A Federal Court presided over by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun Ishola has firmly closed the secret tunnel painstakingly built by the Governor of Ondo State, his Excellency Olusegun Agagu to vapourise one of the two oil blocks belonging in part to the Ondo State Government. OPL 241, purchased by the Alliance for Democracy (AD) Government of Chief Adebayo Adefarati had almost disappeared before whistle blowers raised alarm and Labour Party took over from there, heading straight to Waziri Farida’s EFCC office.
A Federal Court presided over by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun Ishola has firmly closed the secret tunnel painstakingly built by the Governor of Ondo State, his Excellency Olusegun Agagu to vapourise one of the two oil blocks belonging in part to the Ondo State Government. OPL 241, purchased by the Alliance for Democracy (AD) Government of Chief Adebayo Adefarati had almost disappeared before whistle blowers raised alarm and Labour Party took over from there, heading straight to Waziri Farida’s EFCC office.
Purchased in typical progressive fashion of the old Western Nigeria, with a vision to secure the future of generations of Ondo people and permanently insure the state against future uncertainty, the two oil blocks were the pride of investment loving citizens before Governor Agagu came into office. In an ingenious move to dispossess the Ondo people and repocess their assets for self, Olusegun Agagu is alleged to have contracted a firm (PROFESSIONAL EXPERTS AND ENERGY COMPANY) managed by one of his bosom friends, from his UI days and a geologist recently retired from a frontline oil Company in Lagos to facilitate the sale on the eve of an impending landmark ruling that will determine his future in Government. That is not all. The oil license, said to be worth close to 1 billion American dollars is being offered in this dark, dirty and nauseous deal for a minuscule 37 million dollars. Some are even suggesting that “Professional Experts and Energy” are fronts for warehousing this humongous asset for the Governor, offering him a golden landing parachute. The reason, one comedian joked, is that the Governor wants to share 50/50 between himself and Ondo State, the remaining assets that he has not had time to fully privatize to the family. This would further swell the account of the family while denying millions of Ondo citizens and their unborn children security and prosperity from the investment that the late Governor, Chief Adebayo Adefarati left behind. It will be recalled that in the last four years, Industries inherited from late Chief Ajasin in trust for the people of Ondo State have all been sold prodigally to cronies and fronts. These are inheritances which even the vilest military dictators ever to rule Ondo State could not venture to auction for the historical and economic value of these investments. If the people will remember Ajasin for the Industries he built, Adefarati for the oil licenses he purchased, is it not strange that they will never forget Agagu for selling off all these fortunes like a Yoruba “AKOTILETA” The prodigal who sold his father’s house for six pence.
We define happiness in different ways. For many, it is material sufficiency and a big room for excesses, for some, it is constant intellectual stimulation amidst moments of reflection. Yet for others, it is fulfillment through creating joy and happiness for others. The more they can touch the greater the happiness and fulfillment they get. It is from this type that the best leaders grow. Creating jobs for thousands, stimulating millions of young minds by building hundreds of schools. Encouraging good and beautiful environment for mankind. They may award contracts to further this dreams. And in time, the solid structures they build soon translate into happiness for the people and glory to their names. But for the Government of Ondo State, strange are the contracts they award and stranger still, the timing of the billions they give as mobilization. Between August and December when the Election petitions threw out the Governor, according to the deposition of EFCC, the Governor has thrown close to 50 billion Naira of Ondo money at very strange contractors. He appears to have opened the vaults in the State’s interest yielding accounts with compliant Banks where he has lodged this funds before the EFCC invited his Finance Commissioner, Mr. Alasoadura for a chat. This EFCC intervention immediately brought out 20 billion kept in Banks. And the Governor appears sworn to throwing all these away before his judgment day comes. He has awarded a Stadium in billions, a new University in billions, and just recently, 14.4 billion for a multipurpose water scheme. This has led EFCC to drag the Finance Commissioner and Accountant General to Abuja on a regular basis to explain the magic in these sudden dividend sharing season. The Courts have since been kept awake by the EFCC such that the Governors determination to completely vandalise the state can be checked. The oil scam is just the latest in the long list of court injunctions to prevent abysmal looting of the state since the Election Petitions declared the Governor’s election fraudulent.
