The attention of Ogbomoso Recreation Club,(ORC)
was sometimes ago drawn to a press statement issued by one Dauda Kolawole in
which Mr. Akin Oke, the Chairman of All Progressives Alliance,(APC) in Oyo
State was copiously quoted as passing scathing and uncouth comments about the
Club. It is recalled that shortly after the annual election of officers of the
Club when Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala was returned as Chairman the APC issued a
press statement credited to Mr Oke in which the former Governor was derided as'
presiding over bottles of beer and women of easy virtues'
The Club did not react at that time because it gave Mr. Oke the benefit of doubt that he could not have deliberately disparaged the reputation of Ogbomoso Recreation Club. Nevertheless, we wondered why an Ogbomoso indigene and a member of the Club for that matter would pass such sinister remarks about his Club. We even felt at that time that Mr. Oke must have been caught in the web of some overzealous aides who write their scripts without due consultation with their principals. We however expected Mr Oke to have noted that the rampaging publicists in his party had caused a collateral damage to the reputation of his own Club in the course of carrying out their chores. If he was indeed not party to their mud-slinging, he ought to have called their attention to the embarrassment that they had caused him.
However, we were amazed that because the earlier unprovoked attack on our Club by Mr. Oke was left unattended to, the same person has found it convenient to revisit the issue and restate his earlier comments that the Club is all about drinking beer and hosting women of easy virtues. The same hack writers have exhumed their attack on the Club in their attempt to lynch another Ogbomoso illustrious son, Senator Ayoade Adeseun for reason of his decamping from APC to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. We think that the correlation being drawn on this occasion between voluntary decision of a politician to change his party affiliation and the credibility of our Club is far-fetched, unreasonable and untenable. Does Oke know that Senator Ayoade Adeseun is not even a card carrying member of the Club? So, what is all the fuss about?
The Club did not react at that time because it gave Mr. Oke the benefit of doubt that he could not have deliberately disparaged the reputation of Ogbomoso Recreation Club. Nevertheless, we wondered why an Ogbomoso indigene and a member of the Club for that matter would pass such sinister remarks about his Club. We even felt at that time that Mr. Oke must have been caught in the web of some overzealous aides who write their scripts without due consultation with their principals. We however expected Mr Oke to have noted that the rampaging publicists in his party had caused a collateral damage to the reputation of his own Club in the course of carrying out their chores. If he was indeed not party to their mud-slinging, he ought to have called their attention to the embarrassment that they had caused him.
However, we were amazed that because the earlier unprovoked attack on our Club by Mr. Oke was left unattended to, the same person has found it convenient to revisit the issue and restate his earlier comments that the Club is all about drinking beer and hosting women of easy virtues. The same hack writers have exhumed their attack on the Club in their attempt to lynch another Ogbomoso illustrious son, Senator Ayoade Adeseun for reason of his decamping from APC to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. We think that the correlation being drawn on this occasion between voluntary decision of a politician to change his party affiliation and the credibility of our Club is far-fetched, unreasonable and untenable. Does Oke know that Senator Ayoade Adeseun is not even a card carrying member of the Club? So, what is all the fuss about?
We owe it a duty to correct the abysmally wrong impression being created by Mr. Oke about Ogbomoso Recreation Club. For the records, ORC is in the class of foremost recreation clubs in Nigeria. It was envisioned by illustrious sons and daughters of Ogbomoso and draws its membership from across the country irrespective of race, sex, religious or political affiliations.The Soun of Ogbomoso is the Grand Patron while the Onpetu of Ijeru, the Alajaawa of Ajaawa, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon ,the Onikoyi of Ikoyi and the Aresa of Iresa ,all foremost traditional rulers in Oyo State from Ogbomoso Zone are patrons. Chief Sunday Adewusi, a former Inspector-General of Police is the Chairman, Board of Trustees while distinguished personalities like Gen. Oladapo Popoola, a former governor of Oyo and Ogun States; Chief L.A.Gbadamosi, a retired bank executive and industrialist; Prince Abidoye Ayoola (NEGRIS) and other prominent indigenes are members of the Board of Trustees. These are people who have given a good account of themselves in various fields of human endeavours and cannot be said to be associated with the Club on account of beer drinking and sharing the same stable with women of easy virtues.
Mr. Oke can play his politics of whatever description like any member. That is their inalienable right. However, we need to emphasise that the Club is not a platform for promoting any political interest and therefore we advise that the name of the prestigious ORC should be insulated from the mud splatters that had characterized the political landscape of Oyo State.
Meanwhile, Ogbomoso Recreation Club demands an unreserved apology from Mr Oke for his unguarded utterances against the Club and a firm promise by him that he will refrain from carrying on such anti-Club activity. He should expect an official communication from the Secretariat of the Club on this matter.
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