Controversies have continued to
trail the choice of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, as the Special
Guest of Honour in the forthcoming annual Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun
State, South West Nigeria.
While an ordinary Ijebu indigene
awaits the presence of the number three man in Nigeria as a matter of honour,
politicians in the state, especially members of the All progressives Congress,
(APC), who are loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari, and the State Governor,
Ibikunle Amosun have considered this as an aberration.
Some of the APC’s stalwarts in
the state, who spoke on the telephone expressed their displeasure
over the development, stating that such invitation tends to legitimise Saraki’s
“defiant attitudes” against the party.
They argued that Saraki ‘s
presence in the state could trigger violent reactions from many of President
Buhari’s loyalists who are of Ijebu extraction, and who considered Saraki’s
action and inaction as an affront on the presidency.
According to an APC bigwig in the
state, who pleaded anonymity, the choice of Saraki as Special Guest at the
Ojude-Oba festival had become a source of worry to many APC members of Ijebu
origin and Ogun State generally.
He said “it is unthinkable that
Saraki, a certified traitor would be honoured at a festival every one of us
hold in high esteem, what an affront.”
“The planning committee of this
festival ought to have done a proper assessment of the polity and mood of the
nation before committing this monumental blunder.
“Sincerely, this is absurd, many
of us would not be able to withstand such situation, his presence at the event
would adversely affects the importance of that occasion “, the source said.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the
event, Dr Fassy Yusuf, who doubles as Baagbimo of Ijebu has appealed to sons
and daughters of the ancient town, and the entire people of Ogun State to look
beyond politics in the choice of Saraki as the Special Guest at the Ojude Oba festival.
In a press statement, the
University lecturer explained that the conclusion on the choice of the Senate
President preceded present political development in the nation, saying that
Saraki had been earlier invited for the same role in 2017 edition of the
festival but could not make it, hence his choice this time around.
“May I thank you all for the
interest being shown as it concerns Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki , who has
been invited as the Special Guest of Honour at the 2018 edition of Ojude Oba
Festival.
“Let it be said with all
humility, I am not a registered member of any political party in our dear
country. It is my choice. However, I am an analyst- a socio-political,
communication and public affairs observer cum analyst, and a servant of Ijebu
nation. I do my best to serve.
“The choice of Saraki should not
attract any political nor religious connotation, after all in the past, Ojude
Oba played host to political gladiators not in the same party with those at the
helm of affairs in Ogun State during those editions.
“In the last seven years, we saw
our amiable Governor and my brother, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, CON, FCA., playing
host to PDP stalwarts (David Mark, Tambuwal, Dickson, etc.) at Ojude Oba Days.
Ditto, my brother and former Governor Daniel, fas. Nigerian politics is all
about alignment and realignment of forces cum interests- no permanent friends,
no permanent foes.
“We must be circumspect about the
way we approach and analyse issues. Objectivity, rationality, truth, equity,
justice and fairness must be our watch words.
“We must imbibe those virtues
Ojude Oba espouse: tolerance, accommodation, civility and mutual respect.
“The decision to invite Saraki
was taken early in 2017. However, he could not make it in 2017. And, the same
invitation was extended to him before the present political imbroglio/impasse.
“The decision to invite him is
devoid of politics as Ojude has nothing to do with political permutation or
consideration. Doing so or going the direction of politics would mean insulting
the sensibility of Ijebu who belong to the various 50 or so political parties
in Nigeria.
“The palace is in touch with
authorities in our dear State and at Federal level and wishes to reiterate the
fact that mutual coexistence, mutual trust, plurality of religious choices,
harmony, liberty and freedom are essential ingredients of democracy. Ojude Oba
is a gift to Nigeria on harmony, understanding, tolerance and accommodation.
Politics should not divide us as a people. Let us eschew bitterness and rancour
like the plague”, he concluded.
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