By Fred Chukwuelobe
I lifted this report from the Cable online publication. It is a reputable publication and I believe the article it published is accurate. And it goes thus:
‘I’ll turn off the mic’ — Remi Tinubu reins in Adeleke’s singing at Ooni’s anniversary
“First Lady Oluremi Tinubu cautioned Ademola Adeleke, the Osun state governor, for prolonged singing during his remarks at the 10th coronation anniversary celebration of Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife.
The moment, captured in a now-viral video, occurred as the governor mounted the podium on Sunday to pay tribute to the monarch and to congratulate the Remi on her newly bestowed chieftaincy title, Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua.
Rather than proceed immediately with his formal message, Adeleke, popularly known as the “Dancing Governor” for his spirited public appearances, burst into a short musical chant, drawing laughter from parts of the audience.”
This is the end of the report. As expected, it has generated comments from across the social media with many lampooning the First Lady for her audacity.
To me, I will say ‘good morning’ to the critics of Mrs. Tinubu. I say so because when she began her overbearing attitude and started with Igbo people whom she said publicly could “not be trusted,” you’all kept quiet.
She traveled to Benin, Edo State, to install the daughter of the president as the Iyaloja, you’all didn’t shout. She invited senators to lunch while the country reels in insecurity. You didn’t see a troubling pattern. You are now seeing it.
By the way, didn’t Patience Goodluck-Jonathan do the same thing to Rotimi Amaechi when the latter was governor of Rivers State? What happened? Aren’t many of you guys missing Patience? “Deris God ooo, God ooo, God ooo.” We get the leaders we deserve.
Governor Ademola Adeleke likes singing and dancing. He is Davido’s uncle and it appears music and dancing runs in their blood. Davido is a popular musician. His father is a steel magnet. There’s too much money in their family and too much to eat. That’s, perhaps, the reason Governor Adeleke is chubby and looks like an overfed baby. He sings and dances like one too.
His singing and dancing skills do not impress me. Some say that makes him happy. But he’s a chief executive of a state. He should show restraint in that his singing and dancing routine. Afterall, he’s not a small boy. His office carries certain responsibilities that require the occupant lives by certain standards and decorum.
If we insist he is free to sing and dance as easily as he often does, then we accept that public officers should be free to do whatever gives them happiness. That includes wearing baggy jeans and fanciful clothes and face-caps like the Gen-Zs. He can as well light cigarettes on stage before he speaks, puff smoke, and wink at the crowd so long as that makes him happy.
As for the First Lady’s overbearing attitude, do not forget she is a deacon of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). “Touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm.”
Patience Goodluck-Jonathan did the same. Each time she flew into Lagos we were on lockdown. If she traveled with then President Goodluck Jonathan, she stepped off the plane first and began to receive and greet those lined up to receive the president as if she was the president.
Mrs. Tinubu’s husband is president and commander-in-Chief. She has access to a presidential jet. Her husband does as he likes too. Why wouldn’t she do likewise? Aren’t we a country of ‘anything goes?’
Those who like the Tinubus will defend the First Lady’s meddlesomeness and overbearing attitude. Those against them will condemn her action. That’s the way it works here.
I condemn it. She was wrong. I also condemn the governor’s singing and dancing penchant. It shows unseriousness and he should curtail it, singing and dancing only at parties meant for that. Otherwise, he should leave governance for serious people and join Davido’s music group.
Our First Lady has to be told to learn to put her emotions in check and understand the limits of her privilege. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. However, power is ephemeral; e no de last forever.
NB: Fred Chukwuelobe, was a Special Assistant to former Governor of Anambra, Chris Ngige on Media and Publicity.
