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I have tried to make sense of the current controversy between the Seyi Makinde administration and the family of his predecessor, the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, over where his remains would be buried.
I read the government’s press statement about what transpired, and felt that there seem to be an unabridged communication gap between the Ajimobi family and the Oyo state government.
The government’s position is sound both in logic and in law, but comes across as petty and sadistic in a culturally and politically sensitive state as Oyo.
In the first place, as the Chief Executive of the State, Mr. Makinde is the Mourner-in- Chief. The family ought to have informed him almost immediately as a matter of protocol. In fact, it should be the state government that should officially announce the transition, since the deceased was a former governor of the state.
That singular act would have saved both the family and the government this embarrassing scenario, as that call would also have been used to ask for a waiver, and for all intent and purpose, subject to the governor’s inclination, be granted, where the former Governor would be laid to rest.
Even with that slight, intentional or otherwise, the Governor, knowing the religious inclination of the deceased,and being fully aware that in Islam, the body of a Muslim must be interred as soon as practicable, should have reached out to the grieving family immediately he heard the news, and not wait to be officially informed and a request made.
Even at that, he ought not to have treated the matter in such a lackadaisical manner to warrant an unintentional postponement of the burial.
The family failed the protocol test, using grief as a shield. But the government also failed the compassion test, using the law as an excuse.
Compassion, empathy and the rule of law are what separate humans from other animals. And once that is lacking, the very essence of society is diluted, and the Omoluabi ethos, which are the pillars of the Yoruba civilization, are weakened.
As we say in Ibadan, the middle brother that buries his elder brother in his birthday suit, is just showing his younger brother, the way he too should be buried.
After all said and done, this should serve as a lesson, for people to weild power with humility , and with the knowledge that no matter how long one lives, no one is really sure where his tomb will be.
May The Almighty Allah grant the deceased Aljannah Fridaus, and the Governor the wisdom to take decisions that will elevate Oyo state beyond where he met it.
My10kobo.
