BETWEEN GOVERNOR AYEDATIWA AND THE BIBLICAL JOSEPH.
By Nelson Mafo
Joseph or Yosef, a deeply rooted Hebrew name means ” God will add”. The name originated from the Hebrew verb, yasaf (to increase). The Biblical Joseph was a dreamer. He loved calico. His dream about the eleven sheaves provoked an intense negative emotional response towards him by his brothers. The dream, when interpreted means, his brothers will bow before him! There and then the plot to cast him out was hatched. He was to be annihilated. But because the destination of the dreamer had been divinely sanctioned, the dissenting voice was allowed to stand. He was sold off as a slave.
Joseph again ran into trouble in the Palace of the King when he declined to walk the path of immorality with the King’s wife. Ordinarily, he should have struggled under the hangman’s noose, but that same divine providence to realize his dream crippled in. He was jailed instead. With his life intact, he lived on.
Incidentally, was some other dreams he dreamt while in prison that realized his original dream for him. As a dreamer, his two cellmates believe, he should be able to interprete their dreams which were matter of life and death. He did perfectly. He became the Governor. His brothers sojourned through hundreds of miles. They bowed down before him. The dream came to pass.
I was on ground on that fateful day at the Dome event centre during the inauguration reception for Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, deceased and his Deputy Mr Luck Ayedatiwa (as he then was) now Governor of Ondo State. At that event, Governor Akeredolu made some prophetic revelations. He predicted the ascension of his deputy to the position of the governor of the state. He said ” it is for me to come down for you to go up” Akeredolu even described Ayedatiwa as a “loyal and competent ” person. He hammered on his Deputy’s names and prophesied.
That sincere and harmless prophecy by the demised Governor was later used by political talismen against the former Governor himself and Ayedatiwa, the man who constitutionally took the stage after him.
Of course, that open and harmless prophecy by the former Governor later turned out to be the hate-point for Mr Ayedatiwa. Those who were deeply hurt by the seer’s words retired to the trenches to upturn the “taboo”. How could a “nonentity”, a political “neophyte” benefit from such huge prophecy when grandfathers and mother of Ondo State politics are still fully on the political stage? They kept wondering.
The ifa prognosticated the destiny of Odewale in the play The Gods Are Not To Blame by Ola Rotimi. He was to kill his father, become king and marry his mother. Yes! That was Ifa words. To avert the disaster, the child, Odewale was moved out of the Palace. That decision gave room to the actualization of the Ifa prediction. Like Odewale, the move to preclude the realization of Joseph’s dream actually catapulted him to his destined destination.
In ‘Ayedatiwa’s case, it was that prophecy that set his brothers against him. That was the moment his political travail began. The prophecy must not come to pass. His political brothers saw everything wrong in the prophecy. They rose, up- in -arms to fight destiny. He was commonised to such a degrading level that some called him “this boy” instead of those “dreadful” names like; Lucky, Orimisan, Ayedatiwa. A particular cabinet member even sat on a seat reserved for the Acting Governor at a state function to frustrate him.
Lies, intimidation, harassments and other inhuman stratagem were deployed to halt and scuttle his race to destiny.
Those ploys were orchestrated not only by known power mongers but religiously backed by those who believe it was their self-right to be Governor. They pretended to love Akeredolu and his family more than anyone else. Funds were provided, humans were mobilized, blackmail and negative propaganda were deployed but eventually, like Joseph, the prophecy was divinely realized.
Ayedatiwa was holed up in his cubicle at the Governor’s office as the number two man. Each day, he awaited orders from his boss for his day to day activities. The conspiracy by his political foes to scuttle the prophecy, rather than dampen and or take down his person, elevated his personality and public perception about him. The more they pressed on his reputation, the more sympathy he garnered. Both in Ondo State, nationally and across the globe. At one point, he became the number 12 most talked about Nigerian personality on the search master, Google. Throughout his travails in the hands of his envious tormentors, he kept his calm. He spoke less and think more. His public sympathy grew to an extent that the Ondo State masses were poised for the worst scenario. Mr President had to urgently stepped in to avert anarchy in the state. He built on the tenet of the prophecy. And normalcy was restored.
Lucky as he is fondly called by his admirers started his political journey as a staunch member of the progressive family. A successful business man, Ayedatiwa provided a huge financial backing to the progressive platform- from Action Congress to the ACN which later metamorphosed into APC. His unflinching loyalty (this was confirmed by the then Governor) to the party earned him the Deputy Governor’s seat. For years, he stood (and still standing) firm with the progressives, projecting the family ideal and craving for a better welfare for the people.
Back to the prophecy, Ayedatiwa banked on his boss’s support to ride to the number one seat in the sunshine State after his (boss) eight years ride. (He never envisaged the political tragedy that was changed his game plan midway) He enjoyed tremendous love and sound relationship with his oga. Though no relationship is perfect but it was clearly a robust friendship. His attitude and loyalty to his Oga earned him the title of ” mumu DGov” of the year by those who expected him to misbehave when he was given the Acting Governor role. Especially when his subordinates were trampling on his authority with reckless impunity. He never bothered. His eyes were focused on 2024 and hoped his Oga will give him the needed support.
Governor Lucky as he is fondly called by his admirers is a humble gentleman. A giver who cherishes loyalty (to his superior,) transparent dealings, diligence and competence. He is a man that values friendship- old and new. An experienced thinker, a listener, he is calm always and down-to-earth.
Ayedatiwa ( the world becomes ours) possesses the requisite qualities to lead. He will never take the welfare of his people for granted. He is a public servant. A promise keeper.
The prophecy is not about now. It is not about where we are now. It is about 2024. And it shall come to pass.
Nelson Mafo writes @Newsflo.ng/PokNoz.
