A public-spirited lawyer, Wale Ojo-Lanre, Esq., is heading to court this morning to seek a perpetual injunction restraining the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, from procuring and handing over operational vehicles to security agencies in the state.
Ojo-Lanre, who appeared visibly disturbed by the array of newly procured vehicles, wondered why a governor would consider strengthening the mobility and operational capacity of security agencies a priority.
“Look at all these vehicles! Can you count them? What is the meaning of this?” he queried, wondering why security agencies should have operational vehicles to respond quickly to distress calls, patrol highways and border communities, and pursue kidnappers and other criminals.
“Who is pushing Governor Oyebanji? What exactly is wrong with BAO? Is this what a governor should be spending money on?” Ojo-Lanre asked.
According to him, there are surely more “important” things to do with government money. Why not organise some wild parties and make sure the champagne never stops flowing? Why not encourage political office holders to marry more wives and ask the government to pick up the wedding bills? Why not embark on endless jamborees where everybody dances, eats, collects souvenirs and goes home happy?
Why waste precious money buying operational vehicles for people who will use them to chase kidnappers, patrol highways, secure communities and respond to emergencies?
“Haba, BAO! What kind of priority is that? After all, who needs security when we can have parties?” the lawyer asked.
Ojo-Lanre said what particularly baffled him was that Governor Oyebanji would formally hand over the vehicles to the heads of security agencies at the Osuntokun Pavilion, Government House Grounds, Ado-Ekiti, that day.
However, the proposed legal action took a dramatic turn shortly after the lawyer made these submissions.
Ojo-Lanre suddenly remembered his recent experience at the Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos, where Ekiti showcased its tourism offerings. Visitors admired Ikogosi Warm Springs, Arinta Waterfalls, Ekiti’s mountains, culture, festivals, cuisine and heritage. But amid all the admiration, one important question kept confronting him: “How safe is Ekiti?”
That recollection immediately created a serious problem for the proposed lawsuit.
The lawyer realised that a tourism destination cannot be successfully marketed on attractions alone. A beautiful waterfall becomes difficult to sell if tourists are frightened of the journey to it. A magnificent resort cannot realise its potential if prospective guests are worried about their safety. Tour operators want confidence that their clients can move around safely, while investors naturally consider the security of their investments, workers and customers before committing resources to a destination.
Then came the most damaging discovery for Ojo-Lanre’s proposed case: the very vehicles he was preparing to challenge in court could strengthen patrols, improve mobility, support faster responses to emergencies and increase the operational reach of security personnel.
Worse still for his case, the vehicles could help build confidence among tourists, travellers, visitors and investors.
At that point, the case began collapsing even before it reached the courthouse.
The public-spirited lawyer was therefore forced to reconsider his proposed litigation. The journey to court was abandoned, and the proposed perpetual injunction suffered what Ojo-Lanre described as a “fatal legal accident.”
The case was withdrawn before filing.
The lawyer has now reached an entirely different conclusion: the procurement of operational vehicles for security agencies is not merely an investment in security infrastructure; it is also an investment in tourism and a powerful confidence-building measure for tourists, travellers, visitors and investors.
Consequently, as you are reading this, Wale Ojo-Lanre, Esq., has directed his “legal team” to forget the courthouse and proceed straight to the Osuntokun Pavilion, Government House Grounds, Ado-Ekiti, to participate in this epoch-making security-tourism event at 10:00 a.m.
You, too, can be part of it.
See you at the Osuntokun Pavilion.
And please, smile now.
Hahahahaha!
