Yinka Ibidunn, the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, on Physically Challenged Issues,in this interview with P.M.News, proffers a permanent solution to the political crisis in the state.
Q: You may want to clear the air on the crisis rocking Ogun State?
A: The latest crisis rocking Ogun State springs from oath taking. Oath taking is a normal thing among the Yorubas, the people take oath for many reasons. Taking an oath is how they signify their determination to keep to whatever agreement they are making or reached. I should believe Nigerians take oath generally. However, I don’t take oath because I am a Christian. But anybody who believes in the traditional way of doing things, takes oath. I spoke on Rock City FM, where I said oath taking is normal among Yorubas and that people take oath for so many reasons. What matters is why one is taking the oath and for what purpose. But if a member of a state government takes an oath in order to uphold a resolve to be against the governor, that is wrong, because he or she is doing something that is inimical to his or her duty.
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| •Yinka Ibidunni. |
You are taking an oath by laying your hand on the Bible or Quran, saying that you are going to be faithful and do everything as stated in the Nigerian Constitution, later, you go to somewhere else, you pull off your clothes, come in the nude to take another oath that you are going to constantly disturb the governor, government and governance, something is wrong somewhere.
Now concerning the picture that was published in the Compass newspaper, the picture the paper claimed was taken at a location where the G15 members of the State House of Assembly were taking oaths. We all know that the G15 have constantly been pestering the government, sometimes unreasonably attacking government policies. What I am against is the assertion that I said, ‘to take an office in Ogun State, one must swear to an oath.’ There was no way I could have said such a thing, because I can’t remember being present where anybody was swearing to an oath before being appointed to head an office. I never took an oath for the position I am occupying today. I was sitting at home when somebody called to tell me that I have been chosen to be a Senior Assistant. I asked which portfolio and the person said he didn’t know. I later got a message asking me over to Ijebu Ode the next day. I went there and all of us who came for the meeting had a normal meeting. Then my maternal grandfather was the Olori Alajonu of Egbaland. He was the one that put the Crown on Oba Lipede’s head, that was what I said in the earlier report. His name was Chief Joseph Bidemi Ogundimu, a well know man.
Q:Many believe you are under pressure, that is why you are recanting what you told our reporter earlier
A: No, no, no. Me? Never! I am very free with the governor, he gives me absolute freedom to say what I want. I am not such a person who will start shaking when he hears ‘Your Excellency.’ The governor knew the kind of person I was before he put me in his cabinet. So I am not here to defend my office. I am in the office because he called me to come and serve and I felt I could serve.
On the physically challenged issues, we can’t even do anything about them, because there is no money to do what I have recommended, but he still thinks I am useful to him. If he does not feel I am useful to him, I will go. I don’t beg for positions. I have never done it in my life. I am telling you also that from my own knowledge of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, he is even more of a gentleman than I am.
Q: So what would you say about the oath saga still rocking the state?
A: The Assembly said they took oath for the governor, but I was in a cabinet meeting when one of our members, an elderly person, said he had the pictures of this 15 people taking oath. The governor was not there at that time. So when the governor came in and we finished the normal cabinet meeting, then some of us encouraged the man to tell the governor. When the old man told the governor, he was surprised. The governor then asked if the man was still keeping the pictures, the man said they were not with him, but that he could get them. Then the governor asked him to get them. Some of us doubted the man, while some said if true, that the pictures should be published. So when he brought the photographs, I was stunned. We asked the man why he brought only one picture and he said there were others. I was one of those who pushed that the picture should be published.
Q: But why in the Compass, the governor’s paper?
A: The Compass probably is the easiest one to get to us, but the Tribune published it too, or were you not aware?
Q: I don’t think Tribune published it?
A: Tribune did.
Q: Does the governor have interest in the Tribune?
A: Doesn’t Bola Tinubu use all the media that he has interest in? What is wrong with that? As things are today, I am going to push for more of those photographs to be published, especially the photograph of the lady among them.
