I left the meeting venue, headed to the Ikorodu Garage to board a bus. I could not drive to my destination because my wife needed to take our son back to his school with our only car; so, I felt I would be okay with a public bus. While I waited for a bus (this was still around 2pm), some voices in an ivory-coloured Lexus Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) drew my attention by calling, “My SLG”, in reference to my recently served appointment as the Secretary, Ikorodu Local Government. Where I stood , I had responded to many pleasantries, and since I often meet people whom I do not personally know, but who know me very well, I immediately felt they had to be people who know me very well.
Headed in the Lagos direction, they offered me a lift. Unsuspectingly, I had obliged and joined a lone lady at the back seat. There were three persons in the car: the lady, while the driver with another young man was at the front of the vehicle. No suspicions on my part, I was comfortable with the kind gesture from fellow citizens.
However, my simple trust in their kind gesture of a ride out of Ikorodu turned out to be near-fatal. What I can recall is that before I could even settle down, the lady stretched her hands towards my face. That was all I saw. The next scene was an unknown place, where I gained consciousness, but was blind-folded. It was then and there I understood that I had been abducted for reasons connected with the yet-to-be-fixed polls for chairmanship of local governments in Lagos State. Three men who were masked made me understand that, unless I renounced my interest in the polls, they would do the ultimate: kill me!
I was starved, left in solitary confinement for days with just a meal of Coke with bread. My surprise, however, was that they accorded me respect when they saw the traditional Ifa beads on my wrist. But a warning came sternly from them that I bury any aspiration to contest.
I would like to urge all political actors within Ikorodu to steer clear of desperation and paranoia for power. For me, I can NEVER be desperate for power, which belongs to the people. My passion for the service of Ikorodu and her people must not be misconstrued for desperation for power. I thank the state leadershio Apex political leadership of Ikorodu, my relations, religious bodies, party loyalists, royal and traditional figures, friends and many others, who showed concerns and love for me during my ordeal. I also thank the State Director of the State Security Service, officers of Ikorodu Divisional Police, for their support and tracking; in fact, they have promised to keep tracking the abductors, who must face justice.
E se pupo. Thanks so much.
