An Open Letter To Ogun State Governor-Elect, Prince Dr. ‘Dapo Abiodun -By Martins Olamiji Sijuwade

Prince Dr. ‘Dapo Abiodun MFR.

Governor-Elect,

Ogun State.

Your Excellency,

I may be right or wrong – for I read it long ago in an American book – that it was Lyndon Johnson that told Richard Nixon (whether vice versa) about the peculiarities of the oval office and how it turns out to be different from what it is presumed to look like from the outside. The American elder statesman was reputed to have likened the oval office to a boy reading the advert of a movie in a newspaper and eventually got disappointed when the advert did not meet his expectations upon watching the movie at the cinema. Let me on that note welcome you to the 001 seat of the gateway state. Don’t expect a smooth show Your Excellency. It will never be smooth anyway.

As a political animal I followed your politics from the beginning of your campaign. I read about your travails and your many trials. I saw how you stood and rubbed shoulders against the powerful Ogun interests and eventually how God made this dream a reality. You are a benefactor of the giants. Please don’t forget the giants when you ascend the hallowed Oke-Mosan rostrum to pilot the affairs.

Your Excellency, I want to draw your attention to the story of Augustus Caesar the Great. Be careful of your friends as God already took care of your adversaries. As a student of the Roman literature I read how Octavius learnt from the unfortunate ides that brought Julius Caesar down. So wise was Octavius that he learnt, relearned and unlearned under Julius Caesar.
Julius Caesar was betrayed by his own men at the Senate and was stabbed roughly. He met his Waterloo in the hands of the valiant Brutus. “Et tu brute” is a statement I believe Your Excellency should be acquainted with. Octavius was not within the slightest range of those to be considered as the Emperor of Rome. But when Roma calls, Octavius must answer. The first Senate meeting showed how prepared Octavius was to pilot the world affairs from the Roman Senate Capitol. 

Augustus Caesar – after whom the month of August was named – selected the most loyal of his friends to stand guard beside him at the Senate. They were all armoured from their heads to their feet. Strong looking men and tough in character and attitude, Augustus Caesar had in these men the best ‘politicus defensor’ any leader could pray for. Wise Caesar – knowing that even the dog sometimes goes after its owner – constantly wore coat of mail to Senate proceedings. By so doing he put his friends to check. So Your Excellency I bid you check your friends well.

As a concerned Nigerian, I want you to learn from experience. Please don’t bite the fingers that fed you. Maintain good rapport with Abuja and stay safely connected with Lagos. All powers belong to God. No man can crown anybody without the knowledge of God. At the same time, fate has positioned some people to stand in the stead of benefactors to others. Do not forget our learned father Prof. ‘Yemi Osinbajo SAN who stood by you during your Egba tour even when Amosun refused to show up. Do not forget Aremo Olusegun Osoba an elder I so respect like my father. Baba stuck out his neck for some persons but what played out subsequent only Baba can tell us.

Isaac Newton, Thomas Edison and the Wright brothers – Oville and Wilbur – all enjoyed goodwill. They stood on the shoulders of giants to succeed and carved niches for themselves in their respective fields. (A square A in Awo’s voice) Abraham Aderibigbe Adesanya, Chief Bola Ige SAN, Pa Lateef Jakande, Bode Thomas, Lamidi Adesina all learnt from the Ikenne political college. They all remained steadfast even amidst political tribulations. That is why Awoism is still relevant. Follow the paths of the legend.

Your Eko brother Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu will be reading this too. No matter what, do not confront or go against Ifa Eko. By God’s grace and by dint of fate and hardwork he is the Oracle of SouthWestern politics and the light dawning on the Nigerian political landscape. Even his adversaries marvel at how he stood firm against forces to have still held onto Lagos. Ifa Eko is your benefactor, Osinbajo is your benefactor. Osoba is your benefactor. Don’t breach their trust. At the same time, don’t do anything contrary to the wishes of the people. Vox populi vox dei.

Your Excellency has seen the plights of your people and I guess that forced you out of your private businesses to heed the clarion call. I commend the speech of the Ikenne Philosopher Jeremiah Oyeniyi Obafemi Awolowo SAN to you. Sometimes in 1968 Awo was at Seventh Day Adventist Church Iperu Remo and there defined the hallmarks of a leader. Iba Segun said: “politicians are made and not born. Anybody who doesn’t have the stomach for the railings of the masses but prides in their occasional hosannas is not fit to lead a public life”. Ijebus ( among whom you come from), the Egbas, the Yewas/Aworis and indeed your closest allies will soon start their vituperations whether you do well or not. Take all with calm. They are all your people. Don’t be dictatorial. Learn from those ahead of you in history.
I wish you to be a people’s Governor. Don’t be self centred as some were and still are. Those who are self centred – whether in public or private life don’t build standing and lasting legacies. Invest in gaining loyal subjects. Don’t scare good people away. Use the best brains in Ogun and beyond and appreciate your best hands. If you fail to appreciate those who stuck out their necks for you when the heat of the struggle was so ferocious, you may not really get utilities even if they form part of your government. Some people are built to take stuffs without people knowing. And when it’s time for them to vent their anger, they might possibly make you become another ‘Ajimobi example’.  Take caution and don’t give room for any form of political prostitution or administrative recklessness. Some sins are unpardonable in politics. Let the emergence of ‘Sanwo-Eko’ be a reference point.

You are a business man and I have seen those forming part of your economic team. You have married interests and employed the right sets of people. Am sure they will give you value for service. Be rest assured. 
Don’t forget to see to the Ijebu roads. They are so terrible to behold. A pregnant woman once lost her unborn baby during the ‘gbagagbaga conundrum’.  Don’t just build bridges. Build people to bridge the gaps of poverty. Build institutions and everlasting legacies. And most importantly let your name become a household name. By attempting utopianism, who knows whether you can attain the heights of perfection.

And most importantly, let youths occupy some vintage positions in your government. You have them all over the world doing exploits. Beckon on them and go all out to look for merits. Am sure they will sync into Your Excellency’s agenda easily.

Your Excellency, please don’t disappoint the mandate given you by the entire Ogun populace. May God guide you.

Yours faithfully,
Martins Olamiji Sijuwade LP, Citizen, Federal Republic of Nigeria.