The penultimate edition of Monday Morning Reflections was titled, “LET’S LEARN FROM HISTORY AND END THE CYCLE OF ANIMOSITIES IN THE OYO STATE PROGRESSIVES FAMILY”. In the usual manner, several feedbacks were received from the readers. But out of the lots, two were outstanding and germane to the subject matter.
The first one came from a former Senior Special Assistant to late Abiola Ajimobi, the immediate past governor of Oyo State. He wrote, “Well done my brother, but what is the practical solution to the impasse?” The second one was from a candidate to the Oyo State House of Assembly in the last general elections. He put his reaction this way, “Jagunmolu himself. Let’s start from you oooo. You have said it all. God shall continue to bless your wisdom”
Interestingly, the two feedbacks actually complemented each other. One was a question, the other was a response that partly answered the question. The solution to the issue at stake must start from you and I, no doubt. In fact, the first step to get rid of this present impasse is for us in the Progressives Family to remove the shackles of bitterness and hatred inside us. Without inner peace, outer peace will be impossible. Therefore, enough is enough!
In the history of man that I have read, no war had a beginning and did not have an end. No war on earth, be it cold, guerilla or conventional that was fought in perpetuity. And for God’s sake, this is not even a war, but mere political differences bothering on interest amongst brothers.
Animosities do not breed prospect but rather facilitate subversiveness and failure. We need to forgive ourselves, forget the past and foster ahead in unity. Failure to do this may lead us to be chasing shadows of victory in the future elections.
Several people have been hurt one way or the other in this struggle. Everybody has a story to tell. Stories of being humiliated, disappointed, rubbished, shortchanged, persecuted, cheated, ambushed, backstabbed, outsmarted, bruised, rendered inconsequential etc. These are the elements of political negativities and emotional tortures we have all suffered.
Like someone would say, we have all been served breakfast round and we have been served dinner as well. Whether you are in the family of the champions of the past or you belong to the current champions, no one has escaped the principle of cause and effect. “Ki onikaluku fi se osun ko fi kinra”. In the light of the above, nobody is a winner and nobody is a vanquish.
There is no single tendency that can conquer or subdue the others and go scot-free. The best that a lone ranger amongst us can go in this game is to be almost there but never there. This is democracy where the minority will only have their say, but the majority will have their way.
Once we have resolved to sheathe the swords, and purge ourselves of hatred and detestation, there is a need for the apex authorities of the APC to set up an arbitration committee that will midwife the peace process.
The President as the leader of the party should cause the National Working Committee of our great party to show some interest in the affairs of Oyo State and of course in other States that may be in distress like Osun State for example. In-house resolutions can’t work as it had failed severally in the past. You can’t be a judge in your own case, meaning that “Obe o le mu titi ko gbe eku ara re”. In conflict resolutions, the parties in dispute must be brought before an arbitrater in order to broker peace.
I hereby opine that as part of the solutions, there is an urgent need to look into the structure of the party in Oyo State, especially that of the State Exco. The structure as of today is skewed and unpopular in composition. In fact, it is not a total reflection of the Progressives Family of Oyo State.
In doing this, all the tendencies must be carried along. None should be left behind because it takes two to tango. And in the spirit of unity and togetherness, no individual or group should prove difficult and irreconcilable. Politics is about give and take. You lose some, and you win some. That is the spirit. Therefore, this is the time to realign our interests for the betterment of our political future.
This write-up is for the attention but not limited to Barrister Iyiola Oladokun, Chief Adeyemo Alake, Senator Ayo Adeseun, Chief/Mrs Florence Ajimobi, Oloye Adebayo Adelabu, Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Senator Femi Lanleyin, Senator Soji Akanbi, Alhaji Fatal Ibikunle, Professor Adeolu Akande, Chief Sunday Dare, Dr Azeez Adeduntan, Barrister Akeem Agbaje and so many more political juggernauts in the Oyo State Progressives Family. The list can be longer than this, but I am definitely constraint by time and space. Also key in this process are the former and serving members of the National and State Assemblies. All other former and serving political functionaries must also be included.
And to those of us who are the political troops, the foot soldiers and loyal members of the party, our duty must be to encourage our principals to give peace a chance.
“It is not enough to win a war, it is more important to organize the peace”
Aristotle.
“Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means”
President Ronald Reagan.
I come in peace!!!
B. Aderemi Ogundele
(Jagunmolu)
