In Nigeria’s cutthroat political arena, power is not given. It’s asserted. But in Ondo State, we have a Governor more at ease with silence than with leadership. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa recently nominated two individuals to the South West Development Commission. A constitutional right. A political duty. Yet, he watched without protest as Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB) unilaterally swapped one of them for his own candidate. No pushback. No outrage. Not even a public whimper.
This wasn’t just a substitution. It was a slap and our Governor took it with ease. No defense. No resistance. Perhaps he mistook cowardice for diplomacy. Aiyedatiwa’s passivity is staggering. A sitting Governor allowing a Senator from another state, however powerful, to hijack his prerogative? That’s not leadership. That’s surrender with a smile. Let’s not blame MOB. He simply filled the void our Governor left gaping. The real disgrace lies in Aiyedatiwa’s refusal to fight for his own choices, let alone for the people of Ondo.
Compare this to the late Arakunrin Akeredolu SAN. He wouldn’t have tolerated such overreach. He’d have pushed back, publicly and unapologetically. But with Aiyedatiwa, it’s all nods and silence. While Ekiti enjoys plum federal positions under President Tinubu, Ondo is fading into the background. And now, even our nominations are being outsourced.
Governance isn’t about just filling a seat. It’s about using it. Aiyedatiwa had the chance to stand tall and make a mark but chose to kneel quietly, and quite cowardly instead. And the people of Ondo? We are watching. And no, we are not at EASE.
