In 2018, a video of one of the Nigerian lawmakers bathing with blood went viral and the entire internet was agog. It was appalling.
The video is a reflection of how desperate Nigerian politicians could be to get power, get power in Nigeria then unlimited money comes your way.
But…
Who is the lawmaker?
The man who was caught in the video clip is Honourable Timothy Owoeye, a Majority Leader at the State House of Assembly representing Ilesa East State Constituency, according to naijanews
He was born on August 24, 1972 and attended St Peter’s School, Ilesa from 1978 to 1985 for his primary education and proceeded to C.A.C Commercial High School from 1985 to 1991 where he completed his Senior School Certificate Examination.
Pidgin Blog Nigeria · Sep 15, 2018
Dem Don Catch Hon Timothy Owoeye of APC of Ilesa West State Constituency insidr Osun State House of Assembly (Majority Leader) wey dey bath inside market to take do juju.#PidginBlogNG
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Does the Constitution not guarantee right to peaceful assembly n freedom to practice faith ?.
Is traditional religion not the 3rd most practiced religion in Nigeria !2178:05 PM – Sep 15, 2018Twitter Ads info and privacy77 people are talking about this
He got a diploma in Local Government Studies at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife from 1995 to 1997 and proceeded to the University of Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University) for a degree in Political Science.
His political adventure
Two years after he bagged a Diploma in Local Government Studies, Nigeria returned to a civilian rule and Owoeye jumped into politics. In the end, he became a Councilor, Ward 10 of Ilesa East Local Government, which he held from 1999 to 2002.
While he’s hibernating, he came out powerfully during the 2007 general elections and won election as a member representing Ilesa East constituency. He was made the Minority Leader at the time.
He has been in the Osun State House of Assembly since then and rose to become a member of several committees in the lawmaking chamber: Business and Ethics, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Public Works and Transport, Regional Integration and Special Duties.
Why was he trying to bath with blood?
No one can specifically say why he wanted to bath with blood. He was actually caught at Osunjela Ijesa, a village which is less than five minutes drive into Osun State capital, Osogbo.
He was caught a few days to September 2018 governorship election in the state and at a time he was warming up for 2019 polls.
He wasn’t the first politician who engage in rituals for the purpose of winning an election. In 2014, one of the governorship aspirants in the state allegedly drove around the state in the dead of the night spraying salt and corn on major streets.
Shalom Ibironke@Biyatife · Sep 15, 2018Replying to @samwaski and 3 others
With all due respect, Christians go to mountains to pray whenever they want.
Until he is found guilty of harming anyone, this man has done no wrong.
U all should stop joking and face reality imagine Christian does go in d mountain to pray can u see the thinking mannerism of these people comparing going to mountain to pray and bathing at night in the market? Can he go take his bath in market day light?Ur point is baseless bro61:14 AM – Sep 16, 2018Twitter Ads info and privacySee SamTheIrresistible’s other Tweets
That’s how desperate Nigerian politicians. It’s obvious that it wasn’t a coincidence but a ritual meant to win the hearts of the electorates at the polls. The ritual actually worked as he won the election that followed.
But there is more twist to the story.
Owoeye and Olosunjela’s son connection
More facts later emerged that some people, including the son of Olosunjela, Oba Muhammad Babatunde, Olakunle Muhammad, were behind the ritual as they were arraigned for allegedly duping the legislator.
They were accused of allegedly obtaining by false pretence the sum of N38million from the Hon Owoeye between the month of April and July 2018.
They actually defrauded the lawmaker under the pretence of organising spiritual cleansing for him to avert death.
Pidgin Blog Nigeria · Sep 15, 2018
Dem Don Catch Hon Timothy Owoeye of APC of Ilesa West State Constituency insidr Osun State House of Assembly (Majority Leader) wey dey bath inside market to take do juju.#PidginBlogNG
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We automatically hide video that might contain sensitive content.Show Media
This is twitter sha. D irony part is dat most of d people supporting him are those that will see bird landing on d roof of their house and start having negative thinking. But dey will are here saying shii…. a true Yoruba person knows d meaning of dis man’s act.611:52 AM – Sep 16, 2018Twitter Ads info and privacySee Niyi of Ilorin ‘s other Tweets
When the case came up before Justice Emmanuel Ayoola of a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, the judged was reportedly shocked after watching the video.
It was gathered that the judge granted the prayer of Owoeye’s lawyer by sending out everyone in the court to watch the video.
The case was later adjourned to May 27, for further hearing but the damage has been done.
Why is a typical Nigeria politician desperate about power?
The monthly salary of state lawmakers in Nigeria is shrouded in controversy, however, their brothers at the National Assembly earn fat salaries, making Nigerians lawmakers the highest paid in Africa.
For instance, in March 2018, one of the Nigerian Senators exposed what lawmakers had been hiding since 1999.
The Kaduna Senator, Shehu Sani, revealed that he and his colleagues receive N13.5 million monthly as “running cost.”
The Kaduna Central Senator made the revelation in an interview with TheNews, when he also said that the running cost does not include a N700,000 monthly consolidated salary and allowances which they also receive.
The salary they take home and the constituency allocation which they hardly use the money for the purpose it was meant are the cardinal reasons Nigerian politicians are desperate for power.
In Nigeria, power means money most especially political power.
Some people argued that bathing outside is related to African Traditional Religion, but the place and circumstances surrounding his ritual made local security guards pounced on the powerful lawmaker who was rumoured to be an ally of a former governor of the state Rauf Aregbesola.