Dear Editor,

I will be most appreciative if your online newspaper will be kind enough to publish the articule below.

"Democracy, by definition, is a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them. It can also be defined as the political orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives. The above definitions are quintessential of the meaning and description of democracy. Both definitions acknowledge that power belongs to the people. However, there is a more interesting definition by Oscar Wilde. In his words, he notes that "Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people, by the people, for the people". His excellency Senator Abiola Ajimobi, governor of Oyo state, seems to have taken the definition of Oscar Wilde literally with emphasis on the word "bludgeoning". The governor has turned the rod of democracy on the people of Oyo state, who through the ballot, gave him their mandate to rule and manage their collective resources. The people are now left with regret a little over two years into his administration asking "What have we done!" What have we done, voting the likes of senator Ajimobi into the Agodi government house, an exalted accommodation that has housed the highly revered Pa Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige the eloquent and erudite politician both of blessed memories. And in recent past, Senator Rasidi Ladoja, who, through people-focused policies, left an indelible mark in the hearts of the people of Oyo state. There has never been a time where the people of the state have longed for the days gone-by like they presently do. Things have gone awry with small businesses, petty traders, Okada riders (commercial motor-cyclists) and transporters all under the hammer of heavy taxation and levies. Landlords are served with tenement rates that are ridiculously high; The Agodi prisons is now filled with petty traders, minor environmental and traffic offenders who are sentenced by mobile courts from between 2 to 3 months in prison if they are unable to pay the heavy fines imposed by Judges who are said to be from Lagos, as all other draconian policies that are poor imitations of what obtains in Lagos. Of a truth, the state must and should look for all reasonable means to increase its Internally Generated Revenue( IGR), but not at the expense of the well being of its citizens. The traffic and environmental cadets popularly known as "Yes-O" are now being used as the bludgeon that the Ajimobi government uses to terrorize the common people of the state. When they re not harassing motorist, They confiscate and impound goods of petty traders at will, even up to 7 p.m. The governor has been said to have, on several occasions, supervised this crime against the people of Oyo, directing his drivers and aides to seize goods and molest these traders. These women took loans from micro finance institutions and loan sharks popularly referred to as "gbe omu le lantern" meaning place your breast on the top of a burning lantern to fund their businesses. Most of those whose wares have been forcefully taken away have since developed high blood pressure, while others are in a serious state of shock. I am not an advocate of roadside trading neither do I support children of school-age roaming the streets hawking wares that are barely worth two hundred Naira. However, in tackling these unfortunate issue, shouldn't a government "of the people and by the people" do so with a human face? Must the matter be handled in a way that portrays the governor as having a score to settle with the very same people who stood in the burning sun to vote for him? And now with both hands on their heads, they asked "What have we done !". These are the men and women who voted for Ajimobi ! These are the men and women who, with their goods and wares, stood by the roadside and cheerfully waved their Brooms in support of him during his campaigns! These are the men and women who he swore to protect and ensure that the dividends of democracy will be theirs. Alas ! These are the men and women who are now being herded daily into pick-up vans designed to look like the notorious "Black Maria" used by the Prison authorities to transport accused persons. The people are asking "what have we done !". The civil service is not left out by the governor in the use of this democratic rod of hardship. They too have seen better times and look forward to a return of the good old days. Their welfare has been relegated to the background, and they look back at the days when wages are paid on the 25th of each month and the famous "13th month salary". now salaries are paid between 5th and 10th of a new month, even this is done in batches. They look back with nostalgia at the days when the only deductions from their pay, was the necessary taxes that is expected by law to be paid, and not the illegal subtractions by a certain consulting firm from lagos, hired by the state government to pay salaries. Visit the Oyo state government secretariat you will find civil servants in pensive mood, speaking in hush tones about the unenviable position they are in, and they too are asking," What have we done"!. Even the elites of the states who stuck out their necks to see his excellency ascend to power on numerous occasions have been on the receiving end of the governor's biting tongue, not for anything they did wrong, but for the sheer pleasure and amusement of the lord of the manor. But With deep regrets and total submission to the consequences of poor judgment; They asked "what have we done." Thankfully, In a democracy, power can be transferred from one party to another by means of elections. Ultimate power still resides with the people, and with their votes, his Excellency will be reminded that he is only a temporary resident in the Agodi government house. The citizens of Oyo state will be able to determine its ruling authority once again, there is an end in sight! 2015 is the year of liberty for the people of Oyo state. They will have the choice to vote for a man that will meet their yearning and aspirations for a better life. This is the beauty of democracy, it always afford the opportunity to correct an error in judgment. Omolere

Omoetan Resident in Awotan Ibadan.