YORUBA RONU OOO: People And Family Are Usually The Enemies Of Their Own, By Rotimi Makinde

History has taught us a painful lesson that we refuse to learn.

The greatest enemies of Jesus Christ were not Romans from far away; they were his own kinsmen who witnessed his miracles, ate with him, listened to his preaching, saw him raise the dead and heal the sick. Yet they betrayed him, castigated him and crucified him. But today, after over two thousand years, his memory lives forever.

The greatest enemies of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) were not strangers. They were his own family in Quraish who knew his honesty, who called him Al-Amin, who witnessed his wonderful character. Yet they fought him, persecuted him and wanted him dead. But today, his name is mentioned with peace in every corner of the world.

That is the irony of life. The people closest to you are often the first to pull you down.The one from your home, your compound, maternal or paternal and the very one you sent money to last are the ones planning your downfall.

What is happening to our father, our pathfinder, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is worrisome and calls for deep sober reflection for every true Yoruba son. People are just too forgetful.

Look very well. Where are the strongest stones being thrown from? They are not from the North. They are not from the East. The loudest voices seeking to pull him down, to embarrass his government, to discredit his reforms, are coming from the South West block. And painfully, majorly from those he helped, those he lifted, those who enjoyed his influence, his generosity, his structure, his money and his political platform to become something in life.

Asiwaju is the man who built people from nothing to something. He built governors, built ministers, built senators,built Members of the reps, built business giants, built political families. Yet today, some of those same beneficiaries are now the chief engineers of “pull him down” syndicate. They have forgotten yesterday. That is exactly the irony of life when it comes to human beings and their untoward reactions towards one another.

Yoruba elders say: The one whose hands you create becomes your enemy. Is this our culture? Is this who we are?

We see the same spirit playing out in Osun State . Alh Oyetola the lifted ones who now feels entitled.

A man who served this state with humility, with financial discipline, with fear of God. He lifted many people who had nothing. He gave political life to people who were almost going into oblivion and forgotten. He opened doors for many families, gave tickets to newcomers, gave appointments to those who had no hope.

But today, the same people he elevated are the ones leading the chorus of abuse against him, mocking after the misfortune of August 15, 2026.They sabotaged the election. They are the ones writing letters and sending audio to Abuja to blame him. They are the ones mocking him. They forget that in 2018, it was not their power alone that gave us victory; it was a coalition built on his calm leadership and his alliance building that God used to lift everyone. How quickly people forget their helper?

This is the same pull-him-down syndrome that is killing Yoruba land.

I feel it personally more than anyone. My home is the battle field. I want the best for my community and that’s my crime.

My ideology has always been that Ile-Ife ly dear community must make friends and support other towns to expect reciprocation. I have always preached unity, sacrifice and bridge building to get an Ife-born to rule Osun State. I never called my own people sheep Anything negative about me they spread, they keep trying to clash me with my people, the same they people they pulled out all cameras of the world for a simple gift. I am not a bastard son of Ile-Ife. I love my source.

But where is my greatest attack even coming from? Not from Osogbo, not from Ede, not from Iwo Ilesha or Modakeke who loves me dearly . My greatest pull-him-down battle is coming from my own home. From my own Ife. People who I have supported, people who I have lifted, people who witnessed my sacrifices for Ife are the ones editing and doctored my very old private lamentation, sponsoring false and unrelated videos, trying to clash me with my leader and with my own community.

Just like Jesus and Mohammed (SAW), just like Asiwaju and Alhaji Oyetola, my own people are my own enemies.

Why are we like this? Why do we celebrate the downfall of our own people. Why are we not approaching issues and play politics with intellectualism, persuasion and why all these intimidation and pull him down syndrome.

Yoruba Ronu O! If we continue to pull down those who lift us, who will lift us tomorrow? If we kill our leaders with our own hands, who will defend us when the outsiders come?

We need to go back to our Omoluabi culture. A culture of gratitude. A culture of loyalty. A culture that says, even if you disagree with your helper, you don’t destroy him.

President Tinubu will succeed despite them. Oyetola’s good name will outlive his mockers. And my love for Ile-Ife will never die, no matter how much my own people try to pull me down.

But Yoruba must think deeply. Because history is watching us.

Hon. Rotimi Makinde.
Former Member, House of Representatives
Ile-Ife