“CDC…!” Chief Adelakun exclaimed
excitedly.
“Innovation!!” The members of the
gathering chorused in a very high voice.
“CDC…!” He reiterated.
Chief Dele Adelakun who was rightly
standing on a podium was a seasoned entrepreneur turned politician; he actually
ventured into politics owing to his extreme passion for humanity – he was
undoubtedly an ardent and well-known humanist and philanthropist. Due to his
distinguished nomenclature, he was unanimously elected as the flag-bearer of
the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) by the majority of the party’s
membership during its primary election to contest for the Chairmanship position
of Ojeiran Local Government Area (LGA) – one of the most popular LGAs found in
one of the states situated in the South-Western region of Nigeria. Right on
that podium, he was observing one of his electioneering campaign tours as
organized by his party (CDC).
CDC was obviously a well-respected and
leading party among the five major political parties eligible for the awaited
LG polls; so far since inception, the party had been known for producing
respectable and notable individuals as its flag-bearers for any political post
across the country. Hence, every citizen of Ojeiran LGA alongside other LGAs in
the state was looking up to the party as regards the aforementioned LG
election, which was barely two weeks ahead.
“Innovation…!!” the gathering responded
accordingly in a more passionate tone.
The campaign was taking place in one of
the ancient public primary schools in the LGA on the 13th of
November 2002 at about some minutes past eleven in the morning. The arena was
densely preoccupied with the party’s flag of blue, white and yellow colours
with the picture of a palm-frond, which signified its logo, inscribed on it.
“We already know why we are here.” Chief
Adelakun proceeded. “Therefore, there’s no need for any introduction or
preliminaries.”
“Yes oooh!” The crowd chorused.
“I don’t have much to say because I’m a
man of few words,” he said. “But I can assure you that we are ready to bring
total innovation to this LGA, just as the party’s slogan signifies.”
“We
believe you.” Majority exclaimed in appreciation.
“But it’s
noteworthy that this cannot be actualized without proper accountability,”he
said, paused. “Thus, accountability remains my watchword.”
“Chairman – Chairman – Chairman…” The
audience chanted continuously in anticipation.
He signalled them to calm down using his
arms. “I’m a banker,” he rode on. “In other words, there’s nothing one would
teach me regarding finances or budgetary.”
The frontiers amidst the intimidating
crowd nodded in comprehension and agreement.
Chief Adelakun – a huge and
light-complexioned man in his late forties, who was clad in a dark-blue caftan,
a native cap made of the same material and black plain shoes was an astute
freelance banking professional; he had B.Sc in Banking and Finance from Obafemi
Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria coupled with other
numerous Advanced Professional honours in Finance and Business.
“Before I conclude,” the flag-bearer said.
“I must let you know that Education and Health would be my priority.”
“We dey your side oh!” They chorused in
vernacular.
“Just look at our school,” he lamented,
pointing at the dilapidated structure of the primary school being used as the
campaign venue. “It’s nothing to write home about.”
The members of the gathering frowned,
shook their heads in disappointment.
“The most annoying part is that,” he
continued. “Most of these forgotten schools are the alma-mater of most
stakeholders in the society.”
The speech proceeded for over thirty
minutes; it was indeed a holistic address. At the long run, the LG Party
Chairman Chief Dapo Olabiyi rounded off the long-lasted talk. The audience were
finally showered with light refreshments as well as souvenirs such as hand fans
and portable form of the party’s flag prior to their departure.
In two weeks’ time, on Saturday November
30, 2002 precisely, the election successfully held as scheduled, and Chief Dele
Adelakun of the CDC emerged victorious as the Chairman-Elect of Ojeiran LGA;
three weeks after, on Friday 20th December 2002, he was sworn in
along with his Deputy, Barr Gbenga Olusola.
According to the state’s law, every
Executive Chairman was meant to spend three years in office. To people’s
greatest surprise, Chief Adelakun’s 3-year tenure was something to reckon with
contrary to his predecessor’s style of leadership; ab initio, he took every of
his campaign promises to include adequate education, good and affordable health
care, standard road network, among others, very seriously that he was
embarrassed with fathomless eulogies by every dick and harry in the locality,
even in absentia. Among all, he rejuvenated the strength of his party (CDC) as
far as his Local Government Council was concerned that in intervals, the
overall leadership of the party would organize revelry just to celebrate him.
