Like Father, Like Son; Case of a Confused Duo

 Like Father, Like Son; Case of a Confused Duo

An old phrase says, "you are known by the company you keep". There is no better way to describe the connection and similarity between Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Alhaji Abdullahi Enilolobo. Having served in Lagos State as a Commissioner for Works, Aregbesola proceeded to Osun, where he served as a two-term Governor and currently, the serving Minister for Interior; this is enough linkage with bright minds to have exposed Aregbesola to doing things differently but unfortunately, like another adage, the leopard can never change its spots.

The duo of Aregbesola and Enilolobo are,

undoubtedly, close political allies, as the latter has always promoted the doctrines and ideologies of the former. Being a loyal protege of Aregbesola, Enilolobo has, unintelligently continued to copycat his master without limitations.

It would be recalled that, sometime back in February, during his membership revalidation exercise in Osun, in a careless statement, Aregbesola said the All Progressives Congress had admitted a killer into the party. A statement many people have interpreted to be an indirect reference to Senator Iyiola Omisore. About the same time, Enilolobo had, equally accused Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa

of being responsible for the death of Senator Sikiru Osinowo aka Peperito before it was swiftly debunked by the deceased's family. During this period, a video went viral where Aregbesola was heard and seen at a summit, singing a divisive song emphasizing that certain individuals at the meeting were not part of them, referring to them as people against the Progressives party. There, he was referring to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole. Immediately he made that statement, he was ushered off the podium as the imprudent statement incited the audience, who instantly demanded he left the stage. He was advised to drop the microphone to avoid further damage at the gathering - one that was called to unite the sons of the Southwest and for critical brainstorming on bettering the lives of the people of the region. It was an all-inclusive gathering, deferring all political party and religious affiliations.

This has become a tradition between the duo as they are always launching attacks on fellow party men instead of strategizing on how to bring new members to the party. It is also customary of Enilolobo that, at every meeting, he would always attack and sing malicious songs and statements against fellow party men whom he sees threat and tags as his adversaries. At political meetings in Alimosho, Enilolobo is either singing a song against Joke Orelope or cursing a group he tagged, 'I-No-Go-Gree'.

However, following the turn of events in Alimosho, seeing how he is being ripped off his unconstitutional leadership role, Enilolobo acknowledged Her Excellency, Hon. Princess Adejoke Orelope, Hon. Omotayo Oduntan and other leaders as his new allies. He said 'the game had changed, and new players had emerged'. He was referring to the coming of Orelope, Oduntan, and others on board. While Enilolobo stylishly recognized the leadership of Orelope, he habitually diverted his frustration to Obasa, for his meeting would be incomplete without maligning the personality of an individual or group.

Obasa is the sitting Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Agege 01. It has continued to remain a puzzle how the leadership and ambition of an Agege politician becomes a nightmare to an Alimosho grassroots politician without neither a base nor aspiration. If Enilolobo must have a crisis with a fellow politician, it logically, should be with the opposition or someone vying for the same office with him. But neither of these is the case, hence Enilolobo's pathetic condition cannot be unrelated to envy and covetousness against, Obasa, the Pride of Agege.

At the recent constituency meeting organized by Enilolobo, he spent a better part of his time maligning Obasa, instead of facing the subject of the gathering. He accused Obasa of clinching his Senatorial ambition on Asiwaju's Presidential project. He went further to describe the Speaker as a thief over an unannounced ambition. Perhaps, Enilolobo needs to explain to the world, his interest in who becomes the next Senator to represent Lagos-West. If he has an aspiration for that office, it would be rational and logical for him to declare his ambition and desist from showcasing insanity to the world.

We use this avenue to remind Enilolobo that life is transient and that politics is not an exception. Instead of building hatred against fellow party men, Enilolobo should concentrate on how to sustain his livelihood and lifestyle in his post-political life which is about to end.

Who is the thief between Obasa, Speaker to the state Assembly of the most productive and prosperous state and Enilolobo, a mere party man who extorts council Chairmen, syphoning public funds on monthly basis. Enilolobo can be described as the major barrier between Alimosho and its supposed development. Little wonder why an editor wrote, sometime back, that 'if Jesus served under Enilolobo, he would not deliver'. While the statement was not to belittle the person of Jesus, it is a picture of how evil-minded and retrogressive, Enilolobo can be - all for greed.

Obasa is among the most trusted allies of Asiwaju

and regardless of his desires, he would always consult with Asiwaju and get his consent before making any pronouncement. That is loyalty.

Obasa had a movement, Obasa Movement, which had been on ground for years. It was a grassroots group through which he had helped many people within and outside and Agege. Seeing that his patron and benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was being endorsed across the nation for the 2023 presidential ticket, Obasa immediately collapsed his Obasa Movement, renaming it BAT Movement, for Bola Ahmed Tinubu Movement. He ordered all his followers and loyalists to switch to BAT Movement, with immediate effect, diverting all their efforts and resources to the goal of actualising the 2023 Project. That is loyalty. According to him, BAT 2023 is a project that bigger than all other projects.

On the other hand - Just like Obasa, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was nobody who also came to limelight through Asiwaju. After serving as Commissioner in Lagos, Asiwaju secured Osun for him, where he served as a two-term Governor. But just as Aregbesola did in Lagos, where he tried to hijack the Lagos structure and install his protege, he repeated same in Osun. After serving as Governor in Osun, he tried to use another loyalist to cover his mess without considering the interest of his godfather and benefactor. Today, Aregbesola is the greatest antagonist of the sitting Governor of Osun, Gboyega Oyetola, a man installed by Asiwaju. Aregbesola is doing everything possible to frustrate the government of Oyetola and working tirelessly to prevent his return in 2022.

Between Aregbesola and Obasa, who is an ingrate?

Would anyone be surprised to see Aregbesola betray Asiwaju tomorrow and take sides with his antagonists? Would anyone also be surprised to see Enilolobo tread same path with his master when that, eventually happens?

Aregbesola is battling with Asiwaju's cousin, Governor Gboyega Oyetola in Osun. Enilolobo

is replicating his master's game in Lagos with Asiwaju's trusted godson, Obasa, Speaker ofbteg Lagos State House of Assembly.

We know what loyalty is when we see one. Beyond mere speculations, we wait patiently as we believe in the results that come with time, as we believe time never fails.

Alimosho Liberation Movement