Mowe — At the Airport Hotel Ikeja, the venue of the birthday lecture in honour of Barrister Bamidele Aturu came an eruption of jubilation on Monday the 26th of October 2009 when the news came that the one-time most powerful politician and power broker in the south-west, Olabode George, had been jailed over N85billion contracts scam in the Nigerian Ports Authority, where he was chairman of the board.

Chief Ibiyinka Olabode George is not a neophyte in Nigeria political terrain. In fact one of his boys, Mr.Muyiwa Collins, describes him as a political juggernaut. What that means I don't know. No doubt, he has been around the corridors of power for some time. He is a man that enjoyed power, used power and, it seemed, was intoxicated by it. Excuses have been made for his military background for his autocratic disposition. In the Lagos PDP where he held sway until his recent crash, you both believed and buried your thought under his leadership and policies, or you were out. No compromise. Really George was an emperor, he ruled the party in Lagos state like conquered land.

It would be necessary to remind ourselves of his stewardship when he was the Military Administrator of the old Ondo state in the mid '80s before some sycophants would start shedding crocodile tears over his present ordeal. He left an indelible but painful mark on the sands of history in this state. Between 1979 and 1983, the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria government led by Chief Micheal Adekunle Ajasin of blessed memory, who had only a car when he became the governor and left with none, had selflessly laboured and established many manufacturing companies to boost economic fortunes of the state. These include the Okitipupa Oil palm industry Okitipupa; Oluwa Glass industry Igbokoda; Ondo state ceramic industry Ifon; Cocoa processing industry Ile-Oluji; and the NIROWI Plywood industry Ondo. These companies were set up purely on economic reasons based on simple economic theory of localisation as each of the company was cited in the area where the raw materials could easily be sourced and not on political expediency and of course they were all very viable and doing well. During his short tenure as the Military Administrator of the state, the government sold all these companies to cronies; this action led to eventual collapse of these industries and the total erosion of the monumental ideas and achievements of the late sage. The collective legacy of the state was cornered and bastardised by the Emperor.

Of a particular note was the Cocoa Processing Industry in Ile-Oluji. The company was at its best capacity producing cocoa powder, cocoa cake and cocoa butter all for export when the ownership was surreptitiously transfered. And on assuming the ownership of the company, the new owner went on a liquidation plans by using the company as a collateral to secure loans from fourteen different banks including the then Commerce Bank. That of course led to the collapse of Commerce Bank. When he could not meet up with the financial obligation of his creditors, the company was taken over by a receivership. It is a sad commentary and a bitter reflection that today all the companies are shadows of their old self. They are simply crippled and moribund. What a colossal waste?

85 billion naira is no small money. The average monthly federal allocation to Ekiti State for instance is about N3billion. N85billion translates to three years' allocation. Curiously and very disturbing was the presence of some groups of so-called party supporters that wore uniform in Ikeja High Court premises singing and dancing in the premises in his solidarity any time the matter came up. Where was the Omoluabi that the Yoruba cherish so much? This is shameful. Surprisingly, these aggressive, uninformed rented supporters looked ever ready to beat up anybody that expressed divergent views over the matter.

The landmark judgment really jolted both the accused and his ignoramus supporters who had converged on the High Court premises as early as 8.00am in their usual uniform in varying colours with gele and caps to match as if they were going for a wedding ceremony. This time mobilisation was extended to the neighbouring states of Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti. Drummers and band sets were hired. If the judgement had gone the other way, I reckon they would have danced from from Ikeja High Court to Luggard Avenue in Ikoyi. They were so sure of victory. What gave them the assurance and confidence, I do no know. I though they had a special preview of that judgement. Alas, the Big Bang! They didn't know what hit them. But we knew: it was the sound of good finally triumphing over evil. I know that our God does not sleep and I know that nemesis will catch up with all the rogues that have plundered the country and impoverished the people, one court judgement at a time.

Tomiwa wrote from Arigbawonwo, Mowe, Ogun State.