Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
By Aderemi Yussuf.
Loyalty to and betrayal of political leaders, political parties, and the state are global phenomena. Their role in our twentieth -century history and in the present is all too evident and can be seen most vividly in the repeated imposition of loyalty oaths, first during the second world war l,and later during the McCarthy period. It can be seen recently in the frequent demands made by President Trump on those around him to remain loyal to him even at the expense of protecting our laws and democratic values. It is also vividly clear in Russia of the past by the price put on disloyalty to Putin.
Loyalty is not a simple virtue.
The contrast between the concept of loyalty and betrayal stark and while they were mutually exclusive, loyalty to one group or idea can, as in the case of divided loyalties, be at the cost of betrayal of some other value or group. Moreover, Loyalty can become dangerous when it morphs into fanaticism.Unlike many other virtues, loyalty is paradoxical; a vice when it’s pledged to a dictator or a supreme leader over the laws of the land or virtue when pledged to the rule of duly enacted laws.
Total loyalty is possible when fidelity is emptied of concrete content, from which changes of mind might naturally arise.
According to the earswhile governor of Lagos state and the incumbent Minister of works and Housing- Mr Babatunde Raji Fasola, he once asserted at the ministerial screening session at National assembly that……………..
” When Loyalty is tested”
The session was so engaging that the honourable Minister to be then, profoundly said” May my loyalties never be tested ” this was in response to a veiled remark about his perceived disloyalty to his party and his godfather.
His Successor apparently did not heed the prayer embedded in the famous assertion that ” The concept of loyalty is a strange one, the real answer is that may our loyalties never be tested. I always pray that may my loyalty never be tested …..In public life., I have remained loyal to the causes signed on to” ( Oath of Allegiance).
There is no gainsaying that BRF kind of loyalty was pledged to the enacted laws of the land and not to any individual or godfather or any supreme leader.
Akinwunmi Ambode, his successor and former Governor of Lagos state, may either have neglected or forgotten the handover notes of his predecessor- Mr Babatunde Raji Fasola who at the twilight of his tenure as governor was thrown into collision course with the leadership of the party, the rulling All progressive Party (APC) who weighted him in the party’s balance and found him wanting.despite being adjudged the best performing governor in his time. He narrowly escaped “the hangman’s noose”and he was grudgingly handed over the party’s ticket for second term. No sooner he was shown a red card out of the Government house, Alausa, than the bad blood spilled unto his ministerial screening at the NASS in 2015.
The former Governor of the State of Osun- Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola recently at Ijebu- Ijesha in Osun state while endorsing his godson Alhaji Adeoti Mudashiru virtuperated an outburst against his godfather and the Leader of the party- Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Aregbesola to Tinubu!
” We followed him (Tinubu) dutifully with all sense of loyalty. Some people even thought that were no longer Muslims because of how we cooperated with him.
” We dealt with him without treachery but we never knew he planted evil for us. We exalted him beyond his status and he turned himself to a god over us and we had sworn to ridicule anyone who compare himself to God.
” God has no competitor, He is enough to be God.
We’ve asked God to bring Tinubu down, he doesn’t mean well to us”
” But we were with him and served him according to the admonition of our forefathers, who said serving anyone, we should do so with sincerity and loyalty, that you regard anyone as your principal, you must serve him wholeheartedly.”
Sadly, we didn’t know that while we wished him well , he didn’t think good of us”
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola vowed and boasted that the incumbent Governor, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola would be treated in Akinwunmi Ambode’s way while in Lagos state house.
Aregbesola lambasted his principal not minding whose ox is gored
There is no doubt, the battle line has been drawn between the South West Agenda group (Swaga)formed recently for the support Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential ambition and the parties loyal to Rauf Aregbesola both in his Constituency in Alimosho, Lagos and Osun state.
A School of thought believed that Ogbeni Aregbesola has bitten the fingers that fed him from a commissioner of works in Lagos state and later became governor of Osun state for eight years and presently the Minister of Interior. Whereas, others believe that politics has no permanent friend but permanent interest.
There is no denying the fact that Ogbeni Aregbesola is not alone in this fight of disloyalty.
As the case may be, the coming Osun Election will unravel his accomplice in this unholy(Roforofo) game.
The question is how has Tinubu his principal failed to think good of Aregbe in this context???
How has Tinubu placed himself in the position of god?
Ogbeni Aregbesola’s loyalty is deemed to be dangerous because it has morphs to fanaticism and loyalty pledged to his godfather against the interest of the people most especially in the state of Osun.
Heavens know that the election that brought the incumbent on board was rigged and traded with Senator Iyiola Omosore, whether, the party like it or not, the promised made to Omosore must be honoured to the latter.That is politics!!!
This virtuperation and bluntness of Aregbe may either make or mar his political career.
It’s liken to the fable in the Animal kingdom where tortoise, a cunning animal lured Elephant into kingship and suddenly fell into “pit of deceit” Unknowing to the Elephant, the praise singing of the rest animals in the jungle led to his downfall and became a prey for the Lion- the king of the Jungle.
Hope this Aregbesola’s game, would not be the beginning of the End of the opportunist democrat and suddenly turn-out a prey for the “Lion of the Bordilion”
