THE TRIUMPH OF DEMOCRACY: The Oyo State Story

THE TRIUMPH OF DEMOCRACY: The Oyo State Story

by Deji Yesufu

Gov. Ajimobi

When Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State was announced reelected, not a few people were convinced that the incumbent governor rigged the just concluded gubernatorial elections. The people who share this position are of course people who did not vote for him. These people occupy the majority of the voting population in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, were the incumbent governor lost to Senator Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja. While I did not vote for Ajimobi, I do not share in this rigging sentiment at all. I believe Governor Ajimobi allowed for a level playing ground for the elections in the state. Also, I am convinced that ever since the demise of Chief Lamidi Adedibu, Oyo State has began to witness the emergence of true democratic practices. This is what informed the defeat of former Governor Alao Akala by Ajimobi at the 2011 gubernatorial elections, even though Akala was incumbent. Governor Ajimobi understood this very well and thus deployed his campaign machinery effectively across the state for the 2015 elections. The Governor saw that his popularity in his native Ibadan town was overshadowed by that of former Governor Ladoja, and so ensured that he won the hearts of the people in other local governments in the state. So that even if he came second to Ladoja in the eleven local governments of Ibadan and did not get any vote from Ogbomoso due to the overbearing presence of Akala in that part of the state, he understood that there were still atleast other twenty local governments he could still win he reelection bid with. This is what the governor did and it paid off. I am certain that even by the eve of the elections, Ajimobi was not sure he would be reelected. That might be what informed his racing to the Splash FM studios on Thursday evening for some image reshaping, after Ladoja had just concluded an interview there. What happened in Oyo State on the 11th April, 2015 is what I wish to call the triumph of democracy. The candidates sought the votes of the people through extensive campaigning through the length and breadth of the state and the majority carried the votes. As we celebrate and congratulate the Governor, I wish to use this medium to appeal to the Governor and his supporters to be magnanimous in victory. My hope is that the Governor will review the position of his critics and work on those flaws of his that nearly cost him his office in Agodi.

While Governor Ajimobi's performance in restoring peace to Oyo State and his efforts

Ajimobi and Ladoja

at building the infrastructural base of the state cannot be disputed, the Governor's critics felt that he could do a lot more than these. The foremost issue held against Ajimobi in his campaign was his attitude towards workers' welfare. The Governor's supporters are quick to point to the fact that an almost 40% reduction in federal allocation, along with delayed payment of monthly subventions, was at the root of workers' salaries not being paid. But they must be reminded that Oyo State was not always owed subventions and that there was a time this state was enjoying extra funds from excess crude sales. It makes sense to say that if the Ajimobi government had made appropriate savings in the time of excess, it would have had enough for the time of scarcity. Outside salaries, this government will also need to make effort to effecting workers' promotion as and at when due. The issue of pensioners not been paid for months is also a matter that the government needs to take heed to. And finally, the Ajimobi government may need to begin to consider merit as basis for employment. The issue of "knowing somebody" before one can obtain a job at the civil service can never attract to best minds to the State's work force.

Another thing that nearly cost Ajimobi his job was the matter of sanitation. Even though I was not affected by the demolishing exercise of the government in sanitizing our markets and street, I could not understand the motive behind the exercise if at the beginning of the administration, shops were demolished and cars towed away for parking on NO PARKING zones. And then suddenly as election drew near, the government stopped demolishing shops and towing vehicles. The reason they stopped seem to be that they were trying to court the favor of the electorate in the coming elections. If this is it, then the government was not sincere in its motive behind the earlier demolishing exercise. A government should considers order, hygiene and safety (the reasons for demolishing) higher than reelection. If the government will resume its sanitation exercise, they should do it humanely and with sincereity. Especially now that there is nothing at stake as it where.

The 2015 Gubernitorial elections were truly keenly contested and for a space of about five months, the five leading contestants, Ajimobi, Ladoja, Akala, Teslim Folarin and Seyi Makinde, continued to beg the electorate for votes. In that time period, the electorate was king. Everyone of these individuals are very capable of occupying Agodi. Ladoja did it for me because of the record he had concerning workers' welfare in the past and the really nice philosophy in Ibadan that says "Ibadan o kin si' yo le meji", ie, Ibadan never votes one person twice. Indeed that philosophy held forth in this election except that Ibadan has realized that they are not the only kingmakers in the State.

Once again I congratulate Gov. Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi on his well deserved victory at

Former Gov. Akala

the poles. I emplore him to be magnanimous in victory. I beg him to break the jinx of non performing second termers, the same way he broke the jinx of a Governor never elected on a second term in the State. I plead with him to be Governor to all and not just those who voted for him. I trust that the Governor will listen to his critics and correct past lapses. And I believe if he would do this, his second term in office will be very successfull.

