Those following the politics within APC in Ijumu local government are fully aware of the cat and mouse relationship between Distinguished Senator Smart Adeyemi and Immediate past Chairman of the local government, Alhaji Taofik Isah. Both are like engine oil and water that cannot mix. Their political ideologies and approach to issues are different. One is a blind loyalist while the other is more adaptable to change in the environment.
Taofik was one of the most colourful and favoured member of APC in Kogi state at the commencement of Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration in January 2016. As one of the pre-2015 election disciples of the governor, he enjoyed a lot of privileges that many envied. He was a celebrated emerging leader in the entire Kogi West. To add feathers to his cap, Governor Yahaya Bello made him ALGON chairman and at a time touted to be next state chairman of APC.
However, his blind loyalty without sense soon became a source of worry for his people who viewed him as a dogmatic errandboy to Bello. So, the clamour to bring in a more amenable politician to the reigning party commenced in earnest. The clamour yielded positive results as Distinguished Senator Smart Adeyemi dumped his former party, PDP, and joined All Progressive Congress.
Smart Adeyemi soon warmed his way to the highest level of power in the reigning party but Taofik stubbornly refused to submit to his leadership, claiming he is a Bello Boy. Taofik practically sold his people to Ebira people just because of pecuniary gains.
Irked by this act of insubordination, Senator Smart prophesied that Taofik will be like a snake that crawled on the rock leaving no trace. That is, Taofik will leave the political scene in shame and without a successor.
Distinguished Senator Smart Adeyemi’s prophecy is potent and is coming to pass without fail. Taofik will go down unnoticed, uncelebrated and unhappy. His reign as chairman of Ijumu LGA was only for himself and Bello. How can anyone behave that way and expect to succeed?
His struggles to impose his lapdog, one Kamal, has hit the rocks and nailed his political coffin in Ijumu land.
There is no way we will allow a Taofik Junior become our local government chairman. The lapdog, Kamal, is an exact replica of his god father, Taofik.
The said Kamal has been an uncelebrated attack dog who lacks respect for our elders. Same guy went to press to pour invectives on Senator Smart Adeyemi on several occasions, just because he wanted to be next chairman of Ijumu LGA
Taofik behaved like the proverbial straying dog who failed to heed his owner’s whistle. He is heading to political wilderness, where him and his kamal will walk alone.
On the other hand, Distinguished Senator Smart Adeyemi is being viewed as a hero of democracy after his heroic struggles against injustices witnessed recently.
As God will have it, the next Chairman of our beloved LGA, being his tenant, will recognize him as a worthy leader of the party, one of the areas Taofik failed politically. He will respect elders, regardless of their political persuasions and Ijumu will rise again.
And if he chooses to tow the same way Taofik chose, he should expect Taofik type of end.
Senator Smart Adeyemi has been known to respect and revere people in authority as a result of the office they occupy, Governor Bello inclusive.
– Babatunde Moses wrote from Lokoja.
