OGUN STATE: HIS EXCELLENCY DAPO ABIODUN – GOVERNOR OR DEITY ? (Episode 1)

By Emeagi Emeka Williams

It has become too expedient that this question be asked this very crucial make or mar phase of Nigeria’s life.
The aptness or otherwise of the title notwithstanding, the subject is fundamental to proper public sensitisation, particularly vis a vis the huge question mal governance has raised about the true essence of democratic rule in Africa.

To hit the ground running however, this ouvre is premised on the recent viral video conceptualized, directed and shot right inside the Gateway State as Ogun state, Federal Republic of Nigeria is otherwise known.
The dramatis personae are the Executive Governor and the LGAs Executive Chairmen (at least as have been confirmed in the media)

The plot generated according to grapevine, due to the decision of one of the grassroots leaders to question the delay of the fund meant for the councils by the state.
It was gathered that the brave third tier executive could no longer wallow in subservience and myopic submissiveness, thus his clarion call to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, an action with which he wanted an apparently unbearable status quo questioned legitimately.

Though the entire saga may not be in the public domain, the viral video that revealed a monarch – subjects scenario of Council Bosses in Ogun state prostrating in arrant propitiation of their governor spoke volumes.
Even if this account is not exactly the picture, it is a blatant reflection of astonishing deification of the man who is supposed to be the Chief Servant of the state and not a demigod with a larger – than – life ego which requires to be massaged by the real representatives of the grassroots people of Ogun state.
This is most preposterously so at a season when the Civo – Military, Quasi Democratic tendencies of Africa’s purported democrats are dragging the irks of military patriots everywhere , forcing them to dream and actualize leadership abortions.

Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Gabon are current test cases arm twisting African and global leadership crises managers.
Without much Ado, and if a palpable defense is going to come from any quarter, a big question dangles to be answered , and this is – Why Did Ogun’s Council Helmsmen go to worship before their governor?
Why did he (the governor) comfortably sit while a situation which made the chairmen, who in actual fact are just his colleagues, preach, prostrate and pray for whatever reasons played out?
The public stand bewildered now(at least until His Excellency officially clears the air), wondering if His Excellency, Abiodun Dapo is a Lord that chokes his subordinates, not allowing them the essential air for productive and competitive governance which is the elixir for transparency and accountability in representative government.

Many a citizens are cast to ponder if it is true that the Governors’ Forum suppressed President Buhari’s Executive Order 10 with which the former president sought to grant full autonomy to the local governments to end lopsided development and suppressive state interference with LGAs funds.
Some Citizens, sequel to the Ogun theatre of amazement, equally want to confirm the belief in diverse quarters, that the Nigerian Governors Are Actually The Bane, talking about accelerated development in our fledgling democracy.