In 2005, which marked the end of his tenure,
Chief Adelakun was determined to re-contest for a second-term in office having
made his intention known to the members of the party as well as the electorate;
and he gained the support and encouragement of virtually all citizens of the
LGA owing to his tremendous and overwhelming performance during his first term.
Thus, he re-emerged victorious during his party’s primary election thereby
placing him as the party’s flag-bearer in the area. On Sunday 11th
of September 2005 just less than eight weeks to the election, something
unimaginable and horrific transpired; at the night of that very day, around
thirty-minutes past eight (8.30 pm) to be precise, Chief Adelakun – ‘the
People’s Choice’ as he was fondly addressed, was brutally murdered alongside
his driver in his black Range Over Jeep while returning home as soon as he
finished attending to a very crucial meeting involving leadership of his party
in his office. Ascertaining the assassins or persons behind the bloody killing
remained far-fetched and a mirage to the Police.
Consequently, his party (CDC) was left
with no other choice than to provide a substitute as their flag-bearer as the
awaited election, which was scheduled for Saturday November 5, 2005, was
already by the corner. So, they had to organize a primary election for other
interested members of the party; fortunately, Chief Abiodun Olatunji emerged
victorious. Chief Olatunji was the runner-up to the late Chief Adelakun during
the previous primary election of the party that produced the deceased as the
party’s flag-bearer for his second term bid.
In one month time, the LG polls took
place as planned and amazingly, Chief Olatunji won the election. No doubt, his
anticipated victory was not unconnected to the fact that his party – Coalition
Democratic Change (CDC) remained the greatest as at then coupled with the
remarkable footprints his immediate predecessor, Chief Adelakun left behind.
Suffice it to say that, the electorate were of the indisputable view that CDC was
determined and consistent in producing sincere and distinguished individuals as
its flag-bearers; according to them such tradition as presumed was an
uncompromising principle as well as the watchword of the political party in
question. Hence, they sheepishly concluded that any aspirant coming under the
aegis of the party was definitely flawless.
On the contrary, Chief Olatunji’s
administration was completely opposite that of his immediate predecessor, that,
the people’s optimism faded up; in the first and second years of his tenure,
nothing new was done or implemented in the whole of the LGA and the worst was
that maintenance culture was thrown to the waste bin. Rather than doing the
needful, Chief Olatunji was obviously busy enriching himself and his entire
household.
As a result of Chief Olatunji’s nonchalant
and lackadaisical attitudes toward good governance, there were speculations and
insinuation among the people of the area that he could be responsible for Chief
Adelakun’s demise, but there was no tangible proof to nail him down even though
it was apparent. The most interesting aspect of the ordeal was that, the
electorate learnt a lesson that a political party wasn’t meant to be dependable
or reckoned with by the people during any electioneering era when it called for
good governance; rather, whom the party uses as its flag-bearer. Thus, they concluded
that they were supposed to concentrate mainly on the antecedents and
accomplishments or the individuality of the aspirants rather than laying
emphasis on the political party they intended to contest under. Needless to
say; Chief Olatunji’s misdeed served as a deterrent as well as an endpoint to
their longed nurtured fallacy.
Subsequently,
the people were placed on an untold hardship that they were pushed to make a
decisive decision; hence, the leaders among the electorate with the consent of
the entire electorate forwarded a Vote of No-Confidence on Chief Olatunji to
the Legislative Council of the local government. After all the consequential investigations
carried out by the Ad-hoc Committee set up by the Legislative Council, an
unanimous motion was moved by the majority of the members of the council for
immediate removal of the alleged culprit from office for gross-misconduct and
misappropriation of funds. In consequence to this development, on Wednesday 17th
of October 2007 almost two years of his stay in office as the Executive
Chairman of Ojeiran Local Government Area, Chief Abiodun Olatunji was served a
Letter of Impeachment by the council, thereby authorising his Deputy to take
over as the Acting Chairman prior to when he would be duly sworn in substantively.
Few days later, he was arrested and
thereafter arraigned by the country’s anti-graft agency.
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