Certainly, Truth Hurts: A Response To Dr. Peter Akande’s Essay | Sola Abegunde

One of two things must be happening with Dr. Peter Akande.

It is either he is one of the newly recruited online warriors of Governor Seyi Makinde and Bimbo Adekambi, or, he is one of those partisan individuals who go about, parading themselves as “neutral” analysts.

One thing, however, is certain about the new Governor Seyi Makinde and Bimbo Adekanbi’s unofficial spokesperson, he has a special interest in the Allied People’s Movement, APM and its Gubernatorial candidate and honestly, I have no problems with that. It is his Constitutional right to belong to a political party, if he so desires, what I am not comfortable with is the pretence.

Having said that, I have read his latest tame efforts at powdering Bimbo Adekambi and I’m glad that, on each occasion he decides to come to the defense of Governor Seyi Makinde and Bimbo Adekambi, he always succeeded in making things worse.

I can see that he deliberately dodged the aspect of his response to my story on the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, even though, what is contained in my story of Sunday afternoon are just the snippet of what he must expect from me at another time.

Now, to his latest essay. I have said it, the gentleman is very good at ignoring substance and hiding behind rhetoric.

He started missing the point from the headline of his rejoinder.

If truth doesn’t hurt, why would Dr. Akande develop a negative pregnancy about a remark made by Rufai Oseni?

I just expantiated on the points raised by Rufai Oseni to the effect that Governor Seyi Makinde seems to be presenting Bimbo Adekambi as his third term Agenda.

He also said that Oyo state needs a Governor with a mind of his own and warned against godfatherism.

Those points must have hurt Dr. Akande and those he is supporting, hence, his reaction. So, who says truth doesn’t hurt? Oh! It does hurt and I enjoy it when I get people like Dr. Akande at the right corner.

I will react to a couple of issues raised by him in defense of his favorite Gubernatorial candidate.

One, he compared the relationship between Governor Seyi Makinde and Bimbo Adekambi on one hand, with that of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadan Land and Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli, Oyo state All Progressives, Congress APC Gubernatorial candidate on the other hand.

Excuse me, where is the correlation in that? Where is the basis for comparison? It does appear to me like our friend has joined the number of those who have not been able to sleep well these days because of Sarafa Alli and the Olubadan of Ibadan Land.

Is H. I. M, Oba Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja a sitting Governor who is backing Sarafa Alli to succeed him?

Is the Royal Father a member of the APC?

For the avoidance of doubts, the campaign slogan associated with Senator Adewolu Ladoja, as he then was, is ” Idera De”.

Is Sarafa Alli claiming ” Idera De” 2.0 as Governor Seyi Makinde has been selling Bimbo Adekambi on the mantra of Omi Tuntun 3.0 or, am I the one who asked Bimbo Adekambi to embrace the Omi Tuntun mantra? Am I the one who says he shouldn’t have a mind of his own and perhaps, opt for something different? Something like, BIMADEK 1.0?

Did Oba Ladoja tell the citizens of Oyo state that he was going to announce a successor to Makinde, like Makinde did, saying he would unveil a successor at a particular time and he eventually unveiled Bimbo Adekambi? Did he?

By the way, why is Dr. Peter Akande trying so hard to insulate Bimbo Adekambi from Omi Tuntun?

So, Dr. Akande would rather want us to remove Adekambi from the misdeeds of the Seyi Makinde Administration of the past seven years plus or what is he trying to say?

Well, for whatever reasons known to him, if it is the responsibility of people like Dr. Akande to deceive the people of Oyo state by asking them to assess Bimbo Adekambi without weighing him against the misdeeds of the Makinde Government in the past seven years plus, it is our responsibility to tell the people of Oyo state that Makinde and Adekambi are like a Siamese twin. You can’t remove one from the other.

I can see that Dr. Adekambi is clever by half.

He took the questions I raised concerning the opinion of Adekambi regarding certain critical issues out of context.

He pretended as if he didn’t see that on each of the points I raised, I boldly presented the position of Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli on each of the points and I challenged Adekambi to contradict the position of Governor Seyi Makinde on each of the points I raised. No problem. I will refresh his memory. Perhaps, he forgot to address them.

For example, I was very emphatic about the fact that Alli had addressed the press and he promised full financial autonomy for Local Governments.

On the issue of the sales of Government assets, particularly, the proposed handing over of the Farm Settlements at Ogbomoso and the Veterinary Land at Saki, to Estate Developers, I referred to the Press Release personally signed by Senator Sarafadeen Alli where he condemned the sales of our Legacy assets.

I also said that the APC Gubernatorial candidate had promised to review every sales and handing over of Oyo state Farm Settlements immediately he resumes office as the Governor of Oyo state.

I referred to Senator Sarafadeen Alli’s press statement about the BCOS and the Circular Road and the solutions he offered.

I referenced his statement regarding the return to the policy of 30-Pupil per classroom in our public primary and secondary schools.

That was a policy which was operational during the Governorship of Senator Adewolu Ladoja.

Sarafa Alli was the Secretary to the State Government at the time.

So, did Dr. Akande not see that part of my write up?

On each of those points, I challenge Dr. Akande to tell us the Independent opinion of Bimbo Adekambi.

I don’t even know why the gentleman is worrying himself. For all I care, he lacks the authority to speak on behalf of Bimbo Adekambi and reasonably, only Bimbo Adekambi can speak directly to these issues or, has he secretly contracted him to speak on his behalf?

The other time, he spent a lot of energy, speaking for the Judicial Commission of Inquiry!

I raised specific questions and directed my questions to the Commission, having submitted a Memorandum to the Commission.

Before you say Jack, our friend was up in arms, responding to me, based on his his personal opinion.

Emotions can not be a substitute to facts.

Honestly, while I acknowledge Dr. Akande’s writing prowess, I have serious issues with his logic and I say this with due respect to him.

His emotions always becloud his judgement and I can conviniently say that he lacks information.

Sola Abegunde.