‘Ajele,’ in Yoruba history was the title given “to town/village administrators during the pre-colonial administration in Yoruba land.” These administrators were appointed by colonial powers and were primarily tasked with promoting and protecting the political and economic interests of the colonial masters.
In contemporary Osun politics, the term ‘Ajele’ has been repurposed and popularised—often used to describe those of us who, though are Osun indigenes, but grew up outside the state and get the opportunity to serve the state in various capacities. For the sake of political correctness, some of those who use the term now argue that appointing non-Osun indigenes as Commissioners or Special Advisers also qualifies as ‘Ajelerisation.’
Once we are approaching any election cycle in Osun, the moment everything else fails, those promoting the sentiment cling to it as a means of demarkerting perceived political opponents.
In the build-up to the last governorship election, for instance, the PDP’s slogan was “Osun-for-Osun,” meaning they would not appoint non-Osun indigenes into political offices, not minding the fact that the immediate past administration of Oyetola, ensured no non-Osun indigene was appointed into the cabinet.
Just last week or thereabouts, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Lasun Yusuff, echoed this sentiment once again while addressing PDP supporters at an event, urging them to embrace what he described as ‘indigenous governance’ in Osun State.
While condescending to condemn what he termed ‘Ajele governance’, which according to him is the appointment of individuals who reside in states like Lagos, Ogun, and Ondo into key positions at the expense of Osun indigenes, Hon. Lasun noted that “Osun people are not slaves.”
He further claimed that so far, only the Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s administration and that of the current administration, led by our amiable dancing and lately, singing governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke are without blemish with regards to his definition of ‘Ajele Governance’. For me, this claim smacks of mischief and hypocrisy.
Apart from the fact that I know of several appointees of the current government who are based in diaspora and are only collecting salaries as government officials and who by Hon. Lasun’s description, fit into the “Ajele Governance” concept.
I want Hon. Lasun to tell the world if Governor Ademola Adeleke’s Special Adviser on Health Matters is from Osun State. Also, Hon. Lasun should tell us if the Osun State Consultant on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Prof. Chinwe Obuaku, is from Obokun. Equally, he should tell his sons and daughters if Mr Adekunle Omoyele, the Corps Commander of Osun Amotekun is from Osun. Are the Adegbodu Twins, who were appointed as special advisers on Entertainment and Tourism from Osun? Or is the actress, who flaunts her endowment with reckless abandon from Ilobu? I can go on and on. But let me pause here for now.
Funny enough, at the weekend, yesterday precisely, our Governor was represented in Lagos by an “Ajele” in all ramifications from Ondo State, who also doubles as the Chairman, Special Advisers’ Forum in our own Osun, Dr. Adekunle Akindele, at a special valedictory court session held in honour of Justice Oluwakayode Jimi-Bada.
Justice Jimi-Bada, who is the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, who hails from Ile-Ife, is the father of our current Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
To borrow the words of Hon. Lasun, I am sure we do not have qualified indigenous Osun persons to take up the role Dr. Akindele is playing within and outside the state. I went this far to expose the hypocrisy of Hon. Lasun and his new friends in government. So, when next he speaks to us about “Ajele Governance,”
we must not hesitate to remind him of who he is.
Omipidan, a journalist, an author, and Public Affairs Analyst, is a Deputy Editor with The Sun Newspapers.