well debated and he lobbied those in charge to ensure that the project scaled through.

We all can remember vividly that the then Governor Ambode once joked and asked if OKLA is an indigene of Oworonsoki. The joke was not lost on those with discerning minds. It was the result of OKLA’s troubles and persistence on the issue of the road. The contract for the construction of the road was thereafter approved and OKLA led the stakeholders, including Engineer Johnson to a meeting at the Oba Oloworo Palace.

READ  Why Akure Must Compensate Governor Akeredolu With The Vacant House of Representatives Seat

Apena and his co-travellers never had such opportunity. And it is not a surprise that he is in the dark about the story and history of the second access road. He should wait for his time and stop disparaging a hardworking achiever like Honourable OKLA who has been adjudged as best honourable member Kosofe ever produced.

At this juncture, however, I wish to categorically appeal to the general public and most expecially, party faithful to ignore this wicked lie and as a matter of fact, see it as a lie from the pit of hell being peddled by a group of chop I chop people who have cloaked themselves as writers. their words are fake and their styles are like poisoned chalice. They are dangers both to themselves and others around them.

Like the old Yoruba adage, ‘Esin Ota Eni Kii Ga Loju Eni’. No matter what you do, your enemies will always be blind to your achievements and success. Dear Apena, let draw your attention and that of whoever sponsored your write-up to the story of the Fire Station in oworonsoki, the Pastor Ayorinde road, the Arowojobe vehicular bridge and severalnetwork of Drainages.

I would love to drop this piece of advice for you and others like you who dont know, or those who know and deliberately choose or pretend not to know, It is high time you had rethink before it is too late. Make a decision today and follow the person that knows the road. Gba f’oga e, as my people would say.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Opinion

Desperate Aiyedatiwa bares fangs inside Govt House chapel

Published

on

By

 

  • Appoints Self General Overseer
    Installs Indian Marabouts As Clergymen
    Stops Pastors from Wearing Cassocks

Nebuchadnezzar, infamous figure immortalized in the Bible, commands recognition as the Babylonian monarch whose relentless conquests laid waste to the temple of Jerusalem, seizing its sacred relics as spoils of war.

Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a great tree that shelters the whole world. But an angelic “watcher” appears and decrees that the tree must be cut down and that for seven years, he will have his human mind taken away and will eat grass like an ox.

 

The holy Bible generously describes and expounds a Chapel or Temple as the hallowed sanctuary of the Almighty. It is reserved for the reverential observance of sacred rites and solemn covenants deemed too divine for mundane settings. In all Chapels or Temples all over the world, these consecrated edifices are sanctuaries apart, shielded from the profane clamor of the secular world.

 

But an archetype of Nebuchadnezzar may have surreptitiously crept into Ondo without anyone noticing. While asking questions on what motivated the biblical Nebuchadnezzar to desecrate the holy Chapel or Temple of God, we are compelled to confront the actions of His Excellency (Hon.) Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa vis-à-vis the recent happenings inside the Government House Chapel.

READ  June 12: FUTA Young Democracy Activists 30 Years After: Ondo Uncelebrated heroes of June 12

 

In a bold and audacious move that is only comparable to that of Nebuchadnezzar, Governor Aiyedatiwa decreed that ordained priests, including Rev. Babalola of the Anglican Communion and Canon Enoch Adeleke of the Methodist Church, discard their traditional vestments, known as Casoc, in favor of resplendent native attire—Agbada & Sokoto—during sacred ceremonies.

 

This sweeping directive challenges the entrenched doctrines upheld by Orthodox Churches, igniting a maelstrom of doubt and apprehension. Many ponder whether this decree signals a bid to sideline and subjugate Christians within the precincts of the Ondo State Government House, potentially paving the way for the infiltration of unfamiliar beliefs.

 

It is important to note that the Government House Chapel predates Governor Aiyedatiwa’s tenure. It is equally worthy of note to state that none of his predecessor, be it an Executive Governor or Military Administrator, had dared to enact such a seismic shift from the norm.

 

The questions presently agitating the minds of Christians within and outside Ondo state is if the Governor would have dared to wield such authority within a Mosque?

