In those days when sense still had value in Kogi politics, before it was inflated like garri during harmattan, you would hear that a man carried his party on his head like a precious calabash. But now? Ah! In contemporary Kogi, the calabash carries the man, drags him by the ear, and deposits him right inside the compound of the opposition while he is still loudly swearing loyalty to the ruling party.
Enter Honourable Kingsley Femi Fanwo, Commissioner for Information and Communications, yes, Information and Communications for the APC government o, not ADC, not SDP, not Labour Party. APC. The same APC he swore an oath to defend, protect, polish, perfume, and package.
Yet, behold the marvel of Yagba, a State Commissioner of APC writing long epistles, defending, shielding, and serenading Elder Leke Abejide, the expelled ADC lawmaker, the opposition, like a love struck praise singer under the mango tree. Late Prof Pius Adesanmi would have called it “the tragicomedy of Nigerian political professionalism, when the drummer forgets the rhythm and starts dancing to the rival band’s music.”
A whole Commissioner! A whole chieftain of APC! Suddenly turned Senior Special Apostle of opposition theology. If you didn’t know better, you would think His Excellency, the Governor, has donated his cabinet members to the opposition on loan deal, buy one commissioner, get one spokesperson free.
The man wrote his “clarification” like a Constitution was melting in his pocket. He even introduced himself as “a bona fide indigene of Yagba Federal Constituency,” not as Commissioner, because even he knows that what he is doing doesn’t smell like official loyalty. It smells like roasted corn left too close to public embarrassment.
You see, when a Commissioner must first remove the garment of government to speak his true mind, the spirit of confusion has already rented an apartment in the ruling party.
If APC in Kogi was a vehicle, the gear would now be stuck in neutral while the driver is jogging behind, begging it not to embarrass him on the express.
And the Governor? Ah. The Governor must be sitting somewhere wondering whether to laugh, cry, or simply unplug the entire cabinet and restart like a stubborn phone. Imagine being the leader of a ruling party yet your Commissioner is moonlighting as Leke Abejide’s voluntary press secretary. Loyalty has packed its load and taken night bus.
Picture it,
ADC is holding meeting.
A phone rings.
They pick.
“Hello, is this Fanwo’s office? Please send that your Commissioner’s statement, we want to add it to our communication strategy for 2027.”
This is no longer politics. This is inter party polygamy, the type our late erudite brother, Prof Adesanmi would describe as “political adultery conducted in broad daylight, where the husband is clapping for the wife as she elopes with another man.”
Let us be clear, when a Commissioner of APC becomes the chief defender an homeless landlord, it means one thing,
Kogi APC is not only in disarray, the roof has collapsed, the door is confused, and the window is asking for transfer.
Governor’s grip? Loosened.
Party discipline? Missing like NEPA light in rainy season.
Commissioner’s loyalty? On excursion to the opposition.
Embarrassment? Complete.
If this is not Yoruba film plot titled Governor Lost His Cabinet to the Opposition Spiritual Realm, I don’t know what else it is.
And our dear Commissioner, after defending Leke Abejide with more passion than some men defend their PhD thesis, signs off as “Constituent of Yagba Federal Constituency,” not as APC chieftain, not as Commissioner. Because even he knows the thing is a political taboo wrapped in newspaper.
But fear not. In Kogi politics, wonders shall not end. Today, Commissioner is speaking for opposition. Tomorrow, opposition will issue disclaimer saying, “This defender is not known to us.”
In the meantime, let us clap for our dear Commissioner, Kogi’s first Official Unofficial Spokesperson of the Opposing Party. If loyalty was a farm, he has gone to harvest in another man’s field.
OLUBAYO Emmanuel Ibileye.
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