"Majidun": The Silent Plague Devouring the Educated Elites of Igboho and Oke Ogun

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Ayekooto Media

In the socio-political lexicon of the Yoruba people, there are words that perfectly capture the darkest realities of human nature. One of such concepts, quietly destroying the fabric of our communities, is the "Majidun" or "Majadun" syndrome. 

In its raw, pragmatic definition, a "Majidun" is an individual—usually highly educated, wealthy, or politically elevated—who has achieved significant success but becomes aggressively determined to ensure that no one else in their community, town, or zone ever surpasses, or even equals, their level of achievement. 

When we look deeply into the political and developmental stagnation of the Oke Ogun region, and Igboho in particular, we do not need to look for external enemies. The enemy is within. It is the plague of the 'Majidun'—the educated elites who have turned themselves into gatekeepers of progress rather than bridges to prosperity.

The Psychology of the Gatekeeper: A Scarcity Mindset

Psychologically, the 'Majidun' suffers from a severe, deeply rooted inferiority complex masked as arrogant superiority. They view success as a zero-sum game; they falsely believe that if another young man or woman from Igboho becomes a successful lawyer, a prominent doctor, or a political heavyweight, it somehow diminishes their own glory. 

Instead of mentoring the youth, they manipulate them. Instead of holding the ladder for the next generation to climb, they kick it down the moment they reach the top. To the 'Majidun', relevance is maintained only by keeping everyone else in a state of perpetual dependency. They thrive on being the "only" one—the only millionaire, the only permanent secretary, the only recognized voice. They demand worship, and to guarantee that worship, they ensure the community remains impoverished and desperate.

The Philosophical Tragedy of the "Lone Tree"

Philosophically, the 'Majidun' mindset is a tragic rebellion against the natural order of human progress. A fundamental truth of community development is that 'a single star does not make a galaxy.' When an elite acts as a canopy tree—spreading its massive leaves to block the sunlight from reaching the smaller plants below—it creates a barren forest floor. Eventually, when the fierce winds of political marginalization blow across the state, that lone tree will be uprooted because there is no surrounding forest to break the wind. 

This is the exact philosophical crisis facing Oke Ogun today. Our elites prefer to be local champions in a backward region rather than team players in a prosperous one. They would rather rule in hell than serve in heaven. 

The Disastrous Impact on Igboho and Oke Ogun

The manifestation of the 'Majidun' complex among our educated elites has yielded a bitter harvest of tears for Igboho and the wider Oke Ogun zone:

Crippling Disunity: The 'Majidun' mentality is the father of internal factionalism. When elites secretly sabotage each other's political ambitions or business ventures just to remain the "Alpha," the entire town is fractured. This is why Oke Ogun, despite its massive voting population and intellectual capital, continually struggles to present a united political front.

Generational Backwardness: A community where the elites actively suppress rising talents is a community driving with its brakes on. Bright minds are forced to either leave the town entirely and invest their talents in other cities, or they remain at home, their potential suffocated by the very elders who should be sponsoring them.

The Erosion of Trust: In Igboho today, the youth look at the educated elites not with admiration, but with deep suspicion. The communal spirit of "Ajumose" (doing things together) has been replaced by "Gba fun mi" (surrender to me).

The Emotional Toll: A Betrayal of the Motherland

There is a profound emotional pain in watching a community suffocate at the hands of its own brightest children. It breaks the heart to see brilliant young graduates roaming the streets of Oke Ogun, knowing full well that there are sons and daughters of the soil in high places who could open doors for them, but who consciously choose to lock those doors. 

It is a profound betrayal. Our forefathers in Igboho were fierce warriors who fought external forces to defend their people. Today, our "educated" warriors are using their degrees, wealth, and connections to fight their own people.likewise Oke ogun.

Conclusion: A Call for Constellations

The 'Majidun' plague must be cured if Igboho and Oke Ogun are to ever take their rightful place in the socio-economic and political landscape of Oyo State and Nigeria. 

To the educated elites: True power is not measured by how many people bow to you because they are hungry; it is measured by how many people you have fed and empowered to stand on their own. We do not need lone stars anymore. We need a constellation. It is time to drop the gatekeeping. Lift your people, build your community, and let history remember you as a bridge, not a barrier.

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David Alani Ige (The Scribe)

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Ayekooto Media

David Alani Ige is a seasoned journalist, strategic analyst, and the visionary publisher of Ayekooto Media. With a relentless commitment to archiving Nigeria's political realities and delivering the unvarnished truth, he has built a formidable platform for deep-dive reportage and editorial excellence. He is widely known by his readers and peers as "The Scribe".