TIME TO MAKE ADEDIBU HEAD OF ARMED FORCES AND POLICE

Every Nigerian inside and outside the borders of Nigeria should by now know the one and only Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu, whose profile has so risen that even some governors in the Southwestern part of Nigeria catch the cold when his excellency, the uncrowned Emperor of Ibadan land coughs.

With due respects to some departed politicians and leaders in Yoruba land who put Adedibu in the doldrums during their time, the Molete Chief is now an institution to almost every mover and shaker in Oyo State of today.

He singlehandedly by hook or crook, made his son in law, a Senator, sorry not just that, but also the Senate leader, his own son was brought from outside Ibadan, pronto, he was made a Senator too, while he also enthroned the third from Oyo State.

The Ibadan Chief who sees himself as the 4 th in rank to the Olubadan, but ranked 5 th by the Olubadan in Council is fast turning to another Basorun Gaa of old in Yoruba land, and nay in Nigeria.

The fear of Adedibu has become the beginning of safety from thugs and hooligans. The former president of Nigeria, in person of Olusegun Obasanjo who is known for his own brand of thuggery or stubbornness had to surrender to the superiority of Adedibu’s brand by publicly talking from the two corners of his mouth in the last days of his administration. The Obasanjo who called a Christian pastor an idiot, who threatened to slap any of his Owu chiefs who dared him in the Owu chieftaincy rumble, admitted that nothing could be done against Adedibu’s empire or kingdom, and humbly suggested that ‘baba’ be tolerated. Remember, Adedibu publicly told Nigerians that Obasanjo prostrated before him, ten? times to allow certain situation to be in Ladoja’s Oyo, but the big ‘baba’ refused.

The advent of Ladoja’s rule in Oyo State gave credence to the establishment of Adedibu’s empire, and the Molete garrison commander, quickly showed his hands by using his boys to demolish the statue of Awolowo - one of those who never allowed him to go beyond his boundaries throughout their time. The then governor of Oyo State felt nothing until Adedibu requested for a 50/50 sharing of the security vote, this according to the docile Ladoja.

The Molete chief moved from one issue to another, and before anyone could say Jack, he has taken over the State House of Assembly, and also most of the Councils’ chairmen.

Credits should be given for the skills of intimidation and buy over of the Ibadan chief. He made it to the top by his native intelligence, and his ability to monopolize violence.

There was a popular Ekiti lawyer who succeeded in bullying some people, and had his chambers in Ibadan. He was brutalized severally when he clashed with the Field Marshall in chief, his excellency Chief Adedibu. The lawyer has since gone into self imposed quietness while the lion boasted that he has been buried!

Most big men and women in Ibadan have to check their statements many times, to ensure that they do not run foul of his excellency at Molete. The prominent sons and daughters who summoned some courage to dare him in the April 2007 elections by publicly going against the Molete lion are still looking carefully, when they go outside their fortified homes. Some of them we were told, quickly pushed their immediate families out of town, so that the lion’s cubs will not come after them.

The present Olubadan was a victim of the Molete chief’s long reach, his wife was attacked by some men of the chief. The ‘iyalode’ of Ibadan too recently reported that her wares and other properties were burnt, or vandalized or stolen on the orders of the great chief.

Some traders at popular Gbagi and Dugbe markets in Ibadan, are still carrying the scars of their disobedience against the laws as promulgated from Molete over the last elections. In fact, some of them were directly informed by the chief to leave Ibadan or get mauled down!

Many people with different tales, they should have known who was, and is in control.

The former President of Nigeria gave the chief all the logistics and everything needed to dominate his environment, and also to intimidate his surroundings. No wonder the Olubadan held nothing back, to accuse him of being the real problem of Ibadan in the last eight years.

That would seem to have ended, but the new President in person of Umaru Yaradua, seems to be straight with the system left behind by his installer.

The former Inspector General of Police in Nigeria, Ehindero, was visibly made to surrender the Oyo Police Force to the chief at Molete, and the lion boasted many times that "k’o siun t’i won o se" (there is nothing the Police can do against me).

The new number one Police man after the exit of Ehindero showed his readiness to tame the Ibadan chief but was quickly called to some order by powers above him. No sooner he ordered that the retinue of mobile Policemen following the chief be withdrawn, and siren blowing cut off, the Aso Rock power returned them as soon as the lion of Molete reported the error by the I.G.

Some lawmakers in the Oyo State House of Assembly have sad and pathetic stories to tell after having a brush with the Garrison commander in chief of Oyo State. As a matter of exactness, one of the present members had to be sworn in without shoes or his cap, after superior orders were given to the boys to remove them, for forgetting to prostrate before the lion at the inauguration of the Assembly.

Some of those who joined ranks with Ladoja to dare the lion had to take to the bush, had to sleep away from their homes, and had to keep running for many months until some respite was granted from Molete.

It took several prostrations from some government leaders and administrators before Oyo State Governor’s office was allowed to stand during the time of Ladoja. The place was bombarded by the superior forces from the lion many times, and the so called chief security officer had to take to his heels on more than four occasions.

Today, the chief at Ibadan deserves all accolades for being the real ruler of Oyo State, perhaps the real owner of People’s Democratic Party of Nigeria in the same State. He is one man who can get away with anything, and someone who has virtually become untouchable.

The Police has him to thank for helping them to do their job recently when some of his own ‘Police’ assisted in recovering a car which was supposed to have been returned by a supposedly fired director of the Odua conglomerate.

Great job!

The highly successful Chairman of the also successful NAFDAC - National Agency for Foods and Drug Administration Control is the latest complainant against the powerful chief. The poor lady must have complained to the former President without any success, and perhaps to the current one too, and had to come to the political son of the Chief for help. The lady bitterly complained that Chief Lamidi Adedibu had been using his thugs to obstruct and attack her men while doing their job in Oyo State. A case of one man being a law to himself, and also to others.

But far from that, it is case of the people of Nigeria failing to read the situation correctly. It is time to give honor to whom honor is due.

Time to make Chief Lamidi Adedibu the Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces and also the head of the Nigeria Police.

The Chief deserves these two combined positions without any further delay, and should be made above all Nigerian laws.

This is the only solution left to show all those who have messing with the Chief, by not according the due respect, that they will have to fall in line. I hope all those who still doubt the control of the Chief, or his being untouchable will quickly go to Molete today, to pay homage to the only man who can solve most of Nigerian security problems.

The Police and the Army will have a lot to learn from the Chief, especially the Police who have been unable to find the killers of Bola Ige and many others. The Chief will solve all the riddles for them within a tinkling of an eye!

Hail, the Emperor Commander in chief of the Police and Armed Forces of Nigeria!

 

John Ayodele,

Atlanta, USA.