For the records: Divine power of prayers that averts calamity
By Adekunle Akinlade
During the build up to the 2023 general elections, our campaign train stopped at a town in Yewa North local government of Ogun West. It was a Friday and many of us had to observe the Jumat prayers. After the prayers, the Imam was informed that members of the PDP gubernatorial campaign team prayed with them.
After exchanging pleasantries, the Iman asked that we open our hands for prayers. He recited some verses in the Holy Quran and in the end said, “If our victory will draw Ogun State backwards or bring sorrow upon the people, may Allah not allow it to come to pass”. We all said, ‘aameena”.
In hindsight, I say, alhamdulillahi that Allah averted that calamity from befalling Ogun State. Had Ladi emerged as the winner, it would have been a sad and devastating time for us as a people. In HIS glory and majesty, Allah grants a woman the grace to conceive, keeps her in good health all through the nine months, set HIS face upon her to deliver the child, then take the infant’s life a minute after.
As mortals, we will cry with anguish and ask what sin did the child commit to deserve such? We forget that HE that gives, takes for a purpose. Although, I had spoken with him once or twice as Members of the 8th Assembly, I met Ladi personally in early June 2022 through a trusted friend and brother. During our discussion, he offered that I join him on his PDP ticket for the 2023 gubernatorial race.
I remember telling him that I would discuss his offer with my then principal, H.E Sen. Ibikunle Amosun. I did mention it to him and the friend that arranged the meeting, and we all waved the idea aside.
Weeks later, I flew to London to meet with Ladi when it became clear that my then principal was bent on backing another individual from Ogun West for governor. The first question I asked him was,
“How bad do you want to be governor of Ogun State”? Even though, I did not make much sense from what he mumbled, I remember him saying that “I wish to honor my father and reposition Ogun state for better”.
Unfortunately, Ladi’s actions and deeds betrayed his purported intention to inspire leadership. His temperament, lack of regard for varying opinions, brashness and uncultured manner makes it impossible to have any reasonable conversation with him. After relating with him for about 21 months (June 2022 to February 2024), I can say with certainty that he does not have the mental capacity or acumen to lead a group of children, talk less of a State like Ogun. Frankly speaking, it is unfair to him that although those around him know that he is mentally incapable, they still urge him on for their selfish ends.
I am not a neurologist, nor behavioral expert, but having been close to him for almost two years and experienced firsthand, his unprovoked angry outbursts, hostility, sudden mood swings, social withdrawal, self-pity, attention seeking, lying without compulsion and his arrogant sense of entitlement,
I concluded that he must be suffering from chronic low self-esteem. A medical condition closely related to Dysthymia; a mild but long-lasting form of depression called persistent depressive disorder. The main symptom of this sickness is inferiority complex.
In fact, Ladi is a 2yr old child in a 62yr old man’s body. I guess this explains why he acts on impulse like a child without caring about the consequences of his actions. In his delusion of self-grandeur, he lies effortlessly, shed tears at will and induces self-pity. Come to think of it, why does his almost 90yr old father still give him weekly feeding allowance? At first, I thought that it was the old man’s way of expressing his affection, but as I observed them closely, it became clear that even the old man knows that his 62yr old manchild lacks the capacity and ability to manage a monthly or annual handout.
Like the entitled spoilt man-child that Ladi is, the weekly allowance does not last beyond Thursday! Unfortunately, his problem is not just psychological but also physical. Psychologically induced low self-esteem ailment can be reversed through cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), but the physical is irreversible. A less endowed man as the case is in this instance, will have to live with his deformity and frustration for the rest of his life. The Yorubas believes that an okobo is a very unpredictable and unstable man, and rightly so
Thank God that Ladi did not happen to Ogun State in 2023, we must therefore not sleep, but remain vigilant and alert as a people to avert this calamity from happening. I hereby call on our leaders, elders, royal fathers and other critical stakeholders such as, the former president, all the former state governors, the paramount rulers of Ijebu, Egba, Yewa/Awori and Remo to set aside their personal interests and come together this one time to make sure that Ladi does not happen to Ogun State come 2027
Rather than pursuing this hopeless agenda of blackmail, propaganda, and disparaging imaginary opponents, Ladi should check himself into a facility for treatments such as, cognitive behavioral therapy, if that fails, he should try, antidepressants such as, anxiolytic and antipsychotic. If those fail, he should try electroconvulsive therapy to jolt him out of this daydream.
Unfortunately, I have no advice for his physical ailment. I sincerely draw these conclusions on his state of mind, because no rational thinking adult at age 62, will contemplate to aspire for the same office that his Kingsman and brother, H.E Prince Dapo Abiodun, who is from the same compound, town, ward, local government and senatorial district, serving his second term of 4 years in office which ends in 2027.
A man that lacks character, lacks honor
Thank you all.
E-signed.
Hon. Adekunle Akinlade.
Friday 23rd August 2024.
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