Caleb Ojo bounces back: Reward for hard labours of the past? Are the IKEJIs sleeping? The governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Monday, May 20, 2013 approved the composition of the governing councils of the FOUR state-owned Polytechnics and Colleges of Education. This is coming exactly after two months of industrial action embarked upon by the staffs of the affected institutions; Osun State Polytechnics Iree, Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa and Osun State college of Education, Ila. By so doing, the governor has met one of the demands of the striking lecturers. Forget about the striking lecturers; forget about the composition “wahala”. The real gist here is about the governing council of the Osun State Polytechnics, Iree. “The Governing Council as approved for the Polytechnic, Iree will have Engr. (Mrs) Johana Olatundun Maduka as Chairman while other members are Mr Lekan Gbalajo, Hon Akin Awoniyi, Hon Caleb Ojo, Hon Adeolu Alawode Zacheous, Engr Oluyemi Ifederu, Mr Olayiwola Oladimeji and Mr Oyebisi Alamu. “The same Caleb Ojo?” I asked. “Yes, the same Caleb you know” someone confirmed. Okay. Hon Caleb Adekunle Ojo is an erstwhile Local Government Chairman of Oriade Local Govt, Ijebu Jesa, Osun State (State of Osun). The Erin-Ijesa born grass-root politician served between 99/2000 and 2003. He is the most controversial chairman of the council till date. As a chairman, he endured a tasking and crises-ridden tenure. Caleb Ojo’s problem started from his first official function as a council boss where it was alleged that he was disrespectful to some traditional rulers. The problem continued till his last day in office as a boss. His relationship with some elders of his party, AD became sour; so also with his friends and associates before he became a council boss. There were instances where some of his old colleagues boasted loudly that “I was the one who introduced Caleb to a business”, “I fed him for months and now, he has turned his back on me” bla bla bla. Most of them felt betrayed by a man who promised to “pay them back” now that he has become the Chairman. Apart from falling apart with his old colleagues, traditional rulers and his loyal party members, his relationship with some members of this cabinet also became “something far from being cordial”. He didn’t enjoy a good working partnership with some cabinet members. The climax of all was when it became known to the public that there is a fight between him and the Owaloko of Iloko Ijesa, Oba Oladele Olashore (now late). There were several attempts to settle the rancor but I’m not sure it was settled before Olashore’s death. After leaving office in 2002, he was faced with many allegations ranging from gross abuse of power, misuse of council funds and others. People accused Caleb of using govt funds in purchasing different awards. One day I was returning from school in Ipetu Ijesa and I stopped at a popular junction where political matters were being discussed. Caleb has just won an award as the best chair at that time and some politicians were discussing the issue. As a boy interested in the political happenings in the state and the LG, I asked (in Ijesa dialect) a politician of AD extraction “kini kaleebu se gan ke da?”(What has Caleb done wrong?), the man was stunned but out of his hatred for the Caleb’s administration he responded by saying “ki le mo se ke daa, aa ye sehun ko da ki gbogbo eniyan baa ja a, o ba igbakeji re ja, ee ba Olashore ja, ihan egbe gba tie, ohun Aikulola gan n seni ara, modee, ihun ki kaleebu se po ke da” (what has he not done wrong, if he has done anything right, why is everyone fighting him? He has fought with his deputy, he not having a good relationship with Olashore, the party is fighting him, he and Aikulola are not on the same side. This little boy, Caleb has done many things wrong). After hearing that, I became more interested in their discussions and I became a regular visitor to the place. So many things were said about him but nobody ever called him a failure. Most times when you raise the issue of his achievements, his detractors will raise another issue to silent that. That is not say he achieved much as a Chairman because he had the chance to do more. But since 1999, Caleb’s administration remains the best in the LG district (I stand to be corrected). Someone close to me, who served as a Supervisory Councillor in the cabinet sometimes in 2001, told me that those envious of Caleb are after the money and that they want to plunder the funds of the LG. He told me that Caleb is not a YES YES YES MAN and that he will never allow anybody, group or sect to became tiny god(s) on him. Though much hasn’t been heard of Caleb since he left office, but he has always been there. At a time, he defected to PDP (which was seen as a way of settling the rift between him and Olashore) and again he defected to AC later ACN. In 2011, he became one of the top shots of the ACN Leaders in the LG guiding party faithful to rallies. His appointment as member of the governing council is coming at a time when some think he has been neglected, when others think he might team up with the opposition to fight the incumbent and also after almost a year after Olahore’s death. Congratulations to the indefatigable and ever controversial Caleb Ojo. Some may see this as a reward of hard labours of the past, but I see this as an opportunity to reunite with old foes and become best of friends with them again (after all, this is politics; no permanent enemies). Conclusively, one thing is sure; the Erins have gotten it again. An Ijebu Jesa man is the LG Chair, the Vice Chairman is from Ipetu Ijesa, an Erinmo Man holds the House of Reps post and the man in the state house of assembly is from Ipetu Ijesa. WHAT OF THE IKEJIs??? Ikeji Ile and Ikeji Arakeji where are we? I don’t believe in zoning but I believe in equity. Even if there’s equity, competence comes first. Where are the Ikeji Politicians? Oriade LG is made up of 5 groups; “The Erins (Erin oke , Akola and Erin Ijesa)”, “The Ikejis (Ikeji Ile, Ikeji Arakeji, Owena, Ira ikeji-ile”, “The Ipetus (ipetu Ijesa, Apoti, Dagbaja, Onikoko…”, “The Ijebus (Ijebu jesa, Ere, ijeda, Iloko, ilo” and the “Erinmos (Erinmo, Omo, iwaraja, oke ana, ijimo)”. The last time an Ikeji man held an elective post was in 1983 when Chief S.A Akinyele from Ikeji Arakeji represented the old Obokun Constituency in the HOR. Successive governments have all overlooked the Ikejis in terms of appointments. As 2015 approaches, it is time for the Ikejis to unite and fight for a place up there. The top is sparse and the bottom is crowded. We must aim high to reach the top and leave the crowd. Let me end this piece with a quote from a note I wrote in 2009 “It is time for us to dream new dreams for Ikeji; Ikeji is the cradle of our birth and the temple of our progenitors. It is our Zion, our own Jerusalem here on earth. We have the human and natural resources to move her to a NEW FRONTIERS and Greater heights. What is your vision for Ikeji? We need VISION for attainment of Ikeji goals and aspirations. We need VISION for Ikeji Commonwealth and Development. We need a new humane society where there is a new social order, peace progress and prosperity. May our visions come to reality. God bless the Ikejis Oluwatimilehin Boyinde Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Posted on: Sat, 27 Jul 2013 18:36:46 +0000
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