By Tayo Douglas, Ph.D

My Dear Árè-Show,

Re: Time to Take a Deep Reflection is Now

Greetings.

A. Introduction
Each time I go through the Holy Bible, one of the verses which has always struck my subconscious mind is Chapter 1 verse 2 of the Book of Ecclesiastes.

This passage is ever reminding us everyday that no matter what our material acquisitions, achievements and even covetousness are in life, all are vanities.

If we know this as a fact, why then are we Human Beings jostling over what the Holy Writ has taken to be ephemeral and mundane ?

Several reasons may have informed my open Letter to you but videlicet, the followings are what I can readily recall at the moment:

1. The fact that you and your Benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, are no longer in the same boat is a matter known to the public.
2. Way back in the 60s and up to the early 70s, we were both residents of Ikare Town. Even though all of us are non natives of this very town, we cannot in any sense deny that whatever we have since become today can’t be detached from the sound upbringing and good neighbourliness which Ikare Town has afforded our youth in those glorious years. We are not alone but also several others who are too numerous to mention.

3. Nobody will have your type in a family and wish him dead or watch him coming to a perilous and disastrous end. It is my sincere prayer that this will never be your portion in life.

If the foregoing facts are points to ponder on, then I can state wholeheartedly that I’m in a terra firma giving you my piece of mind. .

B. Issues at Stake

Whatsoever is the cause of fallout between you and your erstwhile boss, Asiwaju, is not as important as how you have handled the crisis.

The questions which every well-meaning Nigerian especially Yorubas keep asking, for crying out loud, are simply as follow:
1. Who is the God-sent-Angel whom God has used to fulfil your destiny as a Commissioner in a strange land ?

For good eight (8) years, you were made a commissioner in Lagos State and you couldn’t have been one without the sheer benevolence and kind consideration of your erstwhile Boss, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

2. Who again is that God-sent Angel whom God has used to make you a Governor in Osun State ? It is on record that when you have finished serving as a commissioner in Lagos State, this same man went ahead in propping you to contest the governorship election in your Home State, Osun.

He reportedly spent a fortune on your election and when you were rigged out, he neither rested nor abandoned you to your fate. He trudged on and only heaven knows how much he would have spent to bring on a foreign expert, Adrian Forty, whose dexterity and expert evidence availed you at the Election Petition Tribunal ?

You became the governor and remained as such for 8 uninterrupted years before proceeding to the Federal Cabinet to serve as a Minister for another 8 years.
Going forward, can you simply take a deep reflection on all instances stated above and come up with any cogent or compellable reasons why it is this same Asiwaju Tinubu who has now become your arch-enemy as at today ?

Brother Soji, kindly think about the journey of your humble beginning and answer this question. Yorubas are never bereft of apposite words to describe this very unfortunate circumstance.

It is indeed the truth and they are very right whenever they say that; *Bí ore bá pé, ìran asiwèrè a maa gbàgbé* (no pun intended) and I pray your case will never turn out in that direction.

We all know the intrigues and treacherous activities going on in politics and in particular, among members of the same political party who are envious of your close relationship with Asiwaju. We can’t definitely rule out their own contributions to what had, in every sense of the word, led to the present quagmire. However, can we, in all honesty, state that you are a Stranger to the game of Throne and its antics ? May the day never come when I cannot look at anybody in the face to tell him or her the plain truth and nothing but the truth as I see it.

My dear Brother sir, I write with most sincere and greatest respect to you, that in every shape or form, you have not handled the crisis between you and your Asiwaju Tinubu with every care and caution deserved in the circumstance.

If you had issues with your Successor-in-Office, by whatever standards employed to gauge those issues or disagreements, you should have factored in the potential consequences on the relationship between Asiwaju and let go of everything because of him.

You should not have played into hands of your enemies who are not only envious of that long relationship but have also been working on what we call *”àjàtúká ni ti àgbaãrín” in our local parlance between your humble self and your Benefactor.

Yoraba say – “o rí ajá ní èhìn mi, o mú ajá nà. Bí o kò bá wá rí ajá ní èhìn mi wá n’ko, sebí o maã kúkú na èmi naã ní ojó kan kó nìyen.” ?*

When you refrain from doing certain things which you are more than capable of doing, you are not operating from the angle of fear or timidity. It is your Omoluabi honour which you have protected.

Your Critics and hangers-on may not know this fact.

C. What Then is the Way Forward ?

There is nothing new under the sun or surface of the Earth and the more reasons Yoruba would say – “a kò rí irú eléyí rí n’se ni a fi n’dérù ba olórò.”

Fast forward, if I were to give you my truthful advise, I will then proceed to state as follow:
1. You will now proceed immediately after you might have read this Letter to your inner recesses and kneel down before the Almighty God and ask Him for His everlasting forgiveness.

After that, you shall without further delay proceed to issue out a Public Statement asking Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to please forgive you for whatever you might have done to him.

Those who want “Your Royal Highness Aregbesola” to miss Aljanah after all these *àf’owó bà f’iílè ilé Aiye* may be saying asking Asiwaju for forgiveness can never be an option.

Please don’t ever listen to them because in the first instance they have never been your sincere Friends and well wishers. These are hangers-on and fair weather friends who are still feeding fat on the crumbs falling from your political table.

The moment there is paucity, it is then you will know who they are.

Whatever might seems a “foolish step” which you are to take today and as advised on this matter are taken for the sake of your wife and children only and not for any day dreamers.

It shall be well with you and your Family.

2. You are to proceed immediately and announce your total and everlasting withdrawal from both partisan, active or inactive politics. Thank goodness, you are by every standard in the Nigeria context, a stupendously rich man.

Right from Babangida days in power and till now, nobody has ever occupied the three Offices which were consecutively occupied by you and remained a Pauper.

I do not envy you at all. My prayer is that you will live long to enjoy the “fruit of your labour” and see your children’s children in good health and peace of mind.

You have nothing to loose in life again and that is the gospel truth. .
.
D. Conclusion

You may either take my message to you in good faith and act accordingly and you may not but let it be on record that someone, somewhere has tried his possible best to tell you *THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH and nothing BUT THE TRUTH.*

Thank you and God bless.

Sincerely Yours,

*Dr. Tayo Douglas, Esq; Ph.D*
*11th February, 2026*

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