Our people have repeatedly urged me not to dignify those who seek to relegate Mopamuro to second-class status in Yagba land, motivated by inordinate ambition, selfish contracts, or mere stomach infrastructure. We know them. We know why each of them believes Mopamuro has no capable son or daughter worthy of representing us. To some, it must always be them, every time and at all costs. Others only support Hon. Leke because they think he might fund their aspirations if he changes his mind. Leke must be vigilant, many of these so-called new supporters are serial traitors, willing to go to any length to advance their selfish interests. For them, nothing else matters.
Some of us supported Leke with genuine faith and enthusiasm, even when the outcome was uncertain. We believed in his potential, and we have not been disappointed. Leke knows those who stood by him when it mattered. Today, however, many of those trailing him are driven by his wealth, deep pocket, influence, and access. They are fair-weather friends, loyal only when the sun is shining. Their motto? “For better, for stay; for worse, for go.” Leke must take note: if he loses an election tomorrow, these ones will vanish like air. They have no permanent friends.They are not his friends rather they are the friends of his office. His true friends among this new group are very few.
I also pity the foundation members of Leke’s political journey. Mark my words: these “new lovers” have come to displace them. Very soon, these loyal pioneers will be sidelined and forgotten. Before Leke wakes up, these new folks are already at his doorstep. They’ll be the last to leave his presence at night. Theirs is the same kind of affection Judas showed Jesus.
Now to the critical question: Why have some of us changed our stance on Leke? Because it is Mopamuro’s turn, plain and simple. Truly, in previous elections, we supported continuity. We believed Leke should complete his second term and leave honourably like Distinguished Senator Karimi, his predecessor. That was the convention in Yagba politics, and we kept to it. Now, it is time to honour the same principle of rotation. Leke himself stated on multiple occasions that after his second term, he would support a candidate from Mopamuro. So why is he now going back on that promise?
Let me be clear: I respect Leke deeply. He has always accorded me the same. But there comes a time when one must remember and stand by one’s roots. That time is now. Some justify their continued support for Leke based on performance. But I ask them: is anyone born with performance? If Leke was not given a chance, how would we have known he could perform? Yagba is full of many potential Lekes, waiting only for an opportunity to shine. They say they don’t want a beginner to represent them. But they forget that Leke was once a beginner too. Every champion starts somewhere. Should we now say without Leke, Yagba has no future? That’s not just fair. It is also untrue.
Let’s examine their tactics. What are they using to push their agenda? Lies, with layer upon layer of them. Second, mischief. Strangely, some of their former victims are now aligned with them in the same camp. These are the lost sheep who ignore the hunter’s whistle. They are like stubborn flies following a corpse to the grave. To these ones, I ask: How many more times must you suffer betrayal before you learn?
Their third tactic is division. They thrive by knocking heads together and sowing seeds of discord. They are the “Arije ninu idaru”, those who feed off chaos. They have even tried to woo HE Yomi Awoniyi, thinking they can use him to endorse their betrayal. But they forget that Yomi is a chip off the old block, one who upholds the honour and legacy of his great father and our hero in Yagba and in the country at large.
Then comes their false appeal to party loyalty. They attempt to use party labels to distract and divide us. But this struggle transcends party lines. Ironically, they are the real traitors, inviting outsiders to take the ticket of parties they never built or stood by, while sidelining loyal members who have stood through thick and thin. Is this how to reward party loyalty? If care is not taken, their greed and hunger for money and position will destroy the very parties they claim to love.
Some have asked us Why do some Mopamuro indigenes act as saboteurs against their own people? The answer is simple: In every group of twelve, there will be a traitor. How else do we explain why those who rose through Mopamuro’s support now work against the interest of the land? Some were elected or appointed simply because they were from Mopamuro. Today, they act like Sanballat and Tobiah, standing in the way of Mopamuro’s rebuilding. They have forgotten the scripture that says: “Those who love Jerusalem shall prosper.”
We love our Jerusalem, Mopamuro. We will never deny her. We will not become second-class citizens in Yagba land. Even if we are few, we will continue to declare: “Mopamuro Lokan!”
This is a cause of no retreat, no surrender.
If all that remains us are mere whispers we will whisper it loud enough: “Mopamuro Lokan!”
We are standing firm in our resolve.
God bless Mopamuro, the land of our birth.
We will not disappoint her. We will not deny her like others have.
We will honour her with every breath of our lives. It is Aluta continua, victoria acerta.
*Cdre Folusho Daniel Rtd*