A Call for Unity and Understanding in the Face of Edephobia
President Tinubu’s words, “E lo f’okan bale,” echo a message of reassurance to the nation. In Ede, the people are at peace, and the victory is sweet. The town is set to celebrate, just as it will when the time comes for others to share in this joy.
However, there is a troubling tendency that has emerged from certain quarters, particularly from a retired professor who has exhibited what appears to be Edephobia. This individual is an academic senior with whom I have had a long-standing relationship, even sharing a neighborly bond within official premises. Despite my efforts to extend a gesture of goodwill, he chose to remain entrenched in his position.
The election may have concluded, but some voices seem determined to keep alive a narrative that is not only unfair to Governor Ademola Adeleke but also to the people of Ede. I had expected more from Professor Lakin Akintola and Biodun Komolafe, an Ijesha man whose commentary on The Nation was laced with sarcasm under the guise of historical curiosity.
Their criticisms seem to misread the significant developments happening across Osun State under Governor Adeleke’s leadership. It is important to note that while criticism of public officials is necessary and protected by the Constitution, it should not become a tool for vendetta or historical revisionism.
Both the professor and Komolafe would benefit from delving deeper into history, which teaches us to understand events in context rather than through the lens of current political disputes. What do they know about Governor Adeleke’s background?
His father, the late Raji Adeleke, former Balogun of Ede, was a Second Republic senator and a genuine labor unionist. His entry into politics was not driven by a quest for power but by a history of activism and community engagement. He earned the trust of his people before seeking the Senate, making his political journey rooted in public service.
Why should neighboring communities not support the Ede man? Few communities can match Ede’s welcoming nature. It has long been a place where people from diverse backgrounds have found a home. This is why Komolafe’s apparent hostility towards Ede is puzzling.
If Biodun approached the matter with the thoroughness expected of a historian, he might pause before attacking a community that has welcomed many Ijesha people for decades. Many Ijesha individuals have thrived in Ede, attending its schools, working there, and raising families. Some of us grew up alongside Ijesha friends without ever being taught to see them as outsiders.
It is worth noting that one of my closest friends, Ustaz Hassan, is an Ijesha man. Ede has always prioritized human fellowship over ethnic divisions.
Biodun, do you know that the first daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, was my schoolmate? She grew up in Ede and lived a happy life without experiencing the discrimination your narrative suggests. The saying, “Ajilala Oso, a ji f’ojo gbogbo dara bi egbin,” reflects the spirit of Ede. Please stop spreading bitterness for petty gains.
The truth in Ede is that some believe their ethnic group holds a monopoly on political intelligence and cultural sophistication. The 21st century, marked by globalization, should have taught us better.
Agidi adds no value to anyone. Biodun, please shed off yours.
As for the retired professor, I approach this with some restraint due to his age and experience. However, I believed he had better campaign options. Perhaps there were other ways to present his arguments. But the election is over, and the people have spoken.
Governance should be judged by tangible outcomes—roads, schools, hospitals, water, infrastructure, economic opportunities, accountability, and the quality of life of citizens—not by the governor’s birthplace.
There is also a historical lesson here. History reminds us of those comfortable wielding power but fearful of its consequences when it shifts hands. Some realities are now becoming clear to those who once thought political power would remain within a particular circle.
Komolafe and his peers must accept the democratic consequences of political change. For me, Governor Adeleke has no reason to dispense hemlock to those who may have planted it.
Consider the history of an Ijesha man who became governor of the old Oyo State. His administration made decisions concerning Ede that some found difficult to reconcile with their expectations. That history should invite reflection, not ethnic recrimination.
Komolafe also raised issues about historical projects in Ede. Little did he know that during the Bola Ige administration, the waterworks rehabilitation project in Ede was reportedly awarded to another Ijesha man. Adeleke established the University of Ilesha and appointed an Ijesha man as vice-chancellor. Must he do that?
Governor Adeleke is the governor of Osun State, not just Ede. His performance should be judged across the state. Successes should be commended, shortcomings criticized, and any questions about expenditure, policy, or priorities investigated by relevant institutions. Please, leave Ede out of the crossfire.
There is nothing inherently wrong with celebrating one’s heritage. Ede ni mi tokantokan, just as Komolafe should be proud of his Ijesha heritage. But pride becomes dangerous when it requires denigrating another community. Osun is too rich, culturally intertwined, and socially connected for such politics. That is the Osun we should defend.
So, who is afraid of Ede? Certainly not those who know its history. Not those who have experienced its hospitality. And certainly not those who understand that a town’s political influence does not diminish the dignity of others.
Ede will remain Ede: pretty, open, welcoming, historically significant, and confident enough not to apologize for producing one of its sons, who now holds the highest political office in Osun State.
The answer to Edephobia is not another phobia.
