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Who says that one tree does not make a Forest in making a prediction on who becomes the next Deputy Governor to Aiyedatiwa? A special case for Ondo State Muslims
I can tell you that one tree that could have made that Forest in Ondo State was late Sheikh Yayi Akorede the second and the most powerful Chief Imam of Akure whose son Sheikh Adekunle Akorede had succeeded his father as Chief Imam.
His daughter Faozart Akorede- Gidado is now by the special grace of God the “Iya Adinni” of Akure Muslims by acclamation and consensus because of the powerful influence and the track record of her amazing father.
Alhaji Yayi Akorede “Egun Nla to nkehin Igbale. Iwerepe gbara re gba Igi Oko. Olokose a mara fini da, Aluko fini Oloro ba a ji”
When Papa Michael Adekunle Ajasin had become the first Civilian Governor of Ondo State after Governor Ita David Ikpeme, he had no problem at all picking Omoboriowo another Christian from Ijero as his Deputy..
Governor Adebayo Adefarati the successor had easily followed the same track in picking his Deputy and the same protocol was also observed when Olusegun Agagu, a Christian had to pick another Christian Omolade Oluwateru another Christian as his Deputy.
Things began to change when Olusegun Mimiko, a Christian was elected Governor and he had no problems picking a Muslim Alhaji Ali Olanusi as his Deputy.
That was when the powerful influence of Alhaji Yayi Akorede had become the rule and not the exception in Ondo State.
Sheikh Yayi Akorede had more or less made it a must that the two highest political office holders in Ondo must, as a rule, be rotated between the two predominant faiths in Ondo State..
if the Governor is a Muslim he must of necessity pick a Christian as Deputy and Vice verza.
Governor Akeredolu had managed to beat that Protocol during his first and second term because Alhaji Yayi Akorede was no longer around.
Now if the Muslims in Ondo State decide to mount a pressure campaign against Aiyedatiwa to observe that protocol in picking a Deputy, that move could predictably alter any prediction on who becomes the next Deputy Governor to Aiyedatiwa. Ondo State Women if they are organized could also force Aiyedatiwa to pick a famale this time around.
If Chief Imam Yayi Akorede was still alive, you can be sure that any influential Muslim, be it male or female, could easily be favored to fill the slot.
Any one who is currently unknown in Ondo Central Senatorial District in particular or in Ondo North Senatorial District from either Ondo town. Akure or Akoko/ Owo or Ose / Ireakari Local Government could easily become the favorite to be picked as the Deputy to Aiyedatiwa by some miracle, if the Yayi Akorede political protocol or preference becomes the Rule of the Thumb or the rule and not the exception in Ondo State based on my personal observation over time..
So if you are among the individuals like me predicting who is is most likely to emerge as the Deputy Governor to Aiyedatiwa, you must factor in this observation into your equation or forecast before you hazard a guess. It could be any JJC based on this affirmation.
Who says a tree does not make a Forest. Yes it surely does, if that tree is an “Igi Nla amowo jagbala”like Pa Yayi Akorede as reminded us by Bola Olaseeke Otu from Owo Imoro, Owo Ajaka, one of the most popular traditional Musicians who has used her popular “Oseghe Music” to put Owo Imoro on the world map of traditional music in Nigeria by waxing her CD titled “ Ogho gede tete,e ma ruse Oluwam o” which has become one of my favorit music as a lover and promoter of traditional music in Ondo State.
Don’t be surprised if the next Ondo State Deputy Governor selected by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is a less known Muslim Member of the APC to come from Ondo State, if the Muslim Community under the leadership of Sheikh and Chief Imam of the State Capital can liaise with the Muslims in Akure, Ondo, Idanre, Igbaraoke, Ifedore and from Akoko and Ose and Ireakari Local Government and Ikare decide to press some powerful buttons in Abuja and the Core North like Sokoto or Kano or Zaria, Kaduna or Maiduguri.
If they do, they might get a favorable and sympathetic hearing from their very influential power brokers in the North especially now that Muslim Bola Ahmed Tinubu is President of the Republic and his Deputy is Ali Shettima another Muslim from the Northeast Axis of Nigeria.
This article has become my first article to usher in the Year 2024.
Happy New Year to all the fans of this Column and more so to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and the entire people of Ondo State.
Don’t count it. Nobody can be too sure about who Aiyedatiwa is most likely too pick as his Deputy Governor. You all can write it down.
I rest my case,
Omo Oba Wumi Akintide PhD, writes from Oyemekun terrace New York City