READ  Kayode Ajulo: A brilliant, selfless lawyer earns a well-deserved honour

 

In response to this seismic upheaval, Christians across Ondo State and beyond are implored to maintain vigilance. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) must rise up against what is perceived as a grievous affront to the tenets of Christianity.

 

Adding to the intrigue, Aiyedatiwa proclaimed one fateful morning that he had been anointed by God to assume the mantle of General Overseer (GO) of the chapel. His subsequent participation in conducting last week’s Sunday service casts doubt upon his jurisdiction in matters of faith, casting a pall of uncertainty over Orthodox Churches.

 

But beyond this, the governor is said to have imported some strange-looking Marabouts to form part of the. An inside source disclosed that the men were indeed imported from India as part of a larger team of prayer warriors ahead of the governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress.

 

An elder in the chapel, who pleaded not to be named, said the governor has become paranoid about how church matters are are run in the chapel.

READ  The founder's war: Oba of Benin, ancestors and Lagos

 

“It is surprising what is driving the governor recently. He is carrying out changes that are aliens to the order of service in the chapel. Recently, some strange people were brought into the chapel. Some people said they were part of of his prayer warriors. It was later that we gathered that they were from India. We have never seen anything like this before,” the elder said.

 

Continue Reading

Opinion

Ondo 2024: Aiyedatiwa gets desperate, dangles Port Ondo contract before prominent Yoruba monarch for presidency support

Published

on

By

 

  • Promise of 25% equity stake
    Desperate to meet Tinubu and Southwest governors for support.
    Top Ondo Obas frowns at the idea

Ondo State governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa has become hyper desperate ahead of the the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) in April.

Inside sources have revealed that the governor, as part of his desperate search for the party’s ticket, has made the contract for the construction of Port Ondo as a bargaining chip to the Oni of Ife, his Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, to help secure the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR and the South West Governors.

 

The deal, according to impeccable sources, was brokered by the two prominent Yoruba politicians (names withheld) who had stood with Ayedatiwa in his recent political battle against his former boss and benefactor, late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON.

 

Reports have it that, Aiyedatiwa became desperate after several failed attempts to get the President’s attention over his ambition. He reportedly ran to a former governor of Ondo State, who according to information, has become his godfather and Chief Strategist.

READ  Revolutionplus Property drags Kayode Oladipo to court for libel

 

The former governor was said to have secured the assistance of an Osun State-born former Secretary of the APC. At the meeting, which was held at the private quarters of the Oni of Ife, he was asked to provide an opportunity for Aiyedatiwa to meet President Tinubu and the governors of the South West.

 

Among the issues discussed at the meeting was how to overlook Aiyedatiwa’s alleged ‘sins’ to Akeredolu, during and after his death.

 

However, as at the time of filing this report, some prominent monarchs in Ondo State are said to have gotten wind of the plan and are said to be spoiling for a fight.

 

A source, who did not want to be metioned, said the action of the governor is already causing a lot of anger and bad blood among the monarchs in the Sunshine State.

Continue Reading

Opinion

OF OTA-FRIENDS AND ORE-NEMIES OF AKETI- END OF THE EMERGENCY BEARD OF LUCKY AYEDATIWA

Published

on

By

 

By Sola Ajisafe, Esq

” The worth of a man is not in the vastness of his estate or the fatness of his vault but in the totality of his character and serenity of his inner being” – Anonymous

 

Last week, I called out our Governor about the whereabouts of his wife, our First Lady and why the “Oza room” had been empty. Nothing of note came out from him or his aides that tends to answer the relevant question. This is a common practice in the media orgy coupled together currently around the Governor. They will “leave ete to be treating lapalapa”.

 

Just like the ridiculous Press Statement about the clownish violence perpetrated on his other contestants during the President’s visit or the anti- Aketi executive poorly put together by Lucky. Wetin be my own? Today, my attention is to ask Mr. Governor ” Where is your Aketi beard?

 

The disappearance of Lucky’s beards is a significant pointer to how fake, unreliable and fluid our Governor is as a person. The open celebration and association with Aketi arch enemies, betrayers and discredited individuals in his newly inaugurated Executive is a pointer to what to expect in that government. Aside from a few individuals, that teal lack character and content. Anyway, (10) months no be anybody’s friend. E no dey play o.