Q: Please send them to P.M.News?
A: No, we won’t.
Q: For credibility…
A: We don’t need credibility again. We have credibility already. It will be in the Compass only. Even the Speaker, Egbetokun, said he did not take oath naked, abi? When you see him in the nude with the Ogun tio fin’ gun, then you will know.
Q: But have you seen the photographs of the remaining 14?
A: I said more will be published. Is that not what the Compass said? I am going to push so that more of the pictures are published, especially those of the lady among them and the Speaker, Tunji Egbetokun. We want to disgrace all of them. They are dishonourable people. If they were not dishonourable, why should they take oaths to go against their own government, just because somebody is promising he would kick the PDP out and they will get something? That is stupid!
Q: But they are claiming the oath was taken to be loyal to the governor and that the governor was part of the oath taking.
A: Listen, my grandfather administered oaths to a lot of people according to Yoruba tradition, yet, he was not a wicked man. I refused to follow that trend because I found Christ. If you promise me something in the name of the Lord and you don’t do it, you will collapse like that man that went to steal money from Peter, because I am a genuine Christian. I am not in a position to speak concerning anybody taking oath of allegiance for the governor, because nobody has approached me for oath taking before.
Q: In other words, since there is nothing wrong with oath taking, the governor may have taken one …
A: I don’t know. I am not that close to him. Since I became a member of his cabinet, I have never sat down in his house, kitchen or whatever. It is only during cabinet meetings and other social occasions, then I go to my house. But we are close in that sometimes I say some things and it is like I am speaking his mind. Infact some cabinet members were surprised to know that the two of us had never sat down alone before. I am not that kind of a person.
Q: What can be done to resolve this crisis in the state, because the state is really suffering?
A: The state is not suffering at all. The executive is carrying on with every business that it needs to carry on with. The legislators, though they’ve been deceived to think that they have powers to do what they liked in the state, which they don’t, the state is not suffering. We need laws to back certain things, yes, but we have enough on our plates right now that we have gotten all the laws we need to work with.
Q: So how can the crisis be resolved?
A: As far as I am concerned, more pictures should be published to convince even sceptics that these men and woman are not honourable. I know some of the Obas in the state would be telling the governor to cool it, but I don’t think that is right. I will push at the cabinet meeting that the governor should not cool it.
Q: Who is the man that brought the picture?
A: I am not going to reveal the identity of the person.
Q: Can we believe your story, then?
A: Did you believe the picture?
Q: We feel it might have been contrived…
A: Don’t worry. More pictures are coming…
Q: More contrived pictures?
A: If you say so, but by the time you see them you won’t be confused.
Q: The legislators are against this bond issue?
A: They are wasting their time.
Q: They say they don’t know the indebtedness of the state?
A: It is N15 billion. It has been explained to them.
Q: Again, sir, how can this crisis be resolved?
A: The way it can be resolved is to publish more pictures, because when more pictures are published, they will be forced to shut up; they will be ashamed, their personality will diminish and therefore the effect of their opposition will amount to nothing.
Yemi
10 July 2009 16:32How can someone call himself a special adviser and say that the only way resolve an issue is to publish more pictures that would cause more problem. I wonder the sort of advice this man gives to a government!!!
A-LAW
10 July 2009 16:44Only God knows the truth.
oloowu
10 July 2009 17:10How can a sane man talk like this , he is not only physically challenge , I guess he has other problems
