By Alaba Adulrazak
The media has been recently abuzz with the exchange of words between the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his counterpart from Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.
The bone of contention has to do with the issue of who a progressive is and who is not a progressive.
In the ill-conceived doctrine of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), whoever that does not belong to its party irrespective of sterling performance in government and other field of human endeavor is not a progressive! To them, progressives only start and end in the Action Congress of Nigeria.
It is true that in any society or organized setting, individuals do share certain principles and ideologies as to how best things should be done. In trying to create a balance in the system, some people are often regarded as progressives, while others who do not share in the progressive ideas are referred to as the conservatives. In Nigeria, just like any other geographical entity, we parade both the progressives and the conservatives. The Oxford Advance English dictionary gives the definition of progressives as those who favor progress or reform while conservatives are those who are opposed to change. But in the real Nigerian context who can we truly refer to as progressive? What are even the factors that make an individual a progressive? Which of the political parties we have in the country today can actually lay claim to be a progressive party?
The factors and what constitute a progressive element is an issue that deserves much deeper research and understanding beyond an informative piece like this. However, there exist certain irreducible basic standards that suggest who a progressive is? A progressive apart from favoring progress or reform should be morally upright and be against corruption and other deeds that are antagonistic to the development of the society. At any point in time, a real progressive individual should not be found wanting! Consequently, a progressive individual should be subservient of the rule of law and due process.
Going by all these, is Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola telling us that his party is truly progressive one? Do we call a party that is built within the whims and caprices of a single man a progressive party? Well, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who seems to be acting the script of his Godfather needs to be sold that it is possible to fool people once but fooling people all the times may not be possible. Just because Mimiko has refused to join the bandwagon of expired pseudo progressives in the ACN does not make him a conservative as Aregbesola and his cohorts of illusionists are trying to make us believe.
If the ACNs one man dictator in his treachery made a deal that sacrificed his presidential candidate to win Oyo and Ogun State in the last years general election; he should wait till 2013 to see if the good people of Ondo State will vote for his party rather than embarking on a campaign of calumny against a Governor that has been impacting positively on the lives of his people.
It is very unfortunate that in the South West today anybody who does not believe or share in the ACNs grandeur of delusion is often branded a conservative who must be politically annihilated. The truth is that the Action Congress of Nigeria had over the years used the name of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo to bamboozle people into believing that they are real progressives and Awoists. Yet, the partys imperial majesty through of one his foot soldiers in one of his controlled media outfits decided to denigrate and malign the Awos wife, HID Awolowo. A mans whose name Tinubu and his retinues of political impaired cohorts have used to launch their obscene personalities into the glare of publicity and public acceptance. That I think is the climax of treachery other than Mimikos refusal to make Ondo State play serf to Lagos State like it is the case with other States in the Southwest.
I just cannot fathom why Mimiko has become the latest prey that must be devoured at all cost by the carnivorous ACN? Perhaps, the reason is that the party is intimidated by Irokos growing popularity coupled with sterling performance in Ondo State. I personally dont see any crime in Mimikos stand of not allowing the Sunshine State to be governed from Lagos irrespective of whatever assistance Tinubu might have rendered to Mimiko in the past. If the ACNs emperor has anything against Mimiko he should wait till 2013 to see if any of his anointed candidates can beat the man rather than embarking on a vicious campaign of calumny against a man who seems focused to what he is doing in Ondo State.
Sooner or later, the Action Congress of Nigeria will realize that Tinubu is a liability and not an asset they used to think he is. If the myopic leaders of the party are not seeing this; then certainly the man is leading the party to a state of oblivion.