FEATURE ARTICLE

Olanrewaju AjiboyeWednesday, May 10, 2006
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London, UK

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IT IS TIME TO CURB CHIEF LAMIDI ADEDIBU'S EXCESSES


t is an African adage that the more a man advances in age, the less he ceases to be a warrior, but as far as Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu is concerned, the opposite is the case. The more he enters his twilight years, the more be becomes vociferous and ferocious in his infamous acts of political malfeasance especially in the South West of Nigeria.


In a functional State and not a failed State like Nigeria, the ageing Chief would be serving a long term in prison for his past excesses in acts that are inimical to societal peace and cohesion. Barely literate but adroit in acts of political violence, Chief Adedibu could be adjudged to have a Ph.D in Societal Disorder and Gansterism. Due to the fa�ade of Democracy that engenders political opportunism in place of reflecting the true aspirations of the people, the services of the likes of Chief Adedibu are still in high demands.

At a very early age in life, Chief Adedibu had always been a political hireling to those desperate and ruthless politicians who wanted power at all cost and would use thuggery to achieve their goals. In the first republic politics, he had services to render. In the Second Republic, he was not left out. The aborted republic also brought him windfall. And at every military interregnum, Alhaji Adedibu was in business.

Shame is not in Chief Ariyibi's dictionary, as exemplified when he offered his services to the evil General, Sani Abacha who usurped the position Nigerians unanimously gave late M.K.O. Abiola. In his uncommon characteristic of generosity and kind-heartedness or should we say his all- embracing life style, M.K.O courted Alhaji Adedibu in the build up to his HOPE '93 project. Hardly had the forces of darkness doused that HOPE, subdued M.K.O, before Chief Adedibu started to profiteer from the gulf between the people and Abacha, on the injustice meted to them by seizing their elected leader, Chief Abiola.

Principle, decency and dignity are alien words to Alhaji Adedibu as he did in Rasheed Ladoja's travails. In a jiffy, he robed and disrobed Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja as the governor of Oyo State because the latter could no longer continue to honour his insatiable greed. The beneficiary of politics of might is right as exemplified in Oyo state, Alao- Akala is just a nominal governor. The term, executive governor, for Adebayo Alao- Akala would be a misnomer for a beneficiary of kangaroo arrangement who had a deputy foisted on him and he is expected to play by the rule of regularly "settling" his benefactor. The casualties in the inglorious camaraderie and dalliance of Adedibu and Akala are the good people of Oyo State who should not expect any goodies of democracy as long as the status quo remains.

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It is sad and unfortunate that for political expediency, President Obasanjo would continue to identify with the likes of Adedibu thereby giving him the status of an untouchable. The acts of social disorder emanating from Chief Adedibu are weightier than what the followers of Fredrick Fasheun in the OPC did to warrant his arrest and subsequent arraignment in the court of law. The police that have the statutory obligations of maintaining law and order often shy away from doing their work once it seems they will offend Aso Rock.

It is to the eternal credit of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Uncle Bola Ige that in place of political expediency, they chose the path of honour by expelling late Busari Adelakun when he was becoming a clog in the will of progress in the then UPN. The Alliance for Democracy in Osun State did not consider the electoral gains at the poll before expelling then Deputy Governor, Otunba Iyiola Omisore, who was becoming over ambitious and wanted the a more liberal approach in the handling of the state's treasury against the frugal style of his boss, Chief Bisi Akande.

When a musician sings praises of a personality, more often than not, it eulogizes his or her positive achievements and contributions to the society and humanity. If one needs to know the character in which Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu is moulded, "OLOWE MOWE" a Record waxed by late Alhaji Odolaiye Aremu provides an insight. In the said record, the lyrics on Chief Adedibu describes him as "an oppressor who entered the market of Ibadan and brought back so many fowls that he did not buy, he did not receive as gifts and he did not steal, but just that the fowls had the misfortune to have strayed". For a man to have approved such a negative praise- singing speaks volume of who he is. And who is Chief Adedibu? He is a Societal Scourge. The above quoted lyric is just one among many other negative lyrics as contained in the song. By the time one digests the entire contents of the praise song, it is of no use asking for any other definition of a DEVIL.

If Nigeria must consolidate its civil rule and by chance learn the intricacies of democracy, especially starting from 2007 elections, characters like Chief Lamidi Adedibu are the flotsam and jetsam that must be fixed to avoid political eclampsia in Nigeria's pregnant odyssey. The point must be made that it is not only Chief Lamidi Adedibu that should be dealt with according to the laws of the land. The Ubas of Anambra are there. Potential Secondary Army often euphemistically refers as "Area Boys" in all parts of Lagos are not left out. These days, they have no regards for the sanctity of human lives and are fond of wanton destruction of properties. The law enforcement agents are like pawns to them who matter less in their consideration when they are set on their heinous missions.

The ideal thing a responsible government should do is to send strong signals that the acceptable norm in human conduct is to respect the laws and those who think they are above the law just because they are politically indispensable ought to think twice. Government at all levels should also respect the laws of the land in the conduct of governmental affairs. Indeed there is an alternative to a burden that cannot be placed on the head or on the shoulder; the people far outweighs them in number and the day they are forced to revolt will be the end of their exploitations. If these important thugs refuse to change in their ways, they should be made to go to where they belong; the four walls of the prisons. It is dangerous to allow young and upcoming ones to see charlatans as heroes. Let us start to celebrate virtues and stop to glorify vices.