One of the qualities of a solid politician in every respect is that person’s ability to engage, control, or influence the desires of his/her followers towards a specific action. More often than not, political bigwigs are best known for their crowd-pulling capabilities and street credibility, which are always invoked whenever they appear in public. One of the features of such public engagements is songs that evoke meaning, providing entertainment to their teeming supporters at political gatherings.
Since his full entry into the scene in 2004, issues around the political landscape in Osun, South West Nigeria, have been revolving around its former governor and the immediate-past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Ogbeni, as he is fondly called, has continued to prove himself beyond reasonable doubt that he remains a formidable force in Osun politics, perhaps, the reason why new politicians look forward to riding on his popularity and established name to seek political offices.
For instance, Aregbesola’s outing at last weekend’s meeting of the Omoluabi Progressives, a caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Osun State has dominated discussions in the state both online and offline.
Just like the Yoruba axiom that says, “the sound of the nightingale is distinct among its peers,” Aregbesola’s style of politics as well as his eloquence have always intrigued many. Having distinguished himself as a well-versed son of the soil who knows the beauty of the Yoruba language, the former governor, who has been silent on issues in Osun politics for a while, brought the sector to life again, especially discourses on the shape of the next governorship election in 2026.
At the meeting held in Ilesa on Sunday, Baba Kabiru, as fondly called by his loyalists, in his earth tone, Danshiki, embracing his petite figure, enlivened the gathering with his witty-like songs that reverberated the political scenery. Although he didn’t utter a word at the meeting, the buzz one of the songs rendered at the event has generated among his friends and foes, almost in equal measure, no doubt brought the political calculations ahead of the 2026 election to the front burner.
The song has the lyrics; “
Enikan o le p’eye ti a ba de mo’gba
Enikan o le p’eye ti a ba de mo’gba
Eleye sa nimi, eleye ni’yami,
Enikan o le p’eye ti a ba de mo’gba.
The song’s video immediately became the talk of the town, with different people alluding to different interpretations outside the originally waxed Yoruba cosmological belief.
According to a historian and Ifa priest, Mayowa Atunwa Fakorede, the song, titled ENÌKAN O LÈ P’EYE TÍ A BÁ DÉ MÓN’GBÁ” and translated into English as (No one can know or attack what we are planning ) has embedded in it a lot of interpretations, especially with regards to the Ifa corpus.
The song, however, came with different interpretations. First in the line of reactions to the song, was the camp of former governor Gboyega Oyetola, now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy. Wondering what political gimmick Aregbesola would unfold in the next governorship election in the state, a former commissioner and a staunch Oyetola loyalist, Remi Omowaiye, has been busy analysing the song.
Agitated by the song and the impending danger it meant for his principal’s ambition to contest the election, Mr. Omowaiye, who couldn’t contain his feelings, wrote on his Facebook page that “a le fó igba lati pa éyé mó inu igba oh..” meaning; we can kill the bird that has been confined to a secret place. The post generated and is still drawing reactions, mostly deriding him for speaking against Aregbesola, whom he once adored.
Most of the commentaries from the IleriOluwa camp suggested that Aregbesola betrayed his former Chief of Staff, by not supporting the latter and that his loyalists carried out anti-APC activities in the last election. However, OSUN DEFENDER noted a press statement signed by Aregbesola’s loyalist and then Chairman of the defunct The Osun Progressives (TOP), Adelowo Adebiyi, on July 15, 2022, a day before the last guber poll, that its members should vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.
Interestingly, those in the ruling party are also confused as to what the song meant. Some of them who criticised the position of Oyetola’s loyalists argued that the song is in support of their principal, Governor Ademola Adeleke, for a second time, while others in the Osun PDP expressed anxiety over the political move of the former Minister.
The Organising and Publicity Secretary of the Omoluabi Progressives Caucus, Abosede Oluwaseun, said in his interpretation of the song that the reactions that have followed Sunday’s meeting confirm Aregbesola’s popularity in Osun politics and his influential status in the state.
“This didn’t come as a surprise to us, anything Ogbeni does always becomes a subject of discourse and imitation. By staying with the people and loving them, Ogbeni will continue to wield the political compass in Osun politics.
“By simply holding on to God and the people, he has remained the issue such that when he talks, gives direction, keeps mute, his gestures, body language, or sings and dances with the women, as was the case in Ilesa, it will always have portent meanings that make his algorithm with the people inseparable.
“Truly, Ogbeni will remain the issue for a very long time, e lo so loja!!!”
However, at a gathering to herald the New Year in January 2024, Aregbesola told his supporters that by the end of the year, he would be out about his position regarding the 2026 governorship election in the state.
However, one thing that remains sacrosanct is whether Aregbesola coughs, sneezes, or talks, the fact remains that he is a force and major determinant of the political direction of Osun, as his position on issues is always subject to different interpretations and cult-like acceptance.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
