May I begin by saying that there is nothing too special about the subject, talking about Austin Ojai that I should write about but I had to do so because he has consistently been on the social media which I believe has earned him some levels of status conferral. Take it or leave it, he is a political figure in Kogi state because of his constant “noise” on the social media especially since the current administration of Kogi state came on board.
I do not write about this “rebel” because I have met him and I am not eager to meet him not because he is rich or poor but because I have been held hostage by his constant agitations for good governance in Kogi state which has somehow made him a “journalist”, no lele. I chose to write about the personality of Austin Okai because he has been a “one man solder” with respect to politics of opposition in Kogi state.
Maybe I sounded contradictory when from the title of my write-up, The Rebel with a cause. When I talk of a rebel, one of the things you may call to mind is, why the phrase? No doubt, the act of rebellion as we know is something that has to do with insubordination; there are times when rebellion is very important because some acts of rebellion are important for change to take place hence, we have positive and negative rebellion.
I refer Austin Okai to a rebel with a cause because since the change of power to the All Progressive Congress in Kogi state, he has consistently made his voice heard on the media playing the music of effective opposition by carefully following the trends of political activities in the state.
Perhaps some of his stances on the government are false or not having enough substance in some cases, but would we say or completely write the young man off that he is just angry because he is not with the ruling party and government? Aren’t there supposed to be an effective opposition by ensuring that there are healthy criticisms?
A rebel with a cause, a positive one at that as refer to Austin is a man who damns the consequences and swims against dangerous social tides to ensure that he corrects the ills of the society. He is a man who is prepared to put his life on the line for the sake of his people. In the face of problem, he is very ready to ensure that every one assimilates his view on what he thinks is right; he enters the drowning water for his people regardless of what it may cause him. I think Austin is following his antecedents of late on the social media is one man that can disappoint a man or relatively small people to please many”.
You can see that to yourself the number of threats and insults that have been accrued to him as a result of putting the issue of Kogi state on the fore. Under rain or shine, he prefers to stand for “fairness, integrity, truth, freedom, justice, equity, to suffer and die if the need arises that hundred, thousands and even millions of the people of Kogi state may live”.
I think that such an understanding and courage can make him to make great difference among his peers and political contemporaries as he kept on protesting against injustice and oppression of the poor maybe not from a genuine mind anyway, but he has been loud. Most rebels with cause are blessings to their people because they expose and wage war against oppression and misery. Austin’s exemplary show of courage has held together the courage of a lot of people especially in the wake of screening in Kogi state.
And I dare to ask, where are the core beneficiaries of PDP in Kogi state? Where are the men who kept on telling Wada the people loved him without telling him the truth? Where are those who milked the state and cannot stand in for the man or party that made them? Some of them have left the party, some are still doing the hide and seek game and double dating politically but this is a man who has been very open to face the realities of opposition.
If we are poised to witness positive changes for the benefits of the people in the state, we must check mate government and put the leaders on their toes.
Austin is not a political Saint. Just like every other politician or any one of us is not a Saint, he has his own limitations. If having a political Saint is possible, it is obvious in Nigeria, we do not have one yet. But it is not an over statement to say that Austin had always made a good number of people proud, even his enemies wished they are like him talking about the political tenacity that he has but that political ego may not allow everybody to agree to his position.
Finally, may I say that it is childish to attack the personality of an individual who brings a matter to fore but address the issues brought on board and try to address it either by defending or setting the records straight.
We must know that constructive opposition is the hallmark of democracy. So may I call on the government in place to welcome healthy criticisms to improve the services to the people and make the place better for all.
While my spotlight seemed to encourage the credible works of Austin, I wish to challenge Mr. Austin not to deliberately “blackmail” the government. Let criticisms on the social media help us take stock of our ventures both as leaders and the led. Both as people in government and those outside government, we all have roles to play.
– Jerry Ocheme
