Osun Politics: When Oyetola’s Silence Beats Harder Than Cane

On the recent judgement of the Appeal Court whose verdict was in favour of the Osun State All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Gov­ernment Chairmen and Councillors sacked by Ademola Adeleke upon his assumption of office as newly elected Governor of the State, currently, and as usual, the Governor is engaging the media space with spurious and malicious allegations against his predecessor and incumbent Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.

The Governor held a press conference where he attempted to blackmail the Minister and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his in­sinuation of blood relations between the duo, insisting Oyetola is dropping the President’s ‘might’ and leveraging on same to cause crisis in the state.

But for the “Immunity Clause for Gover­nors” as entrenched in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Governor Ademo­la Adeleke’s resistance and seeming disobedi­ence of the rule of law is a legal affront and an act of contempt of court, as he refused to oblige and obey the order of the Appeal Court on immediate reinstatement of the unconstitu­tionally sacked APC LG elected officials.

However, Oyetola is a taciturn and silent personality, who has a natural disinclination to talk. Unlike many Nigerian politicians, he hardly does, especially when he shouldn’t. He seems to perfectly understand an Ancient Greek’s proverb that says “silence is golden”.

In the face of provocation, Oyetola seems to seek solace and consolation in his naturally en­dowed silence. When his opponents, especially in politics, pass derogatory comments and cast aspersions on him, he always remains unper­turbed with his passion and positive disposi­tion. Nevertheless, Oyetola’s silence doesn’t mean an absence of message or words. The truth is his silence speaks more eloquently than words.

Not many people understand the power of silence, and its application in every day situa­tion. Some people talk where they shouldn’t, while others don’t, where they should. Silence is communication, and its meanings, often lo­cated within the context of communication situation, are usually unambiguous. It’s a non­verbal communication whose meanings are always deep and expressive.

The Minister’s strength in his wise applica­tion of silence to any provocative political situ­ation appeared to be god-given, as according to a scholar known as Rumi, “silence is the lan­guage of God; all else is poor translation.” So, when Oyetola keeps silent, even when attacked and provoked with spurious allegations as cur­rently being paraded by Governor Adeleke, he speaks the language of God, after all. Whatever meaning anyone reads to his silence is their own “poor translation”.

Alas! Their “poor translation” (judgement of his silence) has led some politicians to dis­placement and tribulations. Christina Rossetti says “Silence is more musical than any song.” It’s obvious Oyetola’s enemies wrongly dance to the ‘song of his silence’, instead of the rhythm of his ‘silence music’, and with this, he out­smarts his opponents, as “in the depth of si­lence, wisdom begins.”

His silence is his source of great strength, and in it he finds his inner and true voice, as “Silence is the ultimate weapon of truth” (Ma­hatma Gandhi). Instead of replying to different spurious allegations against his person by the ruling PDP party in the state, Oyetola’s silence does, and the “truth” of which exposes the igno­rance, falsehood, malice, insincerity, and guilt of his opponents.

The Minister has actually fought and won many battles in politics with his golden si­lence, which pinches his opponents like a nee­dle, and its pains leave unseen scars on their skin. For his emotional maturity and stabil­ity, for instance, many people who feel they have wronged him are always afraid, as they couldn’t fathom whether it is their own shadow they behold at their back or is Oyetola’s shad­ow that follows, as he would neither humiliate their guilt nor ignore their ignominy.

Some couldn’t decipher his fiscal disci­pline-cum-disposition, as he doesn’t spend more than he has (as a frugal and not prodigal person), and he doesn’t seem to earn more than he spends, as an incorruptible public official. And if he earns more (as a successful business man) than he spends, his critics shouldn’t ex­pect him to spend all he earns or has. If you perceive him as miserly, many of his beneficia­ries would tell you Oyetola is lavishly generous.

His gift is more than his sycophants’ gist, as he seems to see more than he looks, and knows more than told. This is a rare wit that appears wizardly complex to many. In politics, those who fire political gun shots at him are the ones who get hurt, and those who think they whip him with laces are also the ones who weep at last. Truly, the power of Oyetola’s silence is a mysterious and wonderful one that keeps the ruling PDP in Osun State perturbed and off balance!

• Dr. Olorede is a media scholar and Strategic Communication professional