Politics is a game of thrones. From the biblical times of the great Assyrian kings through to the days of the Greek city states to the modern period of Presidents and Prime Ministers, politics has remained a game of calculated choices and tactical manouvres, a real-life chess game, not played on mere wooden boards, but played out in the open space, in the corridors of power and in public domain.
As in a chess game, politics is contrived to protect and preserve the king while serving the people for the king is the appointed head of the people.The king referred to here is in these modern times equivalent to the de facto executive head of government whether we call such a person king, prime minister, president or governor. The king in any polity is the person that wields the most overwhelming power or influence over the citizenry within his political jurisdiction. He is the unmistakable personification of political authority. Once the king is captured or allowed to be irredeemably cornered then the game is over.
From Thomas Aquinas to Thomas Hobbes, political philosophers have consistently aligned themselves with the maxim that “the powers that be are ordained by God”. I agree with them 100%, not just because they said so but because the Good Book also said so. In Romans Chapter 13, the injunction is unequivocal, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are ordained by God.” This said, I am not such a man to question the authority of God or of those whom it pleases God to place in positions of authority on Earth.
Obedience to civil authorities is not to be seen as a sign of weakness but rather as a demonstration of wisdom and understanding that society has to be regulated, whether by Kings and Princes or by Presidents and Governors. Any concerted failure to submit to civil authorities would invariably lead to anarchy and we would almost certainly find ourselves in that much-dreaded Hobbian state of Leviathan where everyone becomes a brute, a beast with no conscience or compunction other than the quest for survival and self-preservation.
I have read Machiavelli’s famous treatise “The Prince” but I learnt virtually nothing from there. It is in my opinion, a book of harsh realities for those who would rather live than have a soul but then one must ask, what is the essence of living a life which is but “nasty, brutish and short” only to then be damned forever. Personally, I would rather live and have a soul than live without a soul and this is why my book of inspiration and motivation remains the Good Book. Let us now go to the main crux of this epistle.
From the above discourse, it is evident that the King, the President, the Governor are all important titles that point out that one individual unto whom we may entrust overwhelming authority for the judicious management of the affairs of our nation or state and ultimately our political destiny. The question now remains who can be King?
The title of king is symbolic and ceremonial but it does not stop there. Beyond the glitz and glamour, there must be innate wisdom and a strong personal character. A king is someone unto whom the power of life and death may be entrusted and such a person cannot be vindictive. A king must have a large heart and have compassion while at the same time be well-endowed to be ruthless where and when the occasion legitimately demands it.
A king is not necessarily a saintly individual for politics cannot be and should never be married to morality but a king must able to command both loyalty and respect and and maintain his dignity. A king cannot be a knave, or let me put it in the right order, a knave cannot be a king. Governance is a serious business and kingship is not suited for jesters and/or infantile individuals. At all times, a king must know what to do and when to do it. He must also know how to do it. A wise king surrounds himself with brilliant minds and capable hands.
In Nigeria of today we have a wise and able king. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a President that is easy to love and defend. He is steadily and assuringly treating the injuries that past regimes might have inflicted upon us in Nigeria and the wounds are healing, I, Dele Okenla remain his number one fan and follower in Nigeria. I am proud and happy to say Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on your mandate I stand.
Ogun State is a peculiar state, it is the state where Nigerian national and international champions are bred. It is the home of Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, Mrs Funmilayo Kuti, Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola, Anthony Joshua and Professor Wole Soyinka to mention a few. It is a state where only the best is good enough to be king. Ogun State is a royal state where we have a true Royal Prince as Governor, our own King. His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun is a unique individual. He is a silent but highly strategic achiever. He talks and does what he says. He does not make unnecessary noise. Those of us that follow him closely refer to him as Mr Talk-and-Do.
Prince Dapo Abiodun has done more for Ogun State in less than eight years of government than most people’s expectations. He gave us a functional airport which is still to me like a dream come true. He gave us good roads and made Ogun State more attractive to investors. But more than all these, Prince Abiodun like a true royalty and wise king that he is, has a good eye for brilliant minds and competent hands. His inclusion of several of my brethren from Ijebu-Ode in his cabinet has helped to attract great development to Ijebu-Ode. A shining example is our energetic brother from Ijebu-Ode Hon. Dapo Okubadejo who works relentlessly to ensure that the Governor’s impact is positively felt in our axis of Ijebuland. For all these and many more, we in Ijebu-Ode remain truly grateful to the Governor.
The General Elections is nigh and come next year 2027 we will be saying goodbye to His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun our action Governor and at the same time welcoming him back as our brand new Distinguished Senator in Ogun East by God’s grace.
In 2027, by the special grace of God, we will be retaining our king at the centre, the man whom most people love to call Jagaban but who I and many others simply call Omo Olodo Ide. We will also be welcoming a new king in Ogun State by God’s grace. A true champion good enough to succeed our outgoing champion, a man of the people, a natural leader and wise administrator, a man with a large heart whose name is on everybody’s lips in Ogun State, a king whose title shall be Ilufemloye I, our incoming Governor by the ordinance of Almighty God, the humble achiever with multiple talents, Distinguished Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola fondly called Yayi by all of us. May God continue to guard and guide him.
God bless Nigeria, God bless Ogun State, God bless Ijebuland.
Dele Okenla Esq.
APC, Ijebu-Ode
27th July 2026
