*Photo:Senator Adeola Olamilekan Yayi*
“True development is not about creating a dependent community but about empowering individuals to drive their own growth and development.”.
The above was the preceding comment I made in front of Senator Adeola Olamilekan Yayi in my long presentation at a close-door meeting I had with him at the instance and presence of some notable traditional rulers in Awori land. The part of the meeting in which I participated was simply asking if I had any personal issues against Senator Yayi and why.
In truth, I have been critical of his ominous political foray in Ogun West, and I have continuously made my opinion open on why his grip of power in Ogun State politics, in the long run, will constitute a danger rather than a blessing. So much that when his serpentic agenda, albeit hidden only to the untrained eye, began to manifest, “everyone” who helped him to power in the sad event that he emerges as Ogun Governor in 2027 will regret and curse their action.
I have been better convinced the distinguished senator Yayi is abreast of my unabashed stand against his agenda in Ogun State, but meeting him was a golden opportunity to expound on it to his face. To put it respectfully, I insisted there was no reason to have personal issues against him. My concern is that he would be a monster to the democratic politics in Ogun State. But more particularly to me is that he does not embody the answer to the fundamental question of the Awori people.
The core Awori questions are not lack of infrastructural development. There is no doubt there is a dearth of infrastructural development in Awori land of Ogun State, but this is only the visible manifestation of the unresolved Awori questions. What then is this core Awori question? I asked him only two, and he proved me correct, sidestepping the issue in a patent political maneuver. He not only avoided giving direct responses; he was using equivocal and ambiguous languages to redirect attention that he became boring.
There is the question of knowing his stand on the Awori Traditional Council despite Olu Ilaro’s (his royal godfather’s) stand against it. Secondly, there is the question of what his plan is for repositioning the political landscape of the Awori. To put the second more specifically, I asked how many political appointments, considering his network, he planned to facilitate for the Aworis, at least those who accepted and supported his becoming an Ogun West senator.
He cleverly evaded the question on Awori Traditional Council and started talking about the number of projects he has in the coffers for the Awori community. Irritated by his prevarication, I would interrupt to know if he was not facilitating projects, even more, in other communities in which he is facilitating political appointments, thus positioning them for future political leadership.
What follows was his comment, stating his hands were tied for a reason I wouldn’t want to mention. It is almost one year after the comment over his tied hand, and we have not ceased to hear about federal appointments going to individuals from other places acknowledged for his support and effort. Aside from the federal minister of health (state), Dr. Isiak Salako, there is Hon. Oladele, the Ogun State Federal Commissioner of Federal Character, and even recently, Hon. Olopade was recently appointed as DG, Nigeria Sport Commission.
An ally of Hon. Olopade (Ozogular), Damilola Ogunpola, had in a Facebook post significantly praised Senator YAYI for the appointment of the former sports commissioner in Ogun State. As a political researcher of African politics, I understand how ethnic capitalism works to stifle the opportunity of other ethnic groups and make them perpetually dependent, and the evasive responses of Senator YAYI raise valid concern about his commitment to sustainable development of the people of Awori land.
The Aworis, especially followers of Senator Adeola YAYI, should know and note that true development is not about creating a dependent community but about empowering individuals to drive their own growth and development.
Senator Adeola Olamilekan YAYI, to this extent, has shown from this point of view he is not a solution to the Awori question. The Aworis have seen this line of thought manifesting in the kinds of development the great Amazon woman, Mrs. Orelope Adefulure, is facilitating in Awori settlements.
There should be no reason for any leader of thought to follow Senator Yayi sheepishly. I am afraid the support he is getting from some individuals is one that is founded on shortsighted and pecuniary gains and not one that gives significance to self-directed and self-sustaining growth.
After all, the two issues I placed before him, if answered, have no direct benefit to me as an individual but would serve as everlasting gains for the community and identity in which I have sworn I will always protect and promote her cause—the Awori race. And I think my voice matters in shaping her future. I shall not rest.
*Azeem Salako writes from Ota kingdom, Awori land. 08028915996
