Lamidi Adedibu and Oyo State's Security Vote

Late Chief Lamidi Adedibu

 

Late Chief Lamidi Adedibu, the ekarun 

of Ibadan was known as the strong man of Ibadan Politics. Ibadan is the capital of Oyo State, South West , Nigeria.

He was said to combine Populism  with thuggery in his brand of Politics. Thuggery is rife in Nigerian Politics as Nigeria is yet to embrace electronic voting.

Thugs usually hold sway by causing violent distractions both during registration of voters and during elections with the result that those who control thugs, have a big say in Nigerian politics.

This is why Chief Lamidi Adedibu who had a lot of able bodied unemployed and under employed people at his beck and call was popular in political circles.

He was a kingmaker for having the power to put his thugs to good use.

His house was usually a beehive of activities feeding teeming youths free of charge in a country where rent seeking and planlessness leads to hunger and privation and manipulations.

This was the setting when he clashed with his Governor, Rasheed Ladoja over sharing some of the spoils of office. Lamidi Adedibu who was popularly known as the strong man of Ibadan Politics daringly demanded from his Governor a share of his Security vote.

The Security vote was an allocation to the Governor for which he owes no one an account for the maintenance of security.

In Nigeria, policing is under the exclusive list but each Governor is surprisingly the Chief Security Officer of his State.

Each state has a police Commissioner. Lamidi Adedibu demanded of his Governor a share of the Security Vote as of right, since he helped him into Office and has the where withal to make the State safe or ungovernable. He not only asked for a share but demanded for 30% of the Security Vote.

The Governor refused and all hell was let loose.

Personally I feel Adedibu was right but what do you think?