He who desires to eat pork will not only wrestle with the pig, he also must win the battle.It was an afternoon campaign in Osun state organised by APC to ursher in Governor Aregbesola for the 2nd term. Music and various speeches were being rendered one after the other. But the major part of the whole campaign exercise could not commence since the banner of development had not arrived. Suddenly, there was a noise of a chopper hovering in the sky. I guess many could have thought it was a normal security routine patrol until the chopper began to descend.
When it finally landed. Guess who? It was not the APC Chairman, neither was it the Jagaban of Burdillion but the symbol of development himself , Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.
The people at the arena gave a shout. Even their governor could have been jealous.
As he was alighting from the chopper and walking towards the podium, Governor Aregbesola took the micro phone and started the praise. That is the governor of Lagos state, the symbol of excellence, the banner of the party, the restorer of hope, the role model etc. There was noise everywhere. And Governor
Aregbesola gave the joker by saying, we will be using the blueprint of Lagos state to support the on going development in Osun state.
And everybody screamed again. But the Governor failed to tell the people that he didn't have the luxury of funds available in Lagos state to play with. He failed to tell the people that some shop owners had to loose their shops and selling yards in Oshodi, Tejuosho, Obalende etc to make the Lagos blue print work. He also failed to tell the people that those gardens that looked so beautiful in Lagos state were once people's shops. Few months after the victory, governor Aregbesola couldn't pay salary again. A true lesson to all public office holders. There is a point in Governance where propaganda will no longer be effective. When the people will hold you accountable.
Then the train moved to Edo state. With all the vocals, aggression and skills of Governor Adam Oshiomhole, he still needed the presence of the symbol of development around to gather vote.
I guess the governors could have done it themselves, but the touch of Fashola seemed to be making the difference in all these campaign grounds.
Then, it was time for Governor Fayemi to present same banner of development for the people of Ekiti state but Governor Ayodele Fayose seemed to be smarter. Ayodele Fayose who had heard how this symbol was being used to conquer territories withstood them 48hours before the election along the way by not allowing them to enter Ekiti. He knew how far the symbol could pull crowd for Fayemi. And that was the way Fayemi lost out even in his local government. It was that bad.
With all these movements of conquering territories for APC, this poor boy was fighting a war within that he could not speak out to the media. As the end of his tenure was drawing closer, he knew clearly that his political future was blurred. I guess if it was a war with Olisa Metuh or Chief Bode George, he would not have been worried much but it was a war within. Only him could explain the pressure. He tried to protect his future by presenting Sasore to succeed him but that war was too strong for him. So Sasore charisma could not fly at the primary poll. He began to remember everyone in the likes of Ganiyu Solomon, Muiz Banire, Femi Pedro, kofoworola Burknor, etc in the past who tried to fight back but had their political career destroyed.
Solomon Ganiyu demanded from him a governorship ticket, he asked him to go back to the senate. The former senator was trying to be stubborn. He told him point clear. Go and buy your ticket and meet me at the pry poll. I do not think Senator Solomon Ganiyu could gather up to six votes. He was that powerful.
Immediately Fashola departed Alausa, he quickly ran to Abuja to see if he could pitch his political tent around President Buhari. At least my past work in Lagos should speak for me before PMB.
Things seemed to be promising for him with the newly elected President in the beginning . He even went to Germany with him. But after that, the battle within revealed itself again for this poor boy. Yet, he dared not say it outside. The real war suddenly began. Little by little, file by file and document by document, his alleged flaws while in office were systematically being released to the public domain.
Started from the website allegation, to bore hole, Falomo shopping complex etc. He tried to fight back by responding starting from the website scandal but how many would he defend even if he was truly innocent? I guess he must have been advised to keep quiet. This is what you see when you perfected and covered the flaws of your predecessor but your successor failed to cover you.
3 books were launched in honor of this poor boy for his service in Lagos state, no single leader of APC was present. Some of the governors he helped to secure victory denied him. Even his two deputies deserted him. President Buhari could not attend the one lunched for Rotimi Ameachi a week earlier but his wife represented him. Here, no president, no wife. Even Prof Osibajo was no where to be found.
In the words of the chairman of the book lunch Mr Fola Adeola as I quote.
According to him, “I believe everybody that came here today considers Fashola as a friend, brother, cousin, so I greet everyone and welcome them here. I will also say some people are here just because they are brave and not afraid. I believe in fullness of time, everything evolves and dissolves, things come and go. Fashola, SAN and a former Governor is now the only thing that will remain constant and the people who are here today are simply telling him that no matter what, they still remained his friend”.
Hmmmm. What a poor boy.
As I draw the cotton, In case you dont know, forget what PMB said in the US that the ministerial list would not be ready until September. The list was already set immediately after his inauguration but when he went through the list presented on behalf of south west APC leaders, Fashola's name was missing and President had to stylishly suspend the announcement. Quote me anywhere.
So, the recent open war against Fashola had to be staged play to convince Mr President that Fashola doesn't deserve a place in his cabinet.
If you followed the Vanguard headline of Friday, you will read how Fashola was schemed out for the post of SGF as it was initially rumoured for him. It is part of the war within.
May be he will be considered for another post in Buhari's cabinet as time goes on. That is left for the president to decide. May be he should have quit the party or change the game plan early especially at the end of his first tenure or not. Was Fashola used and dumped by the power that be in Lagos and APC as a whole? How far can he go in this war? Only time will tell.
We can only wish him well in his political career.
God bless Nigeria
@tunde_adenuga
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