 

Mr. Governor, it was not news that on your return from your long Abuja trip with your “Abuja activists”, the first thing Ondo State people noticed was that you have changed your looks and the Aketi beard had disappeared. If there was anything to point to the fact that the romance between you and your boss had ended, it was that change of personality. When on the day you addressed a press conference asking for forgiveness it was clear that you were playing with our intelligence as a people.

READ  Why Akure Must Compensate Governor Akeredolu With The Vacant House of Representatives Seat

 

I know as of a fact that in Nigeria of today, everything is cruise, just like most politicians in Nigeria are petty traders. They lack originality, political ideology and are bereft of sound intellectual understanding of what it means to be politically straightforward and upright. They are duplicious in their actions and profoundly vague in their thoughts. They are not better than Aba/Onitsha or China ( Chinco) products usually referred to as ” baruf” (fake) during our secondary school days.

When the going was good

I said Nigerian politicians are cruise chasers. The current vogue of wearing Awo or Afenifere cap remains a valid example. At a point in time, every manner of persons adopted it as their passport to enter the progressive palour. As they come in many colours and shapes so are the baboon elements and their virtues. They only take to mind the shapes and the embossed scollopings. They do not come an inch close to what it represents. Many of them and the ” alright sir boys” around Alagbaka government house/office have the same mental attributes except that one give alms while the other takes. All na same.

 

Just like the Awo cap, some elements within the Akeredolu government picked up the tendency of wearing beards immediately Aketi came on board in 2017. Not long after some of them could not maintain the discipline and tenacity that came with having the Fidel Castro or Che Guevara beard. That was what Aketi carried as far back as his days in the University or shortly thereafter. Time and age enveloped it and turned it to a Father Christmas on him.

READ  The founder's war: Oba of Benin, ancestors and Lagos

 

Our Governor, Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa was one of those that started the culture of wearing beards like Aketi. He was helped by time and age so he does not have to add anything to make it white. Yet, “abinibi” is quite different from “ability”. While Aketi’s beard was custom made, those of the copy cats were as fake as the products of “Yaba Apa Otun, Katangua or Oshodi under bridge”where tokunbo clothes and materials are sold.

With Aketi’s beards
The story here is not just about wearing a beard to look like your boss. I used to pity these imitators in those early days of the Aketi government. They do not carry those beards because it fits them or that they were comfortable. They carried it to show off their loyalty. I have seen people move from one politically exposed person and one party to another wearing the badge of their loyalty like an insignia of office only to take to flight immediately something happened. I have heard people tell me ” I will read Aketi like a book for eight (8) years, only to take to flight having realized that the man is nearing his end. They divulged his medical history to his ” ota-friends” and ” ore-nemies”.

 

For instance, who would believe that Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa will so soon return almost clean shaven from his haitus in Abuja without the ” emergency beards” that he wore so much and faithfully when he was stalking Aketi and his family to get political relevance. Immediately he got what he wanted and he learnt from the snitches who report every action of Aketi to him he “dis-beard” himself from Aketi and became the Lucky of the emergency activists both in Abuja and in Ondo State.

READ  Kayode Ajulo: A brilliant, selfless lawyer earns a well-deserved honour

 

For me, loyalty is not something to be worn like a badge or rendered like a song. Loyalty does not mean you cannot quarrel or disagree on principle. It also does not mean you should be a slave. However, loyalty means “one for all, all for one”. When it’s comfortable or not comfortable.

 

Every leader and influential person must learn something from the life and times of Aketi. Human beings love what they can get from you. They do not care about you so soon you are no longer useful to them or you no longer posses the capacity to do things for them.

 

I call on everyone that still has a dint of humanity in them and felt a hunch for Aketi and decided to stay with him during his trying period and are been persecuted to know that a new dawn is in the offing. And for those who benefitted from Aketi but contributed towards his death by their actions and deeds or are determined to destroy his legacy or are willing to forget the good old days to note that Karma is a bitch and so unforgiven. Just take note of my words.

The disappearance of Lucky’s “Aketi beard” was too sudden. It showed there was no altruism in it in the first place.

 

Continue Reading

Trending News