Wole Adejumo
Back when I was in secondary school, one of my elder brothers once told me a story he heard about the legendary ‘Lion of the West’, Honourable Adegoke Adelabu ‘Penkelemeesi’. The story had it that Adelabu who had just taken delivery of a new vehicle then decided to take it to the heart of Gbagi, one of the busiest markets in Ibadan then. Expectedly, everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of Penkelemeesi and his new automobile. So, a crowd gathered.
Within minutes, Adelabu had reportedly created an outrageous paradox; he told the crowd that the car, though a government vehicle, belonged to them and as such, ‘gbogbo wa jo maa wo inu moto yi ni’ (we will all enter the car). Having said that, he flung the two back doors open and a queue soon formed; market men and women were entering Adelabu’s official vehicle from one door and alighting from the other. Though expectations and reality sometimes do not match, not a few of them were satisfied that they entered their beloved Honourable Minister’s car. He knew what the people wanted and he never starved them of it. That apparently explained the ceaseless love showed to him. Even when he was taken to court over the mismanagement of the funds of his District Council, his supporters showed up in court singing “Maa ko ‘wo wa na, Igunnu lo no Tapa, Tapa lo n’Igunnu” (spend our money the way you want, the Igunnu Masquerade and the Tapa people belong to each other).
Like Ibadan rose in support of Adelabu in his time as a legislator, it has again risen in defence of Honourable Abass Adigun fondly referred to as ‘Agboworin’. A video of Adigun struggling to express himself in fluent English language even after being corrected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives recently became a widely discussed topic.
Thankfully, Adigun is not just a legislator, he is a notable figure in the politics of Ibadan North East/South East Federal Constituency which he currently represents. His constituents were therefore quick to posit that fluency in the English language is not an appropriate yardstick for measuring success, especially in the political arena. To them, Abass Adigun Agboworin is a “Performing Honourable” and as long as he meets their expectations, nothing else matters.
By “performance”, the constituents refer to the deliverables on ground and these include the projects and developments the Honourable has either executed or facilitated in the constituency. In other words, in most parts of Nigeria, the number of boreholes, public toilets, classroom blocks, market stalls and solar powered lights a lawmaker renovates or builds will be used as a measuring tool for his success. That is also a major determinant for future support especially where such a lawmaker is interested in running for another term in office. The mark of excellence as far as lawmaking in Nigeria is concerned has therefore been taken beyond mere moving of motions or proposing bills on the floor of the legislative houses. It has gone more than a step further and it therefore implies that the lawmakers are impervious to criticisms bordering on their eloquence on the floor of the hallowed chambers.
While those who understand that the business of making laws is conducted in English Language find it deeply disturbing that constituencies whose representatives are not fluent may end up not getting all they deserve, the quality of representation is a source of worry in other parts. Those who were around during the First and Second Republics often testified to the awe-inspiring debates that took place in the legislative houses then. Things have however changed drastically over the years.
It may not be wrong to trace the change to the fast-dwindling moral values in the society as well as the fact that money has become a factor in Nigerian politics. In the country today, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a politician without a deep pocket to win an election in Nigeria. That of course has led to a drastic decline in political participation.
Unrestrained greed has also become part of politics; there is hardly any politician that has not been asked “what is in it for us?” by constituents while requesting support during pre-electioneering campaigns. Quite unfortunately, some of those questions are usually best answered in terms of Naira. So, offices usually go to the highest bidder.
At a lecture in Ibadan in November 2024, the Majority Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele remarked that “no matter the quality of debate, if you fail to distribute okada (motorcycles) or Marwa (tricycles) you won’t get a return ticket”. In such matters, lawmakers understand that is what would guarantee continuous stay in office, hence the zeal to deliver. And with the mindset of many already reconfigured by poverty, of what use are laws to the starving? The Naira and kobo now matter more than the laws our representatives were elected to make.
While the solution lies in improving the quality of participation, reducing the monetary influence in politics and ensuring we restore the right moral values, it will take years of consistent building to achieve.
I dare say nothing will change for as long as constituents, armed with egregious sense of entitlement queue at the homes and offices of their elected officials to collect school fees of their children or money to defray hospital bills and other expenses. That is why constituents will perpetually expect their representatives to be both Alowonle (one who doesn’t need to go to the bank before giving out money) and Agboworin (one who can meet financial obligations on the go).
Adejumo sent this piece from Ibadan. He can be reached via tallwolleh@gmail.com.
