In the book of Genesis, Rebekah, desiring Jacob to receive Isaac’s blessing, disguised him with goatskins so his hands would feel hairy like Esau’s.
Isaac, blind and old, famously declared, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”
This biblical tale of deception and strategic maneuvering finds a striking echo in the current crisis rocking the Accord party in Oyo State.
The cacophony of conflicting claims from Oriyomi Hamzat, a popular broadcaster and owner of Agidigbo FM, and Hon. Kunle Busari, alias GooduGoodu, over Accord’s governorship primary victory, is not merely an internal party squabble.
It is, as political observers suggest, a meticulously orchestrated symphony by Governor Seyi Makinde. The voice we hear is that of Accord’s National Secretary endorsing GooduGoodu, and the Deputy National Secretary backing Hamsat.
Yet, the hands pulling the strings, shaping the narrative and outcomes, are unmistakably those of Governor Makinde according to the political watchers.
Hamzat, once a loyalist and even rumored beneficiary of Makinde’s patronage for his Agidigbo FM, became estranged before a 2024 stampede scandal that saw him prosecuted by the state.
Now, his ambition to govern appears to be in Makinde’s crosshairs. GooduGoodu, a known associate and beneficiary of the current administration, emerges as the “Esau” in this political drama – the seemingly authentic face of Accord’s aspirations, yet potentially a proxy for Makinde’s “Omituntun 3.0″ agenda.
The goal? To frustrate Hamzat’s ambition and solidify Makinde’s power by installing his chosen successor.
This is because, to some extent, Hamzat is believed to control a fair share of the grassroots support in the region. This influence could work as a kind of spoiler to Makinde’s plan by potentially dividing the Ibadan votes, thereby impacting the overall election outcome.”
Even the fleeting governorship declaration of Fatai Owoseni, Makinde’s former Security Adviser, under Accord, before his swift withdrawal, feels like another strategic thread woven into this intricate tapestry.
The Accord crisis is a masterclass in political subterfuge, where the outward appearance of an internal party struggle belies the deeper, calculated machinations of a powerful figure.
The voices may be those of Accord’s aspirants and officials, but the strategic, guiding “Hands of Esau” belong to Governor Makinde, subtly yet firmly directing the party’s fate.
•Dare Adeniran, the Publisher of TrendscopeNews, writes
plausible08@gmail.com
