The video has, expectedly, gone viral, and Nigerians are having a field day analysing the incident involving Senator Remi Tinubu, the First Lady, and the Governor of Osun State, Senator Adeleke. The core of the debate is simple:
1• The First Lady twice reprimanded the governor in Ile Ife at the 10th coronation of the Ooni, for “dancing and singing,” purportedly wasting time instead of delivering his speech, and even threatened to cut off the microphone if he didn’t wrap up in “five minutes.” Some guests, from what we hear, were also irritated by Adeleke’s extended dancing and felt it was unnecessary. And please dont ask how the Ooni must have felt. The poor monarch must have wondered about this “wahala”.
2• To be fair, I have attended one or two events, and seen a few videos, where my governor expressed this same dancing-and-singing energy. His supporters seem to enjoy it; some even insist he is deliberately “building a brand” around it!
3• But if I were Senator Remi Tinubu, I would have exercised a little bit more patience, knowing this is the governor’s established style, plus, he was in his turf and domain where he is the primus inter pares. I would simply “suffer him,” as we say.
4• Secondly, the governor was her official host. Some say she might not even have received the chieftaincy title without his overt or covert approval. A little indulgence would not have hurt.
5• Some social media comments even mischievously wondered whether the First Lady would have done this to a Northern governor. Quickly, those supporting her argued that no Northern governor dances and prances around as Adeleke does! All moot!
6• Now, if I were the First Lady, I would have waited for my turn to speak and then gently teased Adeleke, something light-hearted: call him “the dancing and singing governor,” or jokingly suggest that when he retires from politics, he already has a music career waiting. It would have been in order from one former Senator to another. People would have laughed, but the point would have been made without tension, drama, or malice.
7• On the other hand, if I were advising my state governor, I would strongly suggest that he please limit this dancing-and-singing routine to non-official events. Weddings, naming ceremonies, iwuye, birthdays—perfect! But state and official functions require a bit more sobriety and decorum. Clearly, church services alone cannot contain his enthusiasm.
8• Hopefully, this entire episode will soon fade or be overtaken; after all, Nigeria never runs short of new talking points.
REMI TINUBU AND ADELEKE: A CASE OF TWO SENATORS
BY LOLU AKINWUNMI
