By Dare Adeleke
Taofeeq Arapaja has once again embarked on a familiar campaign of denials, deploying surrogates in a desperate attempt to launder a political reputation long dogged by betrayal, ingratitude and serial political opportunism.
His latest response to criticism is, at best, a lengthy exercise in revisionism – one that relies more on bluster than facts. No amount of political gymnastics can rewrite history. Truth cannot be twisted, repainted or bent to suit convenience. It has a stubborn way of surviving propaganda.
No matter how hard Arapaja and his defenders try, history – both written and remembered – will continue to portray him as a politician who repeatedly turned against those who helped steady his rickety and shaky political career.
The fact that he continually hides behind proxies rather than responding personally only reinforces the impression that he would rather allow others to make statements on his behalf than be held accountable for them.
As a son of Oyo State, I challenge Taofeeq Arapaja to publicly deny, before the people of this state, the political disputes that have followed him throughout his career. His disagreements with the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu are well known. His fallout with the Akinjide family, despite their widely acknowledged support for his ambassadorial appointment, remains part of Oyo’s political history. His eventual departure from the political family of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, after being accommodated in the Accord Party, is equally documented. Even the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi was not spared political hostilities.
These are matters of public record and political history. They cannot simply be wished away.
Then came Governor Seyi Makinde who is today, another victim of Arapaja’s ingratitude.
Few politicians have invested as much political goodwill in Taofeeq Arapaja as Governor Makinde. When many believed Arapaja’s political relevance had faded, Makinde restored him to prominence, openly described him as an ally, entrusted him with significant political responsibilities, and by every public account treated him with generosity and respect. When everyone was against him and he cannot deny this, it was Makinde who galvanised his political weight to ensure Arapaja was elected PDP National Vice Chairman, South West. Less than 6 months, Gov Seyi Makinde, mobilized support for him to become Deputy National Chairman ( South).
At the time, Arapaja had nothing but glowing words for the governor. Makinde was his mentor, his leader, his benefactor. The praise flowed endlessly. He was like a puppy lapping after its owner, genuflecting and praise-worshipping.
Today, however, that admiration appears to have evaporated. Not surprising to those who know him because that is the real Arapaja. The wolf has shed the sheep wool as it always does. His loyalty is never genuine – it was just a pointer to his character as a political opportunist.
Just as Brutus praised Julius Caesar, dined with him and walked beside him, until the day he plunged the dagger, Arapaja was never far away from Makinde ensuring he milked every opportunity, which included a brand new SUV and a mansion in Abuja, besides other mouth watering political opportunities, while all the while, he was holding meetings with Nyesom Wike in Abuja.
Politics has never been short of smiling faces concealing sharpened knives.
Governor Makinde, however, is not a novice. He has built a reputation as a disciplined, calculating and intelligent leader. Success did not come to him by accident, nor did he build his career through sentimentality. Those who mistake his silence for ignorance may one day discover the difference between restraint and weakness.
Silence should never be confused with a lack of information.
I also urge Mr Zacch Adedeji and other APC leaders to exercise caution. Arapaja is a political nonentity. He cannot win a polling unit. Besides, Politics is built on trust, and trust once broken rarely repairs itself. Any politician should carefully examine the history of those they choose to embrace.
Leadership requires loyalty, consistency and credibility. Those qualities cannot be manufactured overnight.
If Taofeeq Arapaja disputes the facts and opinions contained in my earlier article, I hereby invite him to a public debate. Let him respond personally rather than through political hirelings. Facts require no intermediaries.
Finally, I commend Governor Seyi Makinde for the restraint and maturity he has displayed throughout this episode. Many leaders would have chosen public confrontation. He has instead remained silent.
History will ultimately judge Arapaja and history has never been particularly generous to those remembered more for changing camps, treachery and ingratitude.
Dare Adeleke writes from Ibadan.
