To Akogun, Regret Is Not Enough
By Segun Ogundipe, ESQ
Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, your name is synonymous with the Otoge Revolution, a movement that ignited the fire of hope in the hearts of Kwarans, a revolution that shattered the chains of political servitude under the Saraki dynasty. You were not just a participant in that historic moment; you were one of its fiercest champions, a man who risked it all to liberate Kwara State from the grip of one family. But today, as you reflect on your 70th year, that fire of hope is flickering, threatening to be extinguished by the very people you helped bring to power.
The Otoge Revolution was supposed to be a turning point, a defining moment where the people of Kwara took back their state from the clutches of godfatherism. It was supposed to herald a new dawn where meritocracy triumphed over mediocrity, where the voices of the people drowned out the whispers of the powerful. But what do we have today? A new hegemony rising from the ashes of the old one, with the AbdulRazak family at the helm, determined to recreate the very political stranglehold we fought so hard to break.
Governor Abdulramon Abdulrasaq, the man you once hailed as a beacon of change, is now the one leading this charge toward a new era of political dominance—an era that mirrors the Saraki years in all but name. You, Akogun, have seen this with your own eyes. You have spoken out against it, condemning the administration in scathing terms, and expressing your deep regrets for ever supporting it. But is regret enough? Is simply voicing your discontent going to rewrite the course of history? Absolutely not.
The writing is on the wall: the AbdulRazak family is bent on entrenching itself as the new overlords of Kwara. The governor's actions speak louder than words—a systematic consolidation of power, a deliberate sidelining of dissenting voices, and a clear intent to establish a new political dynasty. This is not what the people of Kwara signed up for. This is not what Otoge was supposed to deliver.
The essence of Otoge was to rid Kwara of godfatherism once and for all. It was about empowering the people, not replacing one overlord with another. Yet, here we are, on the brink of witnessing the birth of another godfather—a godfather who, if unchecked, will be worse than the former. And what’s worse? This new godfather is one who, unlike his predecessor, lacks even the pretense of benevolence. What then was the point of Otoge? To supplant one tyranny with another? To trade one master for another? If that is the case, then the entire struggle was a farce, and the people of Kwara have been deceived.
Akogun, you are 70 years old now, and the clock is ticking. You have spent decades in the trenches, fighting for a better Kwara. You cannot allow your legacy to be tainted by this betrayal of the people’s trust. This is your last stand, your final chance to make things right. You owe it to yourself, to the people of Kwara, and to the generations yet unborn to ensure that the state does not fall into the hands of another godfather.
You have the experience, the influence, and the platform to make a difference. But time is not on your side. If you do nothing, history will remember you as the man who started a revolution only to watch it be hijacked by those with darker, more sinister ambitions. The youth of Kwara, the very lifeblood of Otoge, will curse your name if you allow this travesty to unfold.
Akogun, it is time to take up the mantle once more. You must rally the forces of resistance against this new hegemony. The fight is not over; in fact, it has only just begun. You must stand as the bulwark against the AbdulRazak family's attempt to turn Kwara into their personal fiefdom. This is your fight, and you must not shy away from it.
Akogun, this is the final chapter of your political journey. How will it end? Will you go down in history as a man who gave his all for Kwara, who stood up to the powerful not once, but twice, to ensure that the state remains free from the clutches of godfatherism? Or will you be remembered as the man who started a revolution only to let it be hijacked by those who seek to enslave Kwara under a new name?
The choice is yours, but the stakes are high. The people of Kwara are watching, waiting to see if you will rise to the occasion. This is your moment of truth, Akogun. Do not let it slip away. For if you do nothing, if you allow the AbdulRazak family to entrench itself as the new godfathers of Kwara, then all your struggles, all your sacrifices, will have been in vain.
May history judge you kindly, Akogun. But to ensure that it does, you must act now. The future of Kwara depends on it. This is your legacy, and this is your fight. Do not let the people of Kwara down. Do not let yourself down. Die well, Akogun, but first, make sure that the people of Kwara live free.
Ogundipe Oluwasegun is a Lagos based legal practitioner.
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