THE OMO OLOORE STORIES
STORY 7: CHASE THEM- E lé wọn
At the start of my campaign in 2019, I had told my supporters and security details that I didn’t want any form of violence or bloodshed.
My security comprised mobile policemen and civil defence officers and I told them that whatever happened must be taken as the will of God and there must not be any casualty as I didn’t want a situation where people would say someone was killed during Dapo Lam’s campaign.
My decision had led to a serious argument with my security details: “what if something bad is about to happen to you?” they had asked. I told them, “just protect yourself and let no life be lost on our account.”
So ahead of the 2019 elections, the campaign took us to a place called Elekuro in Ibadan South East Local Government where I met with some of our constituents.
As we were leaving, a group of young guys came out of nowhere and began to harass us – there must have been about 30 to 40 of them.
Maybe the sight of armed security officials got them agitated, before we could figure out why they had trooped out, they began to hurl bottles of beer and soft drinks with their contents still in them at us. All our supporters scattered - everyone just scampered to safety. It was a very bad situation.
My security details guided me into one of the agbooles. One of the owners of a house in the agboole called to the security people: “Se Omoolore ni, e je ko wo’le sibi – is that Omoolore, let him enter here”. The family provided their house for us as shelter.
After we’d stayed in the house for a while, the head of my security team informed me that we staying in that place, we were sitting ducks; the guys would get more reinforcements and they could get more agitated. We needed to get out quickly before things got more intense. I asked him what our options were. “We have just one option,” he explained, “the only way out is to face the violent mob gathered head-on.”
I saw the tactical sense in what he proposed and so I agreed but I reiterated my stance at the start of the campaign – hurt no one, even if our cars are damaged, do not inflict any harm on anyone. He then asked how we would get out if they were not allowed to go fire-for-fire. I replied: “I would lead”.
While they were still pondering over how I’d lead, I rose to my feet and headed for the door; I did not know where the courage came from. As I stepped out of the house we were hiding in, our supporters and constituents began to come out from wherever they had hidden.
We started jogging towards them as they were throwing bottles at us. We dodged the ones we could and as we got closer, I shouted – “e le won – chase them!” Once they saw we were unafraid of them anymore and the security detail posed as though they wanted to shoot, the boys took to their heels.
As we chased them, and everywhere in the vicinity fell silent. Then more supporters came out chanting, “e le won! e le won!!” In the end, we caught one of the boys and trust the people, they’d begun to beat the one that got caught.
Realizing how much they’d rough-handled him, I directed them to stop. Since there was a police station down the road, I told them we’d all walk down there and hand him over to the police.
That was what we did and It did not take very long before calls began to pour in from all quarters, people pleading on his behalf and saying, “constituent e noni – he belongs to your constituency” and all that. In the end, we caved in and he was released.
On yet another campaign, the leader of the people who attacked us at Elekuro came again.
This time, he wore a hoodie so that no one would recognize him. My security team, identified him despite the hoodie and the leader approached me about the discovery and their intention to arrest him. I gave them a go ahead to do what they had to do. As he was arrested, people began to beg that we should release him.
The security guys were furious as I had to ask them to let him go.
If they had not released him, what you’ll probably read in the news is that a certain Honourable in Ibadan got his constituents arrested; you might never hear the other part.
Next thing, claims of misuse of power would fly around with a politician at the centre of it all.
I’m sharing this story to let people know that things don’t come as easy as you may have imagined. It is never a walk in the park. Your dream is valid but you have to put in the work.
To achieving your goals, there is no soft-landing, no short-cuts. YOU MUST BE READY TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP WHEN THE NEED ARISES.
(join me every Wednesday at 6pm, as I share with you personal stories from my journey so far and the lessons I have learned from them)
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