Preamble:
I am Olaitan Oyin Zubair, Igbaja and a reporter by training. I was in politics between 1978-84 n 1991-3. I had always being involved in community assignments both at home,Igbomina Kwara South levels. I opted out of politics to face my publication, 'Rural News' in 1993. I love politics of manifestoes or ideology though I am liberal. I hate hero worshipping yet I adore Zik, Awolowo and Sardauna. Tai Solarin, Gani Fawehinmi and Fela Anikulapo are my ideals and friends. In fact I related closely with Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) from 1982 till his death. I was the Liasion Officer between him and Adamu Atta in those dark days....

In the present disposition, I have sympathy for ACN until it sold out to Bukola Saraki under the APC banner. Abdulfattah Ahmed, the incumbent Governor of Kwara state is my kinsman and a close friend though I am his senior. I refused to align with him because he failed to honour a pledge to my community on the rehabilitation of our Hospital.

I am critical of Saraki (ABS) administration because it was elitist and wasteful. I hold the view too that ABS brought in Abdulfattah Ahmed among other reasons to cover his supposed sins. However, Ahmed is qualified in all ramifications to steer the ship of Kwara state nay, this country under an atmosphere devoid of godfatherism.

Igbomina: I am always proud of belonging to this class of people because of our entrepreneurship, considerations for others, honesty and sincerity of purpose. We love communal work. It is however sad that we remain apolitical to date. No wonder therefore that we can not stand on our own politically.

This discourse-town halls meetings came up at a discussion between the Chief Political Strategist to Kwara State Governor, Hajj Abdilraheem Adedoyin and my humble self during a chat on a recent Lagos outing of Gov Ahmed with Kwarans. I had challenged him on a topical issue, which he advised me to raise at proposed Town Halls meetings. I continued to press for these meetings. Along the line a supposed friend came in to challenge me on why I should call and attend such meetings. He thought with such calls and attendance of the meeting, I am drifting. He even went wild to describe me as an 'Ile Loke goer'! I was mad with him and blocked him. Me at Ile Loke? To do what? Be that as it may.

Town Halls Meetings:
I have in the past had the privilege to organise and attend such meetings The principle of a town hall meetings by a government is to allow free atmosphere of interactions between the governed and the leaders. It is devoid of protocol and camouflaging. Attendance is also free. On same pedestal is, ' the familiarisation or meet the people tour' by leader of a government on assuming office. It is therefore not a strange thing for Ahmed's administration to embark on any of these systems. Yes, the timing may be awkward but it is desirable. One thing we should not gloss over is the fact that Ahmed administration is a continuity of a bastardised system of governance where innovation was not allowed and all started and ended on the table of the Chief Executive Officer i.e. the Governor.

Under ABS I learnt, a Commissioner controls no vote or execute projects! All is done from his table. No input from government functionaries, traditional rulers or community leaders etc... but we consume his ideas or wishes only.

Perhaps, this accounted for perceived white elephant projects such as Aviation College, Cargo Terminal etc executed by Saraki's administration at the expense of people's needs. Were we not eye witnesses to the importation of special breed cattle brought from South Africa to the state and transported in fully air-conditioned vans to Shonga Farms, where our top royal fathers stood to welcome these animals? Where are these cows today? This is part of the continuity of madness amongst others that Ahmed inherited and maybe want to cause adjustments when the fortunes of his godfather and the government he inherited appear to be dwindling.

It is unfortunate however that the situation went this bad before a solution is preferred i.e trying to find out where they got it wrong. Should ABS share all the blame? I don't think so. He has people who were/are close to him either as friends, advisers or workers. What were their contributions to put things right? Personally, I see ABS as arrogant. But I have people telling me that he is not. Some stories were told on how he was misled or ill-advised on some issues. That to me portrays the limitations of his leadership qualities.

I have said much about justifications for the Town Halls Meetings in the face of deflections and dwindling goodwill both to Oga ABS and APC govt in Kwara state. I also want to see Ekiti saga as a factor for convening the meetings. 'Bi iku ba n pa ojugba e bi, ara a ma ri ni' Convening these meetings therefore can be justified.

Achievements thus far: To be continued .