When Barr. Niyi Akintola (SAN) said Governor Seyi Makinde has done what Napoleon couldn’t, many people would be wondering that who was Napoleon and what was it that he couldn’t do, but the statement is deeply rooted in history of 19th Century Europe, and today, it is used to describe the uncommon ability to surmount a mountain that scares even the bulldozer.
Looking critically, the statement could be used to relate Oyo State’s activities of the past one decade. Two Figures readily come into thought, the Napoleon himself and the person that did what Almighty Napoleon couldn’t do. Before we can understand this statement, we need to briefly exhume the personality of the man in question and what he failed to do.
Napoleon Bonaparte was a renowned French military leader and Emperor who conquered much of European Continent in the early 19th century. He dominated European and global affairs for more than a decade while leading France against a series of coalitions during the Napoleonic Wars. He successfully prosecuted many wars on his quest to conquer the whole of Europe, many territories were already annexed but ridiculously, Emperor Napoleon fell to British and Prussian Army at Waterloo in Belgium. Napoleon met his Waterloo at Waterloo and that marked the end of his demystification. Britain has not been conquered till today, even Adolf Hitler failed. Now Imagine another aspect of life where someone has done what a Powerful Napoleon couldn’t do?.
Figuratively, Late Abiola Ajimobi was the Napoleon of the story, Osun State Government was the British Army, LAUTECH was the Europe while Ogbomoso was Waterloo, and Governor Seyi Makinde is that decisive messiah that did what Napoleon (Ajimobi) couldn’t do.
Visibly during his reign, Abiola Ajimobi assumed the status of unquestionable Emperor, he declared himself as the one and only Constituted Authority in Oyo State, he even broke the unbroken record of Second Term in Office, he could get anything and anywhere in the State without hurdle, his followers turned him to a demigod, but in all these powers, HE COULDN’T SAVE LAUTECH FROM DESTRUCTION.
What Late Abiola Ajimobi could not do for his infamous 8 years, Governor Seyi Makinde did it in just one year and few months. GSM has indeed done what Napoleon couldn’t do. Lautech Community will forever be grateful for this liberation.
Ogunwoye Samson Gbemiga
(Ogunsamson)
Ogbomoso,
ogunwoyesamson@gmail.com
