Download Citation
Abstract
Election is here again, the Ondo Propagandists are already around the “not too familiar” people of Ilaje with their big briefcase just to buy the vote of the people. Why on earth are we doing all of this even when “ILAJE IS WORKING?” Why are we plotting the rigging graph even when we have done better for Ilaje than we met it? Why are we planning to smuggle arms and ammunitions just to alter the decisions of a collective people?Oluwasegun Somefun
By Orukotan Ayomikun Samuel
Over the years, there has not been staunch federalism in “HIFEKINIYETU.” The one a Non-Complete Nigerian will call “Nigeria.” This status-quo has generated a lot of tension amidst the lay people and disadvantaged people in our society. So, this norm is gradually becoming a dogma in our decaying political set-up. However, there is always a time when a young woman is faced with the challenge of associations and interactions. In this period, the society gives her many options, many conditions and even many tests just for this svelte woman to make her choice.
The Ilaje re-run election is akin to the burden of this young woman. The stage is set for another battle of the throne. The battlefield is Ondo state and the prize is the honourable seat of honor in the House of Representatives. While everybody is anticipating, I am forced to count our blessings in Ilaje. Ilaje, no doubt is a land of honour, a land of wealth but as interesting as this titles seems, the Ilaje I know is in a stasis state. The relationship between the government and the governed is only felt on election days but they keep saying “ILAJE IS WORKING” even when our “ruler” is incapacitated.
The tag “ONDO STATE: AN OIL PRODUCING STATE” was gotten from this rejected and neglected part of the state, Ilaje is a stakeholder in the economy of Ondo state and this fact cannot be denied but as each day disappears, we cannot count our tangible blessings, not to talk of naming them. As bad as this portrayal is, so also is it. A tour to this land of honor called “Ilaje” will give a pellucid view about the making of Ilaje in the hands of political propagandists. But be it as it may, Ilaje people are at the stage of decision making once again, they have seen, they have been cheated and definitely they have a story to tell. The two main contestants of this election are neither the “best choice” nor the “Moses of Ilaje land.” We know that when there are two bad oranges, one just have to bend the rules to choose the “not too bad one.” So also, the two main contestants from the People’s Democratic Party and the Labour party should be seen in this same vein in terms of personality and landmarks.
Election is here again, the Ondo Propagandists are already around the “not too familiar” people of Ilaje with their big briefcase just to buy the vote of the people. Why on earth are we doing all of this even when “ILAJE IS WORKING?” Why are we plotting the rigging graph even when we have done better for Ilaje than we met it? Why are we planning to smuggle arms and ammunitions just to alter the decisions of a collective people? Isn’t this another political hoo-hah? Definitely, it is. If the Ilaje’s cannot boast of any meaningful development in their community, where then, is the equation we claim to have solved simultaneously?
Let me at this juncture solicit to INEC on behalf of the good people of Ilaje and it’s environ that; first, election materials and all other instruments needed for the election should be distributed early to various polling centres. Second, INEC must make sure all effort to rig tomorrow’s election (5th of April 2014) ends up in futility and the bane of INEC, which is transparency and tolerability for all parties, must be upheld. Once again, to our security agencies, you have to rewrite your names in gold; we must not at any junction compromise our stand in ensuring a free and fair election. This is the heart cry of the “rationalists” in Ilaje community and nothing short of this will be accepted.
Let all my chums in Ilaje go to the polling booth tomorrow. Let them vote the man who is ready to marry that woman with disabilities. That man who is ready to listen before he speaks; that man who is ready to fight for the course of the common man in Ilaje; that man who is ready to face the cross and bear the pains of his people. Because anything otherwise will begin another cruise into suffering and adversity. That man is whom I don’t know. I just hope the clout from the government house will not influence the outcome of the election neither will INEC compromise their acclaimed standards. My expectation is high and so the good people of Ilaje. OKUU OWO WA OOOOOOO.
mail: [email protected]
© CC BY-NC-ND 2014