THE PREACHER AND POLITICS

THE PREACHER AND POLITICS

by Deji Yesufu

The common sentiment among many in this clime is that the Christian preacher should not be involved in politics. The thinking is that politics is dirty and the preacher man is supposed to be clean, therefore the two should not mix. This essay will not be concerned with proving the fallacy behind this thinking because it is clear to the well discerning that if anyone is needed at all to sanitize an unclean system, it should naturally be someone who is clean. I would rather be showing the advantages of having a Christian preacher not only involved in partisan politics but also actively taking sides on political divides. I must state however that not all preachers will see the need to be involved in politics but for those who do, particularly with pure

Buhari/Jonathan

motives, it should be clear to them that they are pursuing a mandate of heaven and they have God as their support.

The Christian Preacher is first of all a minister of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news of what God did in Christ in reconciling sinners to himself. The news says that every man born of a woman is born a rebel against God. As a rebel, he is destined towards earning God's wrath in eternal perdition - hell. The reason being that God is a just God and will punish every sin that man commits - big or small. The same God who set up this system of Justice then brought himself under judgment so that sinful man might not earn the judgment and wrath of God. God was in Christ when he came to the world and died for the sins of all men. So that in the same manner with which the lamb takes away the sin of a community under Moses' law, so did Jesus become the sacrificial Lamb of God that will take away the sins of the whole world. The preacher's primary duty is to point all men to the cross of Jesus Christ. With the hope that some will acknowledge the works of God in Christ on the cross, confess their sins and believe in Jesus Christ to save them from their sins. This is the good news of Jesus Christ: "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved…" (Acts 16:31). The reality, however, is that the gospel message is to be preached to men who live in the flesh and who have needs that must be met. Men who are hungry, sick or who live in crisis ridden environment cannot hear the gospel. Thus the bible teaches: 1

 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth - 1 Timothy 4.

Gospel acceptability is closely linked to man's social environment. Therefore, while the Christian minister must preach Jesus Christ and him crucified, he must also support any legal means that will lead people to live in an environment that is quiet, peaceable, devoid of oppression, and one where justice prevails. These was what a man like Martin Luther King Jnr understood when, as a Christian minister, he led protests against segregation until the American society set up laws that made racism illegal. Today, a black man rules the United States of America. Everyone knows that Barack Obama is simply reaping the fruit of the labor of men like Dr King.

Today, Nigeria stands on the threshold of history. Our fathers had bequeathed a society that is free from British colonial rule. So that the people of Nigeria could govern themselves and determine their own destiny by themselves, while enjoying the blessings of the resources that God had given them. This is peace and quiet. Then a time came in this nation when it was thought that the civilian public could not rule themselves, except the military, the man with the gun, helped them. God be praised that on May 29th 1999, Nigeria witnessed a transition from military rule to civilian rule. Since then we have successfully transmitted power from one civilian government to another. All of these encouraging peace and quiet in our midst.

Then suddenly it seems that a cabal had held this country hostage. A political party by the name of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) held the nation to ransom. So that for sixteen years, after military rule, this party held sway. They kept sharing the dividends of democracy mostly amongst their members while the man on the streets languished in poverty. This is what informed the preacher man to of necessity join the political discuss and support the candidacy of General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress to root out the PDP from power. And God be praised that the presidential election of March 28th 2015 saw the emergence of an opposition party, defeating an incumbent president. Today the future of Nigeria speaks of peace and quiet.

These are the reasons the preacher must be involved in politics. Thankfully, the running mate of General Buhari is himself a Pastor - Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Other preachers may not branch into full time politicking like Osinbajo but all of us owe it to the people we pastor to support progressive ideologies that have within them the capacity to better the lives of the people. What is the use of a Christian minister who preaches a sound gospel to a congregation on what Christ Jesus has done on the cross while more than half of the congregation are either hungry, jobless, without education, without medical care, or without hope? He could as well be speaking to the wind.

I, as a minister of Jesus Christ, did not consider my ministry complete until I could see a government come into power that will better the lives of the people I oversea for Jesus. And I am thankful to God that most of the people who look to me for spiritual admonition canvassed actively for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. When our story shall be told tomorrow, we would be able to say that we did not join the bandwagon of lies that taught that Buhari was coming to Islamize the Nigerian nation. We did not, for one second, believe the false prophecy of Buhari loosing this election. We studied the man Buhari beyond his tribe and religion and came to the firm conclusion that he possesses the qualities to lead this nation out of the dept of corruption and insecurity she has found herself. We saw in the APC manifesto a workable document for a better Nigeria.

The duty of Mr. Preacher is not ended.

As much as we have supported Buhari to becoming president, we shall pray and trust

The People's General

God long enough until his administration succeeds. We trust God that in the days of Buhari, Nigeria will know peace and quiet. We believe God that in his time godliness will exalt this nation and every sin that has brought reproach our way will be taken away. We trust God that the gospel we preach will begin to make sense to the world; as the world have seen a new breed of Christian ministers who love God and humanity enough to side with good even, sometimes, at great cost to their reputation. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Long live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the land of the living.

Praise the Lord!

Hallelujah!!