Who thinks that rice isn’t important? Twenty bags of rice ignited the roof of Osun’s Ministry of Youth Affairs. The building has been demolished totally. Firefighters arrived at the scene late. They were successful in putting out the fire, but the harm had already been done. Although there were no fatalities, there was property damage. We keep thanking God.
Why are you thanking God after the awful incident? Ayinla, a seemingly depressed aide to a commissioner of youth affairs in another state who supervises a tech. training for 50 school girls, all state-sponsored, cost N20 million, which is somewhat less than the N3 million handed to a youth group in Osun from the N24 million approved for a night, sorry, day party.
“We must give thanks to God in all situations,” I replied calmly. Moreover, misfortunes differ. They do not carry the same weight. They weigh differently. My father once informed me that if two unpleasant things occur, one will be senior and the other junior. The rice crisis is a complete misfortune, but it is not worse than the circumstances that created the crisis in the midst of misfortunes.
How did fire destroy the entire building? A disturbed Ayinla inquired. “You are too inquisitive,” I clapped back. He sent a laughing emoji and requested me not to be offended since he is duly interested in the business of Osun youths. Are you the governor or commissioner that would be interested in the business of Osun youth? I responded with a question. “Eyewitnesses said the entire building got razed while officials of the ministry were chasing a white rat,” I eventually told him.
Whoa? Concerned, Ayinla asked further, “A white rat burned down the entire Ministry of Youth Affairs building.” Sure. “That’s what I heard,” I said in response. Ki ni eku se? Ayinla re-asked.
According to reports, a larger cat in the establishment gave 20 bags of rice to a white rat, and a smaller cat became upset that the larger cat had not given the white rat the bags through him. The smaller cat incited additional rats to rebel against both the white rat and the larger cat. There were more white rats in the Ministry as a result of an attempt to establish authority or designate a territory. The Ministry’s building was eventually set on fire when the white rat retaliated. I meticulously described the circumstances to Ayinla.
May I intervene? He inquired further. How? I asked. “I will invite all warring parties to an elaborate meeting, buy an additional ten (10) bags of rice for the aggrieved party, and appeal for peaceful co-existence,” Ayinla said in his reply. Why didn’t the smaller cat in command of the demolished structure settle the dispute diplomatically? This question follows Ayinla’s answer.
I sent seven laughing emojis along with a simple sentence: when you go to the Ministry of Youths, you drop not carry; instead, they collect the Isakole. Haba, that is a severe allegation. “I hope you have evidence to back up your allegation,” he muttered. Evidence? I asked. “I lost my mother 25 years ago,” I explained. What is the link between evidence and losing your mother? Ayinla inquired.
Do you want me to be recorded while prostrating for the inferior cat, or do you want police officers to record me while I’m in detention and send it to politicians for social media abuse? I reacted aggressively toward Ayinla. “The police cannot stoop so low. They cannot capture suspects in custody and provide videos to politicians for social media use.” Ayinla clapped back. “Come to Osun or explore Facebook sites thoroughly. You will see footage or photos of suspects in police custody posted on social media by politicians,” I responded.
“So there is no evidence that they drop percentages, not collect from the Ministry of Youths; rather, they (youths) pay tributes or tax (Isakole),” Ayinla replied. “I only re-echoed the allegations of the white rat against the smaller cat,” I commented. According to the white rat, the smaller cat takes #500,000 in tributes (Isakole) from any public finances in the range of (#1.5m to #3.5m), N1.5m from any public funds in the range of (N5m to #10m), and #7m from #20m.
What? “There’s money in the Osun Ministry of Youth Affairs,” he said with surprise. But you’re also a public official; why did you marvel? I inquired. We don’t have access to larger money in our state. The tech training I’m currently managing is worth N20 million, and it took us months to get paid, and everyone, including partners, is keeping track of the money, he said. What is the current situation of things? A disturbed Ayinla inquired. “The Osun State Government has terminated engagements with the group led by the white rat. They said the group’s certificate was revoked by the Federal Ministry of Youths last year. “They also formed a three-person committee to investigate the ‘rice’ crisis,” I explained.
Did the same group receive 20 bags of rice from the state government for New Year’s celebrations? How come they only recently discovered that the group’s certificate was withdrawn? So, even if there were no rice problems, would the group continue to function? Why did they provide them with 20 bags of grains despite the Federal Government’s removal of the certificate? Ayinla asked me four questions repeatedly.
“Haba! Ayinla, I have some questions. I do not know. I do not work at the Ministry of Youths. Leave me alone. I did not collect any Kongos, bags, or Molus of rice. I didn’t eat rice. This is 2026. Allow me to function properly, I fired back. “Don’t be angry, he apologized.
“I am only concerned with the business of youths in Osun State,” he apologized again. But where’s the smaller cat? Has he been suspended? Will he remain in office while they investigate him for allegedly collecting tributes (Isakole)? He asked again who is now in charge of the Ministry of Rice, or Youth Affairs?
“He won’t be suspended. “He cannot be suspended,” I replied. Why? Ayinla inquired. He did not kill anyone. He only collected bribes, sorry isakoles. Do you suspend public officials who accept percentages of public funding intended for specific programs or projects in your state? Do you suspend public authorities for pitting people against one another over the rice crisis? In Osun, it is referred to as isakole rather than bribe or kickback. Public officials have the right to collect tributes (Isakole) over government funds they are supposed to monitor, I educated the ignorant and inquisitive Ayinla.
“When a commissioner was accused of collecting bribes, or isakole as you called it, my governor suspended him until an investigation revealed otherwise. We suspend commissioners or special advisers who are unable to govern their ministries effectively and allow others to undermine Mr. Governor’s dignity and integrity.” Ayinla responded.
“That is your state, governor. We do not suspend public officials due to the rice crisis or bribes, sorry isakoles. Your governor is overly tough. He has a strict discipline policy. He is wicked. He is quite harsh. Haba, suspending public officials until the inquiry into suspicions of ordinary bribery, kickbacks, or isakole is completed. “That will be too harsh.”
“Our governor is too caring, merciful, gentle, and cool-hearted. He will never suspend the smaller cat. In fact, the smaller cat will be the head of the committee to investigate the rice crisis and others. The committee will sit in his office. The committee will write the white paper in his office. The smaller cat will sign the white paper and recommend solutions for Mr. Governor. For us in Osun, the rice crisis and Isakole are not a big deal.” I submitted.
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