The Governor of Ondo State His Excellency, Olusegun Agagu’s calculations are going awfully wrong. The target he has mapped out on his laptop is getting off track and the personal wealth he has been building over the years is at the risk of microscopic examination by anti graft agencies. The man looks awful, unkempt and uncoordinated if not downright disoriented. He is at the receiving end of several excruciating legal and moral exchanges. On one hand, the mother of all battles, the election petitions appeal is close to an end. And his Excellency barring last minute surprises may be terminally ejected from his residential quarters for permanent retirement at Iju Odo, his neglected hometown where he has only built three bedroom red brick bungalow powered only by a 7.5 kva generator. No attempt has been made to make Iju Odo a permanent member of the National grid and his road surface dressing efforts have not yet covered the place. Iju Odo is completely neglected, just like his mentor rejected appeals to extend some infrastructure to Ota and Abeokuta. That village is like the outpost that time forgot. His homecoming, many suspect will be similar to that of Olusegun Obasanjo whose convoy suffers constant pelting with pure water and rotten refuse at the Ijoko Ota junction. The petition tribunal had early in august last year pronounced him fraudulently elected and therefore yanked him of disgracefully from that seat. He quickly dived towards the Appeal court for protection and many believe, sufficient time to perpetrate evil.
Ondo State under Adekunle Ajasin with Aluko as Special Adviser on economic matters drafted and executed an Investment policy that gave birth to many Industrial and Commercial institutions. The Oluwa Glass Factory, the Okitipupa Oil mills with several hectares of oil Palm plantation. The Ile Oluji Cocoa Factory, the Ondo Romanian Furniture Factory and several other such solid foundations for employment generation, skill development and prosperity advancement through real growth by productive engagement. Immediately Agagu stepped in, he prepared a presentation on his Power point software and put crosses across the factories that Michael Ajasin built. He claimed Government has no business in business. He swore to remove Government “dirty” hands from these legacies of original thought and patriotic ideas. But in stripping the state of its heirloom, observers claim that the man had been releasing these factories to himself and his family members through a very ingenious multipurpose vehicle of so called asset privatization. Today, all these Factories and Industries are gone. Their moveable assets having been uprooted and sold piecemeal while their land is now solidly in hands yet to be investigated by EFCC in future.
For five years, the people of Ondo complained bitterly against their Governor. That he failed woefully to distinguish between his family prosperity and the fortunes of the people. He as Governor appointed his blood brother as Chief of Staff; his brother in law is in the cabinet. And collecting tax for the state and raking in huge commission, the people allege, is his first son. Between the Governor, his brother, the Chief of Staff and the staff of office of the Executive Governor, there is confusion among the people as to which end the two brothers hold. A visiting consultant from a foreign donor Agency , the allegation was made, sat in absolute horror as the Chief of Staff walked into the Governor’s office only for all waiting guests to stand up to salute Femi Agagu, as if he was the Governor. The white man was to later gossip in Abuja over a bottle of Guinness that nobody is in charge in that poor State.
Olusegun Obasanjo’ love for Olusegun Agagu is fuller and deeper than the love for some of his own children, said a close observer. Looking closely at both from a distance, physically, Agagu is far better looking than this old man of very rough construction. Agagu is calm and calculated, Obasanjo is brusque and irritable. While Obasanjo cares little for family, Agagu’s love is only reserved for those who share his genotype. But that appears to be the end of the contrast. The two men are as treacherous as Judas Iscariot, cruel as barbarians, dark and frightfully unclean as a garbage swine. That may account for their unusual closeness. Why is it that only these kind make the front pew in the leadership of a Country like Nigeria? A pastor suggested that sinners deserve punishment. Nigeria has sinned, and they are our punishment. Lucifer will not physically come down from hell, he will appoint his agent here on earth. Olusegun Obasanjo has made all the highest jobs available in Nigeria. Vice President under Murtala Muhammad, Minister of Works, Minister of Defence and President for 11 years. Agagu has been Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Minister of Aviation, Minister of Power and Steel and Governor now for about 6 years., The way Agagu has been going about plucking every healthy fruit from the economic trees of Ondo and now threatening the tree from the foundation before his journey to Iju Odo appears to reflect the very style of the former President to destroy the house and remove the roof before leaving for Ota. With bitterness towards those who do not want their illegitimate mandate prolonged, they believe all must suffer to avenge their shame. There is very little room left for the people they lead as long as their appetites are on rampage. And it is just impossible to satisfy them.
Francis Ojo
[email protected]
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