By Samson Adelugba
About two weeks ago, the social media space was awash with news of arrest and detention by the Osun State Government of one Akinloye Zirhid nicknamed “Sure Money.” He was alleged of posting fake news on the social media claiming that those infected with Covid-19 in the state were imported by the Osun State Government. But in actual sense, the Osun recorded 20 cases of Covid-19 are principally those who arrived to Ejigbo from Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
To me, even if there were misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the message or outright deliberate attempt to malign the government, one would expect, in a civilized society where democracy guarantees freedom of speech, that the state government issue a rebuttal setting the record straight.
Though I do not love to be advocate of falsehood-propagation for the sake of public sensibility, but I also do not wish to look away when I spot a pot calling kettle black. A legal maxim even holds, “he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.” Going by the record and activities of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which later metamorphosised into All Progressive Congress (APC), one can not but find it funny with their record of mendacity that a Governor from such a party is prosecuting someone for peddling falsehood.
Since this matter was blown opened by those close to the accused, the public have had their attention locked on the issue, curiously following it up to see how it will end. Personally I think Governor Oyetola as a Yoruba man should know that, “he who comes home with ant-infected log should be ready to play host to lizards.” There is no way he could get into office in the manner he did courtesy of INEC and APC led federal government and expect that the public, many of whom never gave him their mandate, will not be looking for ways to occasionally unsettle him. If Mr. Governor is so afraid of being besmirched, why would he then show so much desperation for public office that his party had to arm-twist the electorate in the areas where the stage-managed Osun governorship rerun took place? Going by what was witnessed at the “election”, a product of same cannot by any standard claim to be a descent politician. You muscled the opposition and got declared, the opposition also have the right to continue to struggle with all available machinery to make you unmarketable for future election in the state. This is what we have learned from the APC and we are not ready to forsake the doctrine until it had produced a desirable result.
I remember President Goodluck Jonathan in his book, “My Transition Hours” reacting to the provocation of the APC hence remarked, “… whatever their mind could think of, their mouths readily expressed.” From this statement, one could therefore find it instructive to understand the level of indecorum and propagation of falsehood against the PDP by the APC during the PDP era. The incitement of the public at a point reached a fever pitch that the president convoy was being pelted at political campaign rallies. But unfortunately for every one wrong GEJ was accused of by the APC, Buhari/APC has done worse, even times ten of same.
The same propagandistic party once initiated anti-social media bill when the masses of the nation came so hard on them for lack of productive administrative skills. To me, anyone who clung to power tooth and nail throwing decency to the dog should not, under whatever guise come soliciting for moral uprightness from citizens. Even the blind knows the current osun state government is built on falsehood and the governor must be large-hearted enough to bear the associated maladies. I think from the happenings in Osun State, one could easily suspect the hand of Esau amongst the masquerades behind the anti-social media bill quashed by Nigerians.
Though some had vouched for the innocence of the governor regarding the whole saga. But I call it a fat lie!
Either the governor is in the know or otherwise, I think he should know “a thousand good friends are not enough but one bad one is too much”. I advise he takes a cue from Margaret Thatcher, former British prime minister who fired her cabinet members for agreeing with her on all matters, she stated, “I love argument, I love debate. I do not expect anyone just to sit there and agree with me, that is not their job.” Anyone surrounded by yes-men is doomed. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola lately nicknamed “Eyin nu, Olohun nu” could now tell better. While he was in charge, he was as garrulous as bombastic, very domineering and insensitive. He was the most intelligent and the wisest in his cabinet that others with beautiful ideas that could assist the government chose to keep mute making Robert Greene’s first law, “Never Outshine the Master.” in the renown 48 Laws of Power their guiding principle. That you are governor does not make right everything you do. I am sure many in your cabinet may have advised you drop all charges against the accused to avoid the attendant embarrassment being experienced by your government but for your resolve to gag the opposition at all cost. Once you are known to be a leader who is not receptive to idea, you will be left alone. After all, the administration is tagged “Oyetola Government.”
Now Mr. Governor makes me remember his ordeal in the hands of questioners at the Osun governorship debate of 2018 held at Olagunsoye Oyinlola Auditorium, Osun State University, Osogbo where he was, like a leprous man, solitarily confined to his pulpit looking helplessly defending the maladministration of Aregbesola under whom he served. Being physically present in the hall, I could feel the inner pain of a man being crucified for another man’s wrong doing. But I think many eventually exonerated the governor during the poll, may be they felt he was a just man in a wrong cabinet of Aregbesola. They gave him some votes and he later cooked up the rest to make up for the requirement. But in 2022, Mr. Governor will be defending his administration and all its noticeable infractions.
With this arrest, the governor has brought odium upon himself and the government he leads, meanwhile the opposition have not started throwing vitriol. Once we start, there shall be statewide din and the tension shall rise roof high that the governor may become so rattled that he may have to abandon further projects in the state and concentrate on building of prisons; only if this falls within his purview. Despite the many inadequacies of Aregbesola and the notoriety he represented at the time, I could not remember if he ever picked or tried anyone for rumour peddling. But the governor should know such an attempt aimed at goading the opposition, will always be counterproductive. He needs to be more circumspect. You and I know propaganda and falsehood are endemic to APC and every other person or party shall remain amateur as long as APC is the benchmark.
It is not necessary the governor sees this as sincere advice to drop all charges against the man penciled down for guillotine based on his mindset to intimidate others, but I am saying that the governor lacks the moral right to continue to try the accused for peddling falsehood going by the antecedent of his party. If peddling of falsehood amounts to prosecution, many APC gladiators would have been cooling their feet in various Nigerian prisons with Lai Mohammed as chief of staff. To adamantly continue to hold or try the accused is to further expose his government to continuous avoidable opprobrium.
Like the governor had received some credit by running up and down trying to protect the state against the scourge of Covid-19 that had wreaked havoc on many parts of the world, would it then not be advisable he deploys same energy on revitalization of the dead economy of the state once the atmosphere becomes a bit favourable? I think whose house is on fire should have no time for the rat. Osun people are expectant of serious economic turnaround where families can feed three times daily uninterruptedly. This would be better appreciated than monitoring who writes and says what on the social media. It is time to get into emergency mode and plan for the worst. From all indications, the dwindling oil revenue would definitely make things toughs in the days ahead most especially on payment of salaries. What are the economic choices you have to make now in preparation for the aftermath of Covid-19?
From history, no leader ever got a medal for the number of citizens he jailed but we have had some who struggled and have their portraits in the All of Fame.
*Samson Adelugba writes from Ife, Osun State
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