Weeks after the celebration of this year edition of the Twins Festival in Igboora, intrigues left behind by the event is yet to fade off. According to an eye witness, there was a tensed drama between a community Leader and another leader who is a political loyalist (name withheld) to, Hon. Muraina Ajibola Saubana the member representing ibarapa central/north federal House of Representatives Abuja, during the last Twins festival held in Igboora. Arguments began when one of the staunch followers of Hon. Muraina was trying to position the ceremonial banner produced by the honorable at the venue. The community leader asked Muraina’s follower (who also double as a chief among the traditional council) not to hang the banner because it contains the All Progressives Congress party logo. He attached his claim to the fact that they would not want to do anything that will eventually turn the event to a political gathering.
It was learnt that, banners and posters of Peoples Democratic Party’s candidates have flooded the venue even before the commencement of the historical event. Some of the candidates whose posters, banners and symbols were auspiciously seen at the occasion were: John Tegbe and Bayo Adepoju contesting under the PDP for senate and rep respectively. Muraina’s follower who noticed this insisted on hanging the earlier rejected banner to allow equal treatment. In not only a tensed but swift reaction to this claim, a political and community leader who is also a die-hard leader of Dr Bayo Adepoju group began to rain abuses and curses on his fellow community leader. The drama which ensued between them for minutes almost caused open clashes at the event, if not for prompt intervention of the royal fathers and other co-organizers of the event. Muraina’s follower who was once a Chief of Staff of the local government eventually succumbed to let peace reign.
However, another dramatic scene occurred when Hon. Muraina Ajibola arrived at the event after Governor Seyi makinde and his allies had been seated. Makinde who was welcomed into the venue by his deputy chief of staff Hon. Ademola Ojo, Dr Sola Ayandele, Wasiu Olatunbosun ( commissioner for culture and tourism and) and others was seen looking sternly attracted to the crowd of people escorting Miuraina to the canopy where the leaders were seated. While Muraina was greeting the traditional leaders and guests on seats, he attempted to greet Seyi Makinde who has been engaging in a long-term tussle with him before he left the PDP, to clinch the APC ticket for the House of Representatives. Dramatically, one of the security aide attached to the governor openly blocked the honorable from moving near his boss. On sighting this, Muraina mildly doff his cap and waved to greet the governor and his entourage from meters away before proceeding to his seat.
In what seems to be a payback time, when his Excellency mounted the stage to deliver his speech, he did not hesitate to mentioned names of local government chairman, his party’s rep candidate and others, Seyi intentionally ignored recognizing Muraina and started chanting the PDP’s slogans to attract encomiums. Disappointedly, only a few people responded to the governor’s gesture. This might be unconnected with the fact that the people of the Ibarapa are not happy with the governor, having neglected the region in terms extension of dividends of democracy. Having noticed the body language of the crowd, makinde quickly round up his speech by announcing that he will begin his campaign from ibarapa central in a couple of weeks from now. He also promised them that contractors will begin work on the road from Ido to Eruwa, and that of Igboora to Iganna in two weeks’ time. Despite this promise, the contractors are yet to arrive up till the time of compiling this news. Before Makinde will round up his speech, Muraina bid the organizers of the event goodbye and left the event with his followers and well-wishers.
As gathered from an eye witness, hardly had Muraina left the venue, the canopies became empty, seeing large numbers of people were seen leaving the venue. An eye witness said people left the venue after Muraina left because they suspected that thugs might take over the event, having observed the body language of the day. The event was the first public gathering where the governor and his one-time staunch leader will come in contact since the battle between them started almost two years ago. Having observed the shameful atmosphere, the governor later went alongside his trusted team to have a closed door meeting in the country home of Dr Sola Ayandele in Idere. Details of their meeting was kept off from the public.
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