TITLE: May the Dynasty Get Weak, May the Structures Get Dispersed, and May the Chains Get Broken!
By: Issa Mutolib Ayobami (Megabyte) Kwara State Coordinator; Society for Continuum of Change and Development (SCCD).
E-mail: iammegabyte@gmail.com
Digits: 08102627059
Dear Leader,
Distinguished Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the Chairman of the 8th National Assembly and the President of the 8th Senate, a two (2) term Governor of Kwara State, the erstwhile Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF), erstwhile Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology and also member of the Senate Committee on Capital Markets and Finance, one time senior special adviser (SSA) on budget, economic and planning, one time this and one time that, but the fact remains that you are the number one (1) political citizen in Kwara, some even call you the Governor but I call you the Governor-general of Kwara State, I would continue referring to you as “leader” because in truth, you still remain the leader of Kwara State politics as I’m writing this piece. You have negated the popular saying that “A tree doesn’t make a forest”, as your singular tree has made a forest in modern Kwara State political terrain, no wonder wherever your pendulum swings to, your dance steps shifts to, your gaze catches, or your music beats to, the majority of Kwarans only choice is to adjust themselves to your decision, not because of anything as many of your diehard political caucus actually don’t like you, but because of your stronghold of the politicking in Kwara and they are left with no choice than to do your bidding, thanks to God that I don’t fall within the category of those without choice, and thousands of Kwarans have also attained that level.
My leader, before I go further, I would like you to know that I’m a fully blooded Kwaran from Ilorin, not just from Ilorin but a proud one at that. Also, just as I was born a Muslim, a Nigerian, a Kwaran, and an Ilorite, all of which wasn’t a choice of mine, that was the same way I was born a Sarakite which also happens not to be a decision of mine, I just came to live seeing everyone around me including my biological father as a Sarakite (genuine supporters of Olusola Saraki who happens to be your dad), therefore I can call it an inheritance, it’s quite unfortunate though that the reverse is the case as most of those people are now bittered by your actions and inactions and are now ashamed to even refer themselves to as Sarakite, me being number one (1). I could vividly remember that day, it was one of those long breaks when the whole family would leave Lagos and relocate temporarily to Ilorin, it was in the comfort of our home when a Non-kwaran challenged my dad about him working in the private sector and not being a politician, he has no political appointment also, but why does he love Late Olusola Saraki with unending passion. I was a little boy in primary school and couldn’t contribute to the discussion then, but as my father reeled out his reasons cum achievements of the Late Olusola Saraki, I was convinced deep down my heart that I just had to be a Sarakite. One of the reasons that convinced me was how he contributed to solving the unending water problem in Ilorin by building concrete tanks and procuring tankers to take water to people’s doorsteps in those days, which inadvertently ended the frequent deaths of people that goes to rivers to source for water, being that water is life and someone brings the people life whilst stopping frequent deaths, I believe that was one of the reasons why he was loved.
Leader, have you ever thought about the reason why many started kicking against the dynasty hegemony? Let’s put aside the fact that anything that has a beginning must surely have an ending, but why must the end be so soon? Why do people who genuinely love your father wants to see to the logical exit of the dynasty? Why are the youths agitated and calling for a paradigm shift? Why are our fathers, mothers, uncles and aunts all tired of the same system they once religiously followed to heart? There are many Why’s and the reasons are more than one. You prioritized the welfarism of the political class over that of the downtrodden masses, I’ve noticed in all your speeches that you always talk about how you favoured some people with appointments or how you wanted favouring others but didn’t work out, you always talked about empowerment schemes that favours the psycophantic political class, you seldom talk about the provision of basic infrastructural developments for your people, in an audio that was leaked recently, you beamoned spending about 200 – 400 million naira in thirty (30) States of the federation and complained bitterly on how you didn’t get enough appointments that you craved for your people, hence the reason why you are fighting President Muhammadu Buhari, you never made mention of any reason that’s masses related on why you are fighting him, that shows that the fight is about you and your political goons, then why should we Kwarans join you in your personal fights for personal gains?
