By Prince Feyisayo Ijifusi
In the year 1206, Genghis Khan’s declaration by an assembly of leaders earned him the title Universal Emperor (chinggis Khan). He had become the head of his clan whilst surrounded by enemy tribes as the Tatars – he forged strategic alliances and overpowered his transducers and exterminated the existing clan nobility.
He had assumed leadership amidst seemingly unsurmountable challenges but his display of wits and grits was quick to seal the lips of the naysayers. He was seen to have had a mastery of survival stratagem beyond words , his actions resonated.
Just as Robert Greene in 48 laws of power had highlighted WINNING THROUGH ACTIONS , as a masterstroke for all power players, the new sheriff in Ondo State will undoubtedly need to win through actions. Those actions however time bound, will determine his political fortunes and misfortunes……
For the popular opinion that Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’ s name came to his rescue through the political turbulence in a like manner as Goodluck Jonathan, it will be just to remind the new Governor of our dear state on how well his luck may be subjected to test. Goodluck Jonathan inherited a country at the throes of insecurity as manifest from militancy and Boko Haram. The Chibok girls abduction and fuel subsidy removal were later to be major arsenals deployed by the propaganda machinery of the opposition party. His political grip was obviously frail.
Jonathan wanted to be the peace-maker, the leader who dialogues but oblivious that politics is never a “church affair”. Sometimes, you may have to “crush your enemies totally” according to Robert Greene.
Years later, Bola Tinubu came into power and frontally put an end to Fuel Subsidy. The subsidy regime had to be brought to an end irrespective! He knew if he had dialogued as Jonathan did, Nigerians would have vehemently put up a resistance against that abrupt move but he understood the essence of “ entering with bold actions “. Despite the attendant consequences of Tinubu’s polices , the opposition party remains demystified and may not gain traction for so long….
The lucky man at Alagbaka came into office surrounded by skirmishes. He must push through the test on how he manages a state assembly that once upon a time moved for his impeachment; a state exco he inherited from his erstwhile boss – a majority that will never find reasons to afford him absolute loyalty except for lipservice and sycophantic displays.
The party structure and the Adetimehin leadership he must contend with without plunging the party into crisis that may doom his fortunes except that he creates the crisis to his advantage….
With the primaries in sight, Aiyedatiwa’s ambition to hold the reins of power may not be a walk in the park and neither will it be sustained through sheer luck. He must have a Deputy Governor whose role in the marathon will be highly pivotal. In his decision to pick a Deputy, he must consider certain political expedients and also avoid landmines…
Given the present political constellation in Ondo State, his choice of a Deputy also has to reflect a balance of power among the other 2 senatorial districts ( North and Central). The North which consists of the Akoko and Owo/Ose bloc presently fields a Federal Minister and also the senator representing the district and that may leave him with a narrow-down to Owo/Ose axis on his choice for one who will occupy the office he once occupied.
The Central Senatorial district with Ondo and Akure as major determinants in the voting pattern may as well present a number of options of a right-hand but he must be weary of an Akure deputy if he will eventually consider a second-term. Why? The Akure Agenda may portend a dangerous omen to his second term ambition. He cannot afford to be at daggers draw with the Akure electorates in event of a disloyal Deputy Governor.
Fielding a deputy from Ondo Town isn’t a bad idea but he also must be careful about an Ondo deputy who may seek to unsettle the political arrangement and the unwritten law or rotation of power. It is therefore advisable that Mr Governor settles for a deputy from Owo/Ose axis. The Owo people may seem to have been appeased after the demise of his late boss with less attrition or power play around the number one seat in the sunshine state. He can therefore consolidate his grip with an Owo deputy who must stand by him through every hurdle.
Irrespective of whose ox is gored, he is the defacto governor of Ondo State today but he needs more than luck but a good head ( Orimisan) in advancing headlong. He must be seen to be in charge of the state absolutely and his choice of Deputy Governor and a possible dissolution of the old executive cabinet will define the trajectory and spectrum of his administration.
Can Mr Governor afford to retain the existing state exco? That will be no less than a political harakiri and a timed bomb waiting to explode over him. Of great care he must give to traditional politicians ( career politicians) as he weathers the storms that may rage in days to come. His mandate must be earned from a legitimate support from the Ondo State people.
Abuja has to see that His Excellency’s popularity and acceptance cannot be withstood by any of the other Governorship ASPIRANTS within the ruling party. And thence, the theme song of “ Don’t waste your money “ is one that must be well composed , arranged and produced for the perfect entertainment of other Governorship aspirants – The orchestra should also be a delight to the their teeming followers.
Adolf Hitler had extended an olive branch to neighboring Poland in the latters’ alliance with Germany’s detractors and Hitler would not spare Warsaw in the outcome. The Gernan Tsar in his book, Mien Kampf, had said. ” I told Warsaw not to go to war, Warsaw went to war and Warsaw was seen no more”.
For our beloved Ondo Don, While his luck will get tested by political, terrestrial and celestial forces, the decision to either fail or succeed in the chess game of Ondo Politics is his to make. He must learn to crush his enemies totally! For the venom of a partially severed snake is potent enough to invoke death upon the hunter. For the time of peace, Generals prepare for war knowing that we can only wish to war for peace to reign.
Let General Aiyedatiwa lead Ondo State to victory that we may chant our songs of pride again. The victory however costly, let all Ondo indigenes march along the soldiery lines of Aiyedatiwa for the new dawn that heralds….
Bon voyage to Mr Governor!
Prince Feyisayo Ijifusi writes from Abuja.
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Email: ijifusifeyisayo@gmail.com