Greg
10 July 2009 17:38We will celebrate the next military take-over, walai
victor jones
10 July 2009 17:47mr ibiduni what can we excepet from someone like u,
EmmanF
10 July 2009 17:47nothing good can come out of Gbenga Daniel team. I pity Ogun PEOPLE.
Bola Onasile
10 July 2009 18:02It may amount to an unpardonable error if in the next few weeks this ‘basket mouthed’ special adviser is not shown the way out of OGD cabinet, how can a responsible person be saying that the only way to end the present impasse in Ogun State is to publish more damaging pictures. I wish to suggest that your submission is borne out of Pride [which is commomnly regarded as poor substitute for intelligence]. While I would not want to insinuate that there is no more nude pictures left to be published from both sides otherwise they wouldnt need to broadcast it before they do, I think it will not be in the best interest of the good people of Ogun State including my humble self if the crisis should continue unabated, therefore the camp of OGD should be encouraged to swallow its pride and start mending fences with its hitherto political allies; and to the warring faction they should borrow a leaf from the yoruba mythology which says if we use a right hand to scold a child we should equally use the left hand to embrace him.
gbenga
10 July 2009 18:08Am not surprised of this man”s submission he is special Adviser physically challenged,then 4 supporting the governor blindly claiming he is not aware of what is happening in Ogun State then he is actually not only physically challenged but mentally challenged and I rest my case about that.You are not a truthful person and not a christian as you claimed so get off the scene and stop this conspiracy aginst the good people of Ogun State and take a good check on yourself so that you will not be punished by God.
Ayo
10 July 2009 18:15Daniel is surrounded by blackmailers and boot-lickers! I am not surprised to hear this from Mr. Yinka Ibidunni. He has a lot to loose so he has retraced his step. I will de disappointed however if your reporter fails to reproduce verbatim the interview he granted on the radio. Please do something before someone goes and burn down the radio in order to destroy the tape. Never trust any blackmailer, where did they get the pictures if they were not the one that arranged and administered the oath taking. Everyone of us knows that it was premeditated and planned without these poor and hungry legislators went to take the oath. I sincerely sympathize with them. But I want to say once again that Daniel will not win this battle. Hundreds of Yinka Ibidunni cannot change it! Look at how they tried to blame their predicaments on AC’s vow to win back Ogun State from PDP; liars!
ojke
10 July 2009 19:03they are all thief and fool , people should raise up against them before they empty the Ogun state account.
el bajji
10 July 2009 19:17That is better let see the rest picture
Vmsoetweet
10 July 2009 19:19The man is not credible. His disablity has seriouly affected his judgement. He was the same person that said Gbenga Daniel and Governor Oyinlola are waste of space as Governors few days ago to this same PM news. He is more of a porno adviser to Gbenga Daniel for having so much interest in seeing the only lady among the G15 nude picture published.
david pereira
10 July 2009 20:32i read one of the interviewed of this man which he maid us to understand that Governor daniel leadership is the main culprit but now he has changed the gear Na waaaaaaaaaaaaaaoooooooooooooo Naija . I doff my cap hardly to get truth from this politician God blesss you Mr special Assistance Omo baba Anjonu. I can see vivdly that you are truly the son of Anjonu man
kola
10 July 2009 20:40I wonder what this man is talking about, he cannot see but can smell good pictures. He is adviser on physically challenged but does not have a say on that. i think he should rather keep quiet and be asked to be posted to the department of oath taking.
Washington
10 July 2009 21:50What do you expect from a special adviser to the governor on disabled issues other than disabled advice. Or is the man disabled too? God will help us.
hammed Akalumhe
10 July 2009 22:37this man is nothing but an alias of gbenga daniel the babalawo of ogun state. may God deliver all of them
ola
10 July 2009 23:23with what we have have seen this senario started it seem,what the g15 said are true that everyone who close to the mr govnor must to take oat,if it was true tha he mr govnor knew noting he will be bold enough to speak for himself,even call all nigeria press without byass to say is own side of the story.for the press to ask him question,this so call special adviser,had what is saying is noting to write home about they are bird of the same fether.there is no iota of trueth in what he said to my own point of few,the rope of lie is long but it will not last long.
