Now that Professor Yemi Osinbajo has declared his interest in the Presidency, it is time to answer the simpletons drawing wrong parallels in history by comparing PYO’s putative intent (now turned declaration) to the sad parting of ways between Awolowo and Akintola. Such comparison is rooted in abject ignorance and malignant mischief. We must clear these scurrilous insinuations from catawaulers whose sole intent is to dispense vicious calumny.
The confusionists conjuring these poor parallelisms go as far as invoking the name of Judas Isacariot to demonise those who have acted outside their own scripts. Clearly, such comparison is rooted in the unholy trinity of bad faith, ignorance and mischief. In particular, to evoke Awolowo’s name to suffocate political space is a damnable perversion of history.
Did Akintola and Awolowo ever compete for the same elective post? When Awolowo wanted to be Premier of Western Region, did Akintola compete against him? Later, when Awolowo wanted to become Prime Minister, did Akintola seek the same office? In any case, did Awolowo ever stipulate that only he could aspire to any elective office on the ticket of the Action Group?
Did the Action Group crisis arise because of choking the political space via an undemocratic insistence that only Awolowo could compete for a particular elective office?
A fundamental difference between the Parliamentary System of Nigeria’s First Republic versus the subsequent Executive Presidential System is that no one was directly elected into the office of Premier. Whichever party won the majority in Parliament nominated the leader of Government.
As such, Akintola did not win a regional mandate to be Premier. He was elected unopposed to represent Ogbomoso Southeast Constituency in the Western House of Assembly. Only the Action Group could produce the Premier of Western Region. The Action Group nominated Akintola to the position of Premier which had been vacated when Awolowo chose to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives.
In a parliamentary system, all that is required to remove a Premier was for him to either lose a vote of confidence in Parliament or to lose a vote of confidence of the party that nominated him. Akintola lost the vote of confidence of the Action Group. Akintola refused to resign The case was taken to court all way to the Privy Council where it was ruled that Akintola lost.
