“On Saturday, if anyone of you goes against the Ambode I picked, that is your end. If it doesn’t happen within seven days, just know that I’m a bastard and it is not my father who born me”- Rilwan Akiolu March, 5th, 2015
Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, is in the eye of storm. He navigated to into this typhoon by overt involvement in the politics of who succeeds out-going governor, Babatunde Fashola. In my considered opinion, the Monarch went overboard. I concede that he is entitled to his political choices but shoving them down the throats of others, is reprehensible. It is condemnable. All sane Nigerians should strongly denounce Akiolu on account of the evil wish that those opposed to his handpicked candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode of the APC, would perish in the lagoon. This is motor park brand of ‘royalty’.
A defining hallmark of royalty is taciturnity. Its body language is seldom readable.
It is even more cryptic when confronted by a choice like who heads a government elected by popular vote. In moments like these, royalty is known to be “father to all”. Unless for the shrewd and probably the initiated in esoteric royal communication, understanding ‘royalese’ is like winking in the dark. It is futile. A royal mind in a difficult moment of public choice is indecipherable. It endorses none and for the heck of it, opposes none. Privately, a Monarch may have a preferred candidate and may campaign surreptitiously and in a very persuasively refined manner with sufficient escape route in the event of a miscalculation, as to save face. But to go to extremes? Very rare. And to threaten? Even more rare.
Last Sunday, however, Oba Akiolu broke all these protocols. He became a statistic in this rarity of a royalty acting like a commoner who spoke first and thought afterwards. Personally, I have no quarrel with his open endorsement of Ambode. The APC top flier should be mindful of an endorsement like that. Playing the ‘settler-indigene’ card and placing a curse on perceived antagonists of his choice was an affront all progressive Nigerians should rise and strongly slam.
I am excited that condemnations have been coming in torrents. First to distance himself from this “toxic” endorsement is Ambode himself. This is admirable. He chose his diction carefully. Every word oozed maturity and assurance that he, unlike his bellicose benefactor, is mindful of the cultural and ethnic variegation of Lagos. Juxtapose the opening quote by Akiolu and Ambode’s calming assurance : “Every group in Lagos is safe in my hands as governor. I will not discriminate against any religious or ethnic group. It is our Lagos and we must build it together. In my acceptance speech after the primaries I made this note that I will be a governor for all and Lagos is safe in my hands. I want to build on the foundation of unity, peace and progress and development laid by my predecessors. I am your best choice for a Lagos that must continue to thrive. And though tongue and tribe may differ we stand in brotherhood in Lagos from the smallest ethnic groups to the major ones. We are all stakeholders”
The APC damage control mechanism went into over drive. National party leader, Bola Tinubu reacted swiftly. He too, toed Ambode’s path. The closest he came to a public rebuke of the Monarch was saying that he is not an APC stalwart.
Tinubu went up to the hilt in brightening the electoral chances of his own “handpicked” Ambode. Listen to him “The Oba is not a politician. His job is to accommodate all political parties, whether PDP, APC or SDP. Ubah was also there for support. To our Igbo brothers and sisters, don’t we pay your children’s school fees like others? Or is it the palace that pays for it? When we conducted an exam and a spelling competition, a Lagosian, Ebuka, from Anambra, came first and he became the governor for one day. Those that won the competition three times in a row were Igbo. Ebuka was sent to Switzerland computer school and then Obafemi Awolowo University. We did not say he was an Igbo boy and he would not enjoy. He became an executive in Oando and he is now in Canada. Another boy, Felix, won and went to Switzerland and OAU. We paid his scholarship; we did not deny him because he is Igbo. If Nigeria escaped from the PDP unhurt, our nation will be united forever….”
Others followed suit. Left, right and centre Nigerians of all hues whip silly the egregious ruler.
It looks like the ‘lagoon’ of denunciations trailing the Oba’s intemperate language has shaken his crown. It appears that he has lost some of his complacent royal swagger to the gale of reproach. This is evident in the hastily cobbled rebuttal issued a day later to explain this abominably regal gaffe. I am inclined to believe that he is truly, contrite. Kings and emperors are not known to eat humble pie. Oba Akiolu is not an exception. But the collective fury of incensed Nigerians has compelled a backtrack.
I marvel. Just how “influential” are our traditional rulers in deciding the political fate of politicians? Like the clergy, can they, truly, swing votes for the unpopular candidate just because they “own ‘ the land and now the “lagoon?”. As for men of god and even wizards and witches, could they truly “swing” votes for the politician who sits on their fannies and do nothing?
With no constitutional role, our Monarchs are increasingly becoming relics. And probably this frightens them into such desperate ‘flexing’ of muscles as to threaten perceived “enemies”. By being overt in his support, the once venerated Oba has open his plank for all manner of attacks. He has invited shame to sit by his throne. Mercifully, he has eaten humble pie. But the damage is extensive. All political gaffes come with a heavy price tags. This one won’t be any different.
