| You’ve failed
us, Okun youths tell elderss
By EMMANUEL ADEYEMI, Lokoja
Thursday, October 7, 2004
Younger generation of Okun-Yoruba leaders in Kogi State have
taken a swipe at the older generation, accusing them of being
responsible for the continued under-development of communities
in Okunland.
They made the accusation at a civic reception organised for
the chairman of Ijumu Local Government, Chief Fehinti Dada
by the Ogidi Development Union and the launching of appeal
fund for the development of the town.
First to fire the salvo was the President of Nigeria Union
of Journalists, Prince Smart Adeyemi who was made the Chief
launcher at the occasion.
Adeyemi in his speech had berated some past Okun leaders who
he said have nothing to show as their contributions to the
socio-economic development of Okunland and stressed that they
have despicably failed the people.
In his words: I think it is now time for us to ask our past
leaders what have they done for us as a people, inspite of
our enviable level of education and spirit of dedication and
uprightness, our communities are painfully still the same
as our forefathers left them years ago, making Ogidi as a
reference point.
Adeyemi however regretted that some people have resorted to
discouraging the younger generation of leaders who want to
salvage the people of Okunland by their attitude in labeling
any genuine efforts of developing the area as having political
undertone.
"When I express my genuine love for my community by making
some donations, a lot of people say I do that for political
reason but not all giving has political undertone, the good
lord may even decide to turn me a pastor" quoting profusely
from the Holy Bible.
But hardly did Adeyemi make his statement that General David
Jemibewon who obviously was an older generation Okun leader
mounted the podium to urge Smart Adeyemi to stop vilifying
past Okun leaders, as he said Smart was playing politics with
that statement.
"How can you say we as past Okun leaders have failed
the people when we had actually done our best? This is very
unfortunate. I David Jemibewon may be an expired Okun leader,
but remember that some day the people will call you one day
and say Smart you occupied so, so position at so, so time,
what did you do for the people?
"My impression of this gathering is that we have come
to give civil reception to our local government chairman,
not for politicking and not for fundraising, therefore whatever
I will donate here will not be announced, but if refusing
to announce my donation openly adds to bad leadership then
please pardon me," he added.
But rising in defence of Smart Adeyemi, Deputy Chief of Staff
in the Presidency, Prince Sola Akanmode who himself is the
arrowhead of the young generation of Okun leaders told General
David Jemibewon that he missed the point by saying Smart Adeyemi
was playing politics with an innocuous statement.
"I wonder why my uncle General David Jemibewon choose
to say this, or has he forgotten that it was politics that
actually made him a minister of Police Affairs or did he want
to say he was the best material then?" he queried.
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