I hope Nigerians do take note and learn from every happening these days at the corridors of power. None of these developments taking place almost at an incredible rapidity at any level of government: local, state or federal, ought to be ignored, even if it appears odd, infinitesimal or mundane. There is always an inherent useful lesson for all of us, not just because of the present, but also because of our tomorrow.I stumbled on an interview granted to one of the national dailies last week by the erstwhile Chairman of Labour party (LP) in Ondo State , Dr. Olaiya Oni. Three things actually inspired me to read it. One of the reasons was the memories of the encounter I had with the former minister when he and other LP leaders, including the incumbent governor of the State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko were neck-deep in the battle to reclaim the governorship mandate the latter. He was quite engaging as he appeared like someone who was ready to make a change in the polity. I left his house after the interview facilitated by an age-long friend and colleague, Kolawole Olabisi, then with the Punch, under no illusion that there was indeed a lot of hope for our dear country since we still have his likes in party politics.Secondly, I had to read the interview because of the uproar that has continued to trail his unceremonious exit from the party recently. This became necessary because of the potpourri of reasons that those who claimed to be his close associates and friends, as well as his perceived adversaries and former colleagues in LP, had adduced for his exit from a party considered as relatively less rancorous when compared with either the boisterous Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] or the fistic Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN]. I had thought that since it was an interview with the man at the centre of the controversy, I should be able to get the raison d'tre from the horse's mouth, so to speak on why he chose to jump the ship at the threshold of another governorship poll.My third reason for the curiosity was based on the hide-and-seek that preceded his dumping the party that seems sand-withed between a near ultra conservative bloc and another bloc with pretentious progressive tendencies. Oni had kept many guessing in spite of widespread speculations on his likely next pot of call. So, I was interested in getting those things he considered as hard facts that motivated his landing in ACN almost before he could heave a sigh of safe landing from what looked like a tumultuous flight.Incidentally, Oni was able to give me and others who may have read the interview and had been confused on why he took his action and the attendant controversy some reasons. But virtually all his reasons were a rehash of what had been in the public domain either prior or after he left LP and made ACN his new haven.I was amused by almost all his excuses and complaints because some of the issues he raised bothered on what a septuagenarian, Prince Kayode Olowu, during the same week identified as the core essence of political leadership: self-denial and thinking about the people at all times. I could not comprehend why the issue of government contracts should cause so much disaffection between a governor and the leadership of his party. I could not understand why those in government directly or indirectly, should believe that it is their birth right to negotiate official contracts or must directly influence the choice of contractors for plum jobs. Where lays the policy of Due Process, transparency and accountability'Besides, I was not expecting Oni to triviliase the fact that the governor offered him a 'Jeep' during the public presentation of his book. Though he did not clarify if the donation was made by Mimiko in his official capacity, elected people either at party or government level, ought to be circumspect about such gifts no matter where they are coming from at all times. Granted that Oni himself affirmed that the offer was no big deal since he could afford such luxuries in relation to the precarious living conditions of most Nigerians, he should have constantly reminded other political leaders on the need for a Spartan lifestyle as the shepherd of a workers' party. There should be nothing wrong with such donation if the intention was genuine and meant to honour a dedicated party leader. However, I am aware of a particular politician from the South-West, who almost rubbished the integrity of some eminent persons in Yoruba land through dubious gifts, including automobile, cash and landed property.The Electoral Act does not forbid donations from individuals and groups into the campaign funds of parties and their standard bearers. The PDP has used this channel to rake in more funds into such projects than any other party since 1999, and the identities of such donors, including industrialists and firms are known to most Nigerians. Therefore, the issue raised by Oni that a certain politician made a watering donation towards Mimiko actualizing his mandate begged the issue. What should be of interest to the public is if the donation failed to comply with the provisions of all relevant laws, including the Electoral Act. After all, a renowned philanthropist and industrialist from the South-West was believed to have made similar donations to the political success of a former governor in Lagos State and assisted in constructing most of the outstanding structures credited to the administration. Yet, the politician sees the philanthropist as a sworn enemy.By now, all the parties ought not to depend on official grants and donations from their members holding public offices to survive, but should have a sound internal mechanism for generating fund, one of which should be through membership levies and voluntarily donations. They can also make more funds through seminars and other intellectually challenging programmes on political issues, governance and capacity-building similar to those events ACN and PDP separately put together in Abuja before and after April 2011 elections.Oderemi, 08023501874 (SMS only)
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