taye
11 July 2009 00:10ANYWAY I DO NOT BLAME THE SO CALL ADVISER THEY ARE BIRDS OF THE SAME FETHERS FLOCKS IN THE SAME DIRECTON
I PRAY TO THE LORD TO SAVE OGUN STATE FROM THIS RITUAL KILLER I FEEL THEY SHOULD SAY SOMETHING TO
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE SO THAT THE NEW ONE CAN SEE SOMETHNG TO INHERIT;
OMOTUNDE FALANA
11 July 2009 18:43There are some unhidden truth in this matter viz [ 1 ] There was an aoth taken even Alausa acknowledge it. [ 2 ] The oath is never in the interest of Gov. Daniel as cllaimed by Hon. Alausa cos if it was in the interest of Gov. Daniel means they all broken the oath and ought to face the consequences before now. [3] The Gov. is despirate to safe his job that was why he throw away ethic of reasoning.[4] The hon. men are just merchineries in the hands of higherst bidder within and outside the state.[ 5 ] who become god father in Ogun politce after OGD tenure is a factor that can not be wish away.
SOLUTION-
[1] The priest must be consulted to neutralise the oath or els the Hon.men will not risk the consequences. [2] Gov. Daniel must in all sincerity of heart be ready to accomodate the Hon.men in the interest of peace. [ 3] No other picture should be released to the prees either now or ever. [ 4] The few none partisan Obas in Yoruba Land ,with due respect should prevail on Gon. Daniel to follow the old part and plead for forgibeness from Pa Obasanjo .
Ohillip Adedayo
11 July 2009 23:11This man is crazy and need to see a psychiatrist quickly before he useless the governor totally. Which type of mental patient advise is he giving th OGD
kazeem M.A
12 July 2009 17:00one impressive fact is that d man comfirmed d pic were publised by the governor in his own daily paper established while in office even with a claim smtime ago that his asset diminished with 2billion while in office,and also dt d state is indebt of 15billion.the question to ask is what account for this huge debt as we have no project in place to justiffy this debt?all project executed by this man are not have direct impact on d pple.he has personalise d state to extent that d fear of “his excellence” is the beginning of freedom.all road are bad.even road under construction are also in need of repairs.its disheartning.
Raheem Afolabi
12 July 2009 17:06I am not surprised about the happening in Ogun state, the people of the caused, is what the sowed they are noe reaping. I could recollect during his compaign I told people they were making mistake because no body real find out Daniel’s record, He has no good in home and away,he ran away from US to escape apprehension. Go through his governing record, we withness the highest political killed never seen in the history of Ogun state. He has no exception to his prey, he attack king subject. He attacted Odemo of Isara atNight 1oth years anniverssary that to demise of the king and Lipede of Egbaland.The state is now devoid of good leadership. There are still more to come.
Raheem Afolabi
12 July 2009 17:31I am not surprised about the happening in Ogun state, the people of the state caused it, is what they sowed they are now reaping. I could recollect during his first compaign I told people they were making mistake because no body really find out Daniel’s record, He has no good in both home and away,he ran away from US to escape apprehension. Go through his governing record, we withness the highest political killing never seen in the history of Ogun state. He has no exception to his prey, he attacks both kings and subjects. He attacted Odemo of Isara at Night of 1oth years anniverssary that lead to demise of the king and Lipede of Egbaland.The state is now devoid of good leadership. There are still more to come.
ibrahim
13 July 2009 05:53These politicians are all EVIL PEOPLE ,the fact is that they are all fighting for their pocket and not the people but the truth is that OGD is the ARCHITECT of this PROBLEM because he used VIOLENCE to win in 2007.The innocent blood shed will not allow him to rest. The truth will be revealed Insha ALLAH.OGD hand is not clean.
Ladipo
13 July 2009 12:43the special adviser is giving motor park advice to the governor.goodluck to him
obi Anyakpo
13 July 2009 19:03this man has not found christ, he is an anti christ. let him shut up and advise his stinking drug user governmor to cover himself in shame.