By Princess (Mrs.) Aderoju Ladega-Akinjobi
Dear Respected Leaders,
I greet you with utmost respect and in the spirit of patriotism and service.
As the sun casts its gaze upon the land of Ikorodu division – a division known for its rich heritage and unyielding loyalty – I pen this open letter, not out of mere sentiment, but from a deep well of conviction. I write to appeal to your collective conscience as custodians of democracy and stewards of our people’s trust at this critical juncture of our political journey.
The impending party primaries offer an opportunity – one that history shall either celebrate or condemn. It is a sacred duty upon you, the vanguards of our great party, to ensure that this process is not only free and fair but is seen to be so by all.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, proclaims in Article 21 that “the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government.” It is this spirit that must animate our actions. Democracy thrives not merely in grand speeches but in transparent processes where every qualified aspirant stands an equal chance to serve.
As an African proverb wisely reminds us, “A bird does not change its feathers because the weather is bad.” The APC as a party must not depart from its foundational principles of fairness, justice, and inclusivity, regardless of pressures or interests.
I stand today, as a proud daughter of Ikorodu, to sound this clarion call: Let there be no room for imposition. Let no aspirant be stifled by the heavy hand of favoritism. Leadership imposed is leadership opposed. We must resist the temptation to predetermine outcomes behind closed doors, for as another African proverb warns, “He who is destined for the throne must not be hindered by those who fear his reign.”
Our division, Ikorodu, has a proud record of loyalty to the All Progressives Congress and its ideals. We have remained steadfast through storms and sunshine, giving our strength to the party’s victories across all levels. To reward this loyalty with a compromised process would not only injure the morale of our people but would also plant seeds of discord that could sprout into electoral defeat, and worse still, saddle us with the burden of bad leadership – handing the reins of our future to inexperienced and tardy managers who would, in turn, plunge our communities into the dark valleys of poor governance, stagnation, and lost opportunities.
We must allow every qualified aspirant the right to present themselves before the delegates and the people. The ballot, not the backroom, must be the arbiter of leadership. Let the merit, vision, and capacity of aspirants determine their fate, not the endorsements whispered behind veils of power.
There is an old tale from our Yoruba ancestry: when the tortoise was asked why he moves slowly, he replied, “It is better to arrive late in dignity than to rush and stumble in disgrace.” Let us take the dignified path in this primary process, ensuring that our actions today will stand the scrutiny of tomorrow.
The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, to which Nigeria is a signatory, emphasizes in Article 3 the promotion of “transparent, free and fair elections.” If we demand these standards of the larger Nigerian polity, we must first model them within our own party walls.
Dear leaders, your revered names shall be written in gold if you rise above narrow interests and champion a process that generations yet unborn would celebrate. But if the contrary happens, history – unforgiving and precise – shall etch the story of betrayal upon the walls of time.
In conclusion, I implore you to heed the wisdom of our ancestors: “When the roots of a tree begin to decay, it spreads death to the branches.” Let us not allow the roots of APC in Ikorodu to be poisoned by injustice. Let us water them with fairness, nurture them with transparency, and prune them with discipline.
Let history bear witness that when the moment came to choose between imposition and democracy, you chose democracy.
May wisdom guide your decisions, and may the spirit of justice prevail.
Yours in the service of truth, democracy, and Ikorodu division,
Princess (Mrs.) Aderoju Ladega-Akinjobi
Kìnìún Ikòròdú
Proud Daughter of Ikorodu
