As reactions continue to trail the recent meeting between Governor Ajimobi and protesting students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, in Oyo state sparking a debate on what form of leadership we have in Nigeria” as well as who is “mannerless”, the question – Is Governor Abiola Ajimobi what the citizens of Oyo state voted for? – is on the lips of many concerned citizens.

Figuratively speaking, the answer is yes. This is his second term – a big resounding YES! But indulge me a little bit and take your time to reflect before answering the question again – he is supposed to represent the interests of the electorate who voted him into office, or does his action claim otherwise (who needs the electorate when you’re already in office?)?

The governor’s remarks when addressing students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) last weekend, were just plain disturbing. It shouldn’t be news to you by now, after all, there are viral videos showing the administrator at some of his lowest points (apparently, there is also one shared by the Oyo state government, which portrays a caring governor).

Here’s an excerpt from one of the videos:

Governor A. Ajimobi (GAA): (In Yoruba language) You complain that your school is shut down for the past eight months … Am I the person who closed your school?

Students: Ahhhh (Uproar)

GAA: Ehen (exclamation)

Students: (more rowdy reactions)

GAA: Ok, if this is how you want to talk to me, everything you think you want to do, go and do it … You hear me, go and do it. If you want to talk anyhow and be troublesome, we will wait for you. Anything that wants to happen, let it happen.

(In English) What are we saying? Some of you (switches to Yoruba) you need a little respect for constituted authority, no matter what … no matter what. If someone of my calibre meets with you … eight months of what??

This is not the first time schools are getting shut, so what?? It’s not to come and chant “it will be rough this time”. Rough for who, is it for me? It’s not me.

Students: (Agitated) Na you! (indistinct shout)

GAA: You mean me?

Students: Yes.

GAA: You mean me?

Students: Yes.

GAA: Bring that boy here for me.

Students: (Barricade protester from police)

Then Ajmobi goes on to tell them to face their own realities. Really? In Nigeria? Who is blind to the realities in the country aside the entitled elites and the political class – need I say a class that is voted into power in a democratic (at least, that’s our claim) system.

Well, what is the reality of LAUTECH?

The institution has been closed since June 9, 2016, following the strike by lecturers over a lack of pay. The closure came on the heels of the students writing their second semester as the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union, and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities in the university declared the strike to protest matters arising from lack of funds to run the institution.

Another reality that has beset the running of the institution is the fact that LAUTECH is jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states, which means that both states share then responsibility for the state of the affairs of the university.

So, you can imagine my surprise when Governor Ajimobi told the unhappy students that the management of LAUTECH does not have funds – well, the funds are supposed to come from the coffers of your state as well as that of Osun – so is he implying that the state does not have funds to run the university?

In his defence, maybe, there are reports that since Osun state established a state university of its own (Osun State University), the stewardship of Rauf Aregbesola has focused its resources on the university, abandoning the bulk of the responsibility to Oyo state.

Still, when a governor stands in front of his people and declares himself “the state”, you do a double take. He just did a classic “you can’t sit with us” move and there’s nothing anyone can do about it!

While many Nigerians were still trying to come to terms with how the governor reacted responded – of course with as much which much outrage as allowed on social media and in the traditional media, support came from a party of Ajimobi’s camp that calls him “daddy”.

Ajibola Ajimobi, daughter of the governor, took to Instagram to call out the protesters.

“Generation of mannerless children, they don’t respect their parents, how will they respect the constitution,” she commented on her handle @conceited_csj (the account was made private as at when I checked).

In all honesty, she shouldn’t have waded into the murky waters and if at all she felt inclined to, she should have just tried to create peace among the parties as Governor Ajimobi has vowed not to talk to the students again.

As much as the whole debacle is deplorable really, given that asides giving cognisance to the students who are supposed to turn out to be productive members of society, we also have to consider other factors such as the families of the students and even their communities.

“Idle minds …”

The state of LAUTECH also paints a bigger picture of what happens in Nigeria – no action until strike action and that is one mess that had followed every administration in the nation. Ajimobi’s statement “This is not the first time schools are getting shut, so what?” makes one wonder if it is now an acceptable norm for schools to shut down.

If we really want to make these systems and infrastructure work to the benefit of the masses alike, public policy analysts are of the view that the political elite need to start using such facilities. Could Ajimobi’s daughter have expressed such insensitivity to the plight of the students if she were also enrolled in the university and at home, aimless for eight months?

Let us imagine a Nigeria, where the elected officials use the public facilities such as schools and hospitals, wouldn’t there be a concerted effort to ensure they work at optimal capacity or would the facilities still be in their rundown states?

Imagine a legislation that enforces political office holders in Nigeria to use these facilities and tell me if the same investments we make in medical and educational tourism abroad won’t make a difference.

Just imagine.

Well, back to the subject of this article, “Is Governor Ajimobi what Nigerians voted for?” As much as there is a yes to that answer, there is also a no. We should care that our administrators are accountable to us, we should shun the enticement that comes with election campaign promises (and sold votes); you should care that a governor of a state, calls himself “the state”.

Watch the video of Governor Ajimobi addressing students of LAUTECH below: