By Eben Enasco
Two seasons are applicable annually according to the nature of the earth as created by God where one is dry and the other rainy or wet.
Since the existence of the earth, humans have become used to them and are prepared yearly for the two seasons.
But in 2023, politicians of the southwest and South-South regions of Nigeria birthed two more man-made seasons.
The first was on August 29, 2023, and the second on September 15, 2023. The season of sacking of the Deputy Governor’s Press crew takes a toll on Ondo and its neighboring Edo State.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Counterpart in Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu hold the record in the season of sacking in 2023.
While Nigerians in Edo Space are yet to forget the withdrawal of the Press crew of the Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, after weeks of flings and fury at the Denis Osadebe Avenue, Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu who was expected to address key issues in project delivery quickly followed the trend by dismissing all media aides assigned to the office of the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
After roughly two months of medical leave in Germany, Governor Akeredolu returned to work last week and the first of his hatchman decisions was the one on his deputy.
Governor Akeredolu’s chief press secretary, Richard Olatunde, made this announcement in a statement on Tuesday.
The deputy governor’s press secretary, Kenneth Odusola, the special assistant for new media, Okunniga Oladipupo, and the special assistant for photography, Abayomi Samson Adefolalu, were among the list of affected media aides.
He said the affected aides should submit all government properties in their possession to the Acting Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor.
The governor also disbanded all press crews attached to the deputy governor, consequently directing them to report back to their various ministries and stations.
In a similar situation during the penultimate month, the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki gave his deputy an exclamation order after weeks of seismic call-outs to relieve him of his media crew.
The showman power play is a concern that must not be swept under the carpet.
In Section 191 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Deputy Governor assists the Governor in exercising primary assignments and is also eligible to replace a dead, impeached, absent, or ill Governor as required by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
Two recent events in Nigeria demonstrate state governors’ self-absorbed nature and over-assumed powers.
With what has been seen in Edo and Ondo States, it is also apparent that the totalitarian propensities of governors violate party unions.
Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, presently turned his deputy, Philip Shuaibu, into a destitute, even though they were elected on the same ticket.
Let us not forget that Obaseki and Shaibu won elections on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a joint ticket. His Ondo State Counterpart also won the election on the same threshold but in a different political party.
The argument here is that the men of political authorities in Nigeria are unified in their abuse of power and state resources, even against the people’s curiosities.
One would be forced to ask why the issues of zero positive influence on the electorates should persist.
We don’t need a soothsayer to tell us that it is about a desperate scramble for power, the rampant deployment of state resources against political opponents, and the total disregard for the welfare of the people.
This aspect illustrates a gripping picture that should worry everyone, especially a governor who swore to improve the people’s condition.
The energy dissipated to throw out the deputy even though they were jointly elected, from the core government office, withdraw his media aides, and humiliate him with private police should be channeled towards giving a facelift to the ruthless deplorable state of roads and decaying infrastructure, in the state.
The state governors should take as a priority to show due comfort to the electorate by addressing developmental issues and not fighting dirty.
But that is not the way of the Nigerian governor.
Imagine Ogun state counterpart, Dapo Abiodun, of the All Progressive Congress (APC), who sat like an emperor while people’s fathers prostrated before him for their subsistence.
First, considering himself a tin god and justifiably so, the average state governor would rather than address issues dissipate energy on crushing anyone who dares confront him.
Most times their irritation is more when the “offender” is a member of theirs party or someone they profile as a legatee of their grace.
Now, this is what almost all elected representatives are to governors.
Going forward, Governors across the Country should be made to face legislative sledgehammer by removing some of their powers to allow elected position-holders to work without victimization.
