NiBy Jimoh Olorede, PhD
The multiple-named Osun State Governor, Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke (perhaps for political reasons) is obviously one of the political heirs of the demise of “issue-based politics of substance” in Nigeria, and a beneficiary of its after-death “gains” espoused in the newly-substituted “Politics of Spectacles” driven by spin doctoring, ostentation, dramatization, extravaganza and propaganda.
Nigeria’s democracy is doomed to retardation with the adoption of politics of spectacles, where political actors avoid discussion of issues that may reveal their ineptitude, incompetence and iniquities; instead, manipulatively employ political-hypes by which they stimulate an atmosphere of excitement and enthusiasm done to whip up public sentiments, emotions and support for themselves.
The truth is Osun State has more of an entertainer and hype-maker than a governor, as its incumbent is only a ceremonial governor. Being ceremonial in this context means Adeleke is tied to the apron strings of certain stronger influences within or outside of his government who call the shots and dictate what and what not.
Personally, I harbour no hatred or grudges against the governor. But my displeasure is basically about his effrontery and questionable boldness evident in his arrant display of cluelessness, ignorance, dearth of knowledge of administration, and nepotism. Osun is an elitist state and for this, ignorance of any person governing it would easily be deciphered.
On November 27, 2022, immediately Ademola Adeleke was sworn-in as the new governor of Osun State, he started issuing, from a prepared script, what he tagged “Executive Orders” which contained vengeful reversal of some policies of his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola. Governor Adeleke’s actions and inactions since inception vividly depict him as someone who is obviously vindictive.
Unfortunately, by waging personal vendetta, the governor exposes his own weaknesses, especially his ineptitude. He had better stop this because his predecessor against whom he displays vengeance, Gboyega Oyetola, won’t ennoble his let’s-fight-disposition with a reply. Oyetola doesn’t fight nor punch, but you would definitely feel his beating. Go and ask his antagonists in anti-party conspiracy who fought (only themselves) idiosyncratically dirty and eventually found themselves displaced in the process.
Absurdly, the governor has been making many mistakes when addressing the public, even when he’s reading prepared speeches! Why? What is not clear is whether the errors were embedded in the scripts or it’s a demonstration of inability. To this end, dear governor is advised to always rehearse before he makes public presentations, and to calm down when reading his prepared speeches to thwart continuous goofs and further ignoble mistakes that could affect Osun State’s collective corporate image and social representation.
I would like to also advise His Excellency to stop his shameless practice of nepotism, giving undue advantage, favouritism and unmerited juicy appointments to his relatives. He is the governor of the State, not a section or part of it or his town or family. What all of this depicts is that Governor Adeleke is truly a beneficiary of politics of spectacles and extravaganza with its dramatic comic relief via entertainment through which Osun voters were unwittingly lured, hoodwinked, bamboozled and swayed, failing to realise that dancing or mere entertainment won’t put food on their tables.
*_Jimoh Olorede, Ph.D_* writes from Osun via oloredejimoh@gmail.com/08111841887.
