The death of Islamic leader, Abdulazeez Arisekola Alao, about two weeks ago may have redefined the race for the 2015 governorship race in Oyo State, reports assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo
During his lifetime, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Abdulazeez Arisekola Alao, regarded himself strictly as a businessman and an Islamic leader.
Though an acknowledged kingmaker, who is credited with having played major roles in the rise and fall of many governors that have ruled Oyo State, Arisekola never for once subscribed to the notion that he was a politician.
In an informal interaction with select editors at his Ibadan residence sometime in late 2010, Arisekola was unsparing in his assessment of Nigerian politicians. “I hate politicians,” he said matter of factly. And his clincher: “They are very wicked, unreliable and untrustworthy.”
But ask many notable politicians in the pacesetter state about the influence of the late businessman in the politics of the state and their likely response would be that while alive, he was, for many decades, a big factor in who becomes what and how in the state.
During his parley with journalists in 2010 to drum support for the presidential aspiration of former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Arisekola had alluded to his influence in the state polity when prodded on his alleged withdrawal of support for the re-election of the then governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala.
He said, “Some of these governors behave anyhow once they acquire power. I’ve seen many governors in this state come and go and this one (Akala) will not be different.”
With Arisekola’s death, The Nation gathered that discussions within the political circles in Oyo State have, in the last one week, mainly focused on how this development will redefine the state’s political dynamics ahead the 2015 governorship election vis-a-vis the re-election prospects of the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
The late Islamic leader, many in the state recall, played a key role in the election of the incumbent governor following his fall-out with Ajimobi’s predecessor, Adebayo Alao-Akala.
Akala’s crime was in two folds: First, was his alleged betrayal of the stormy petrel of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, shortly before the latter died about six years ago. Many of Adedibu’s political disciples are yet to forgive Akala till date.
The relationship between Arisekola and Adedibu, sources revealed, ran very deep. There were reports that only Arisekola it was, who could compel Adedibu to take a particular cause of action, no matter how inconvenient.
Adedibu’s extreme affection for Arisekola was proved beyond doubt when after he passed on, the latter was announced as the administrator of his WILL, a development that did not come to the late politician’s family and associates as a surprise.
Arisekola was also miffed that Akala rebuffed his every attempt to reconcile him with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, both of whom together with Arisekola, Adedibu and many others, were also instrumental to Akala’s victory in the 2007 governorship election.
It was not only Akala that Arisekola ensured his emergence as governor. During the Second Republic, the late Islamic leader was credited as having made substantial financial contributions to the election of Dr. Omololu Olunloyo as governor in 1983.
Olunloyo in his tribute to Arisekola after his death said, “I had about N20, 000 while campaigning for governorship in 2003. Arisekola supported me by donating several buses for my campaign and also gave me a cash of N3million.”
In the short-lived Third Republic, the emergence of Chief Kolapo Ishola (now late) as governor in 1991 also had the substantial imprints of Arisekola, ditto the election of other civilian governors, including late Chief Lam Adesina in 1999 and Senator Rashidi Ladoja in 2003.
Ajimobi charts his own course
Not a few stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State believe Arisekola’s death may have depleted the support base of Ajimobi in his quest for re-election next year, it was learnt.
With unconfirmed reports claiming that a crack had appeared in the governor’s relationship with Arisekola months before the latter died last month, a source in APC told The Nation that there were indeed attempts by certain politicians in the state to pitch the two men against each other.
The source added, “Some persons perceived to be close to Arisekola, who want to be governors in 2015, had tried to sow a seed of discord between Arisekola and Ajimobi but failed. The two men remained close till the last.”
Arisekola’s demise, coupled with the defection of an APC senator, Olufemi Lanlehin to Accord Party (AP) and the likely defection of the second senator from the party, Ayo Adeseun, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the view of many stakeholders in the state have, according to some observers made Ajimobi vulnerable in next year’s election.
If Adeseun eventually defects to PDP as it is being rumoured, it will leave the APC with no lawmaker out of the three senators in the state as the third senator, Hosea Agboola, belongs to PDP.
The scenario painted above may have forced APC leaders in the state to return to the drawing board to plan new strategies in order to retain the party’s control of the state post-2015.
At a meeting held last week, chieftains of the party allegedly took some decisions, which include getting the governor to reach out more to the grassroots, in addition to addressing the concerns of key voting segments of the society like the artisans, market women, civil servants, amongst others.
Expressing confidence that Ajimobi will break the second term jinx for all past governors in the state, an APC chieftain said, “We recognised Arisekola’s influence but without him, the governor will still win next year. Remember that even when the PDP recorded a tsunami in 2003, clearing virtually all elective positions, Ajimobi won his senatorial election hands down.
“He (Ajimobi) also gave the Adedibu/Akala political machinery a run for their money in the 2007 governorship election despite running on a platform that was virtually non-existent in the state then, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). Those underrating him are doing so at their peril.”
How Arisekola’s death will shape the PDP primaries
At the last count, over 10 aspirants are believed to have indicated interest in contesting for the PDP governorship ticket.
But of the lot, two of the aspirants, Teslim Folarin and a former deputy governor of the state, Azeem Gbolarumi, are known to be quite close to the late Arisekola.
There were unconfirmed reports that both men were banking on the support of the late businessman to secure the PDP ticket, with Folarin said to be the most confident that Arisekola’s support for his governorship ambition was a done deal.
Beside Folarin and Gbolarumi, many politicians holding elective positions and aspiring ones were said to have been devastated on account of Arisekola’s death.
Many of them, it was gathered, had allegedly been assured by the late Arisekola of bankrolling their campaign for next year’s general elections. With the man’s death, some of them have been left in a quandary, unsure of what next to do.
Situation different in Accord Party
From all indications, the death of Arisekola may not in any way change the current configuration in the party.
Among the party’s rank and file, it is almost given that Senator Rashidi Ladoja will pick the party’s 2015 governorship ticket. And between Arisekola and Ladoja, there appears to be no love lost, with the former alleged to have played a major role in the impeachment of the latter in 2005.
Their relationship remained frosty until Arisekola breathed his last, sources revealed.
As the build up to the 2015 governorship polls gather momentum, the race for the Agodi Government House will, no doubt, be a straight fight between the ruling APC, PDP and AP.
