By David Titiloye
Our Yoruba elders have an adage “E ba Efon l’abata, eyo obe ti, omi lero wipe omu ku ni?” the literal English translation is that “You meet a (dead) Buffalo in the yard and quickly rushed to get knives, do you think it drank itself to death?”.
The wise men of old used this proverb to advise that you don’t rush to exploit a ready-made opportunity or chance because it must have been a product of someone else’s hardwork.
The proverb and its significance is relevant to the Metropolitan Square controversy where the governor of Kwara state has refused to grant its approval for use by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because of his vindictive agenda against Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
I am aware that the governor is not a good reader neither is academic study is forte, so I am going to give a brief history of how the Metropolitan Square came into the being so that the governor can understand that it is the wrong venue to exploit for his ego trips and personal vendetta.
Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki is today reputed as a visioner and a leader with great foresight. During his tenure, he observed that the stadium being the only major monument in the city was being used for rallies and other activities contrary to its intended purpose which was solely for sporting activities.
In a bid to solve this and spread development to other areas of the city, his administration constructed the Metropolitan Square for rallies, concerts, conventions and social activities that are not related to sports.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq who has not conceived any visionary idea neither does he have any groundbreaking or legacy project to his credit has successfully refreshed the memories of Kwarans to the fall in standard of governance by bringing the conversation around the Metropolitan Square to the forefront in Kwara state today by his refusal to grant approval for its primary use by the PDP.
As I have always maintained, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in a bid to salvage whatever is left of his reputation will self-destruct and this is one of such events. He is only revealing himself to Kwarans as a leader that is incapable of conducting self-evaluation and introspection. He is also proving the assertion that he is a petty and despotic leader who is not ready to be democratic or play fair in the coming elections.
Behaving like a Fowl that is hibernating over the eggs laid by another Hen will do his already sullied image no good and he must therefore be advised to retrace his steps so that he can leave honorably in 2023.
David Titiloye writes from Owu-Isin, Isin LGA, Kwara State