Leader, I believe you are way too smart and intelligent to think President Muhammadu Buhari would lose come 2019, even if he wishes to lose, millions of young people like me who truly believes in the solid foundation that has been laid over the past three (3) and already thinking about the “Next Level” would make sure he returns elected to consolidate on his plans for all and sundry. I’m sure you also know that PDP doesn’t have what it takes to wrestle the Presidency from President Muhammadu Buhari, PDP at the National level is drowned hook and sinker, dead and buried, they are bereft of ideas, they also don’t want to sink alone, they are looking for who to go down the drain with. With the emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the PDP’s flagbearer, a man that doesn’t have acceptability in his region (North), a man that defected to PDP and couldn’t take his State Governor with him, a man that always loses his own State of Adamawa in elections, a personality the common man on the street sees as a symbol of corruption, PDP winning the seat of Presidency invariably means that the Northern part of the country would have another eight (8) years, something the Igbo Nation may vote against, and I’m definitely sure that the Yoruba Nation would 100% vote against it, not forgetting that the APC currently holds sway in all the six (6) Southwest states.
Leader, jumping ship was not political suicide just for you alone but to people in your political cabal, I don’t pity them anyway because they were part of the people who deceived you with chants such as “We are ready to go anywhere with you”, “Lead us out of APC”, and the likes, or maybe you were the one that requested them to do so, so that it would look like you are following the voice of the people. During your last days at APC, unconfirmed reports has it that the negotiation process initiated by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Governor Abdulaziz Yari, and Governor Ibikunle Amosun yielded positive results, we learnt that you were promised an automatic slot for Senate President, something that would have favoured the few political cabals anyways, they also promised to repay all the money you spent during your trial at the code of conduct tribunal (CCT), more consultations on major decisions, and making sure no one tampers with your structures in Kwara APC, but it seems you had other plans, the Presidency!
Leader Sir, I used to refer to you as a political genius, not because of anything, but due to your gift of careful analysis, apt studying, and relatively always-correct prediction of yours, and I’m sure by now that you already know that 2019 wouldn’t be business as usual. If you look at the number of presidential aspirants that we have, let’s keep aside the germane fact that most aren’t serious, but the lesson from it is that people are more politically exposed and asking for what rightly belongs to them, good governance! Kudos to you and the National Assembly, the “Not too young to run bill” that was passed into law has reawakened the youths and boosted their self-confidence, they are now more than ever-ready to vote and be voted for. It’s quite unfortunate that you have been deceived by those who supported your defection, particularly the youths, most youth groups that called for your defection only did it to satisfy their paymasters, it wasn’t due to their personal conviction as most of them still loves PMB and when the aces are down, and time to vote beckons whilst nobody is watching, they would still thumb for PMB and APC, many others especially in Kwara Central are ready to defy their leaders or parents as the case may be just to vote for PMB, they are “Sarakites on the tongue but Buharists on the thumb”. How I wished you’ve listened and hearkened to the voices of people who had no personal interest, selfish thoughts, or hidden agenda, but you listened to those that sees politics as a means to pay their bills instead of a means to further elevate the Kwaran project. Alas, it’s too late for you!
Leader Sir, I know some hates you because they are jealous of your exploits cum positions, others hates you because they didn’t get what they expected from you, just the same way you also hate PMB because you didn’t get what you expected from him, but I don’t hate you, I always pray to Allah to lead you to the right path, the path where you would prioritize your people, and make human capital development and growth one of the cardinal points of your ideology. The simple reason why someone like me and many other like-minded fellows can’t subject ourselves to your biddings isn’t far-fetched, it is because of your love for medicrioty over competency, your preference for dafts over intellectuals, anyone that must have a key position in your dynasty must either be a mediocre or pretend and act as one, the earliest you change this mentality, the best not just for you but for all and sundry. Truth be said, you are the brightest chance that Kwara has for the time being if we want to produce the President of this Nation, but how would that come into fruition when you are hated with genuine passion even in your own State?
Leader Sir, I sincerely do hope that you go back to the drawing board, look genuinely at your mistakes, recruit people who truly loves the people, engage capable hands, and lastly seek the forgiveness of all Kwarans, but before all these can be achieved, the dynasty needs to be disbanded by you, and if you don’t, Kwarans would still assist you in doing that, by decisively dealing a huge blow to the dynasty come 2019, my prayers remains that “May the Dynasty Get Weak, May the Structures Get Dispersed, and May the Chains Get Broken”, not for anything but for the redemption of yourself and the true liberation of Kwarans, until then, I still remain where the voice of the people leads me to, fortunately for me, it’s not the dynasty!
Yours Kwaran,
Issa Mutolib Ayobami,
Kwara State SCCD Coordinator.