SIR: Osun State governorship election has come and gone. The ruling party in the state and Nigeria lost to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by close to 30000 votes. One of the impacts of the election is that power actually belongs to the people.
The electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under Professor Mahmood Yakub has shown that it means business as this is exemplified by immediate transmission of results to INEC portal. This definitely curbed manipulation of figures on transit from polling centre to the collation centre. One hopes that INEC would sustain this historic feat for the betterment of our electoral process.
Having said this, I want to congratulate the outgoing governor, Gboyega Oyetola, for his level headedness as a governor and for his humility. Electioneering campaign in Osun was largely devoid of thuggery and hooliganism. Opposition was not hounded out of the state and people were allowed to make their choice. Unlike his predecessor, Oyetola’s policies were people-friendly and the fact that he reversed most of the anti-people policies of his predecessor and his love for workers and pensioners warmed himself into the people’s consciousness.
Adeleke, on the other hand, deserves accolades for his doggedness, determination and tenacity of purpose. In spite of the character assassination he was subjected to especially as regards his educational qualifications and other sundry allegations, including lack of support from the PDP family in the Southwest who did not attend his mega rally. At least, he was undaunted and set his eyes on the prize. These have paid off. One hopes he would not betray the hope Osun reposes on him.
When Professor Yakub told the U.S. ambassador who visited him in his office few weeks ago that votes would count in the election, I was sceptical. The question that bordered my mind was that in a country where election is taken as war by other means, would the ruling party concede victory to opposition? My proposition as regards the triumph of the opposition in the coming election is premised on the alienation of electorate by the ruling party. In some saner climes where power resides with the people, a ruling party would do all in its best to carry along the people by providing good governance and policies with human face.
But can we say this about ruling APC? The answer is no. APC-led federal government inherited myriads of problems like corruption, comatose economy, insecurity of lives and property, among others. Eight years down the line, can we say that improvement has been made as regards the aforementioned afflictions?
Electricity, the driving force of the economy in many states, is epileptic as ever; Boko Haram insurgency has not been brought under control but has exacerbated by ISWAP’s presence in the Northeast, banditry is on the upsurge just as kidnapping for ransom has been on the increase; corruption has found a haven in the ruling party.
Price of fuel is unstable as official prices of petroleum products are no longer adhered to by marketers and the government appears helpless. Herdsmen, banditry, kidnappers and the likes are killing people and destroying farmlands. Jailbreaks are a common occurrence with no one held responsible. The Owo massacre occurred during the congress of the ruling party and till date, President Buhari has not visited Owo to commiserate with the hapless people.
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and related unions in our universities are on strike in the last five months and our children are roaming about in the streets with government doing nothing with the anomaly. In this circumstance, how would reasonable Nigerians vote for continuity?
The presidential candidate of the ruling party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has to hit the ground running if he is to triumph in the next election. Asiwaju is the best hand for the job, having paid his dues in the development of the nation. His attainment in life personally and as a governor of Lagos State speaks volume about his competence but convincing Nigerians to vote for continuity would be a Herculean task.
In sum, it was not Oyetola that was rejected in Osun; Osun people vented their anger on President Buhari’s insensitivity to their plight; no more, no less.
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Adewuyi Adegbite, ayekooto05@gmail.com.