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Tag: Osun 2018

  • Osun 2018: ‘Oyetola is best to succeed Aregbesola’

    The deputy national youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Afeez Bolaji Repete, has described the candidate of the party for the September 22nd Osun governorship election, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, as the “best man to succeed Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

    Repete, who spoke while handing over his team’s campaign materials, including posters and educational booklets in support of IleriOluwa Campaign Organisation in Osogbo, the state capital, said Osun State deserved the best to carry on from where the incumbent governor will stop his “visionary tenure.”

    He said the Aregbesola administration, no doubt, has performed excellently in all sectors of the economy in the last eight years.

    He said Oyetola as a major contributor to the administration would not let down the people of the state if elected into office as governor.

    In a statement by the Media Officer of IleriOluwa Campaign Organisation, Dayo Fasola, the youth leader was quoted to have said that “governance is no longer business as usual. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration has shown that so much can be acquired with so little and within the span of eight years. So we are here to contribute our own quota in our own little way.”

    Also, aspirant of the APC for the House of Representatives, representing Olorunda/Osogbo/Irepodun/Orolu federal constituency, Engr. Sola Oladepo; aspirant for House of Representatives in Ife federal constituency, Prince Sikiru Ayedun, and their counterpart to represent Obokun/Oriade federal constituency, Arch. Babatunde Desmond Ojo, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Aregbesola administration.

    Responding, Oyetola expressed joy for the gestures and promised to live up to the expectations of the people of the state. He said: “I am always humbled by the people’s display of support for my aspiration. From God and your support, I have drawn a great strength to move on.”

     

  • Osun 2018: U.S envoy lauds Aregbesola’s leadership quality

    The United States has hailed Osun State for creating an enabling environment and peaceful atmosphere for residents.

    It lauded Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s leadership quality, saying it helped him to maintain peace and security.

    The American Consular-General in Nigeria, Mr. John Bray, spoke yesterday in Osogbo, the capital, during his visit to Aregbesola at the Government House.

    The American government pledged to support free, fair, transparent, credible and peaceful governorship election in the state on September 22.

    Bray was accompanied by top officials of the American Embassy, including the Political and Economic Chief, Mr Osma Tat and Political Officer, Mr Benjamin Williams; Political Specialist, Mr Arnold Abuline.

    He said: “Since our arrival, we have visited various institutions, like civil society organisations (CSOs), security agencies, political parties, traditional rulers and religious leaders, among others, on the need to support the dream of actualising rancour-free, peaceful and transparent governorship election, which will be acceptable to all.

    “As part of our tradition of promoting and strengthening democracy, the U.S is ready to provide support for the conduct of free, fair, credible and peaceful election on September 22 in Osun and the general elections in Nigeria next year.

    “We are here to deepen the democratic government in Nigeria by ensuring that all the elections in the country are devoid of violence and are acceptable to all and sundry.”

    Aregbesola praised the American government for being the global vanguard of democratic culture and ethics.

    The governor hailed U.S. for always demonstrating high sense of commitment towards peace and political stability and the conduct of free, credible and transparent elections.

    He urged the American government to support Nigeria on off-season elections, which he said were always susceptible to manipulation.

  • Osun 2018: U.S calls for free, transparent poll

    •Envoy visits APC candidate’s campaign office

    Ahead of the September 22 governorship election in Osun State, the Consular-General of the Embassy of the United States of America (U.S.A) in Nigeria, Mr. John Bray, has called for a free, fair and transparent election.

    The Consular-General, who spoke yesterday at the IleriOluwa Campaign Organisation in Osogbo, the state capital, said he was in the state to know the candidates of all political parties contesting the election.

    He said his visit was meant to show the commitment of the U.S.A to democracy and support its process.

    Bray, who also said he was in Osun to interact with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to assess the situation ahead of the poll, added that knowing the candidates, the process and the players before the election would enable him and his team to know the position of things and write a report for the international community.

    The envoy said the U.S was not interested in any candidate but supporting democracy to increase the quality of elections.

    Oyetola hailed the U.S for its commitment to democracy.

    The APC candidate assured the envoy that his party was determined to ensure a free, fair and credible election.

    He described the direct primary method adopted by APC to pick its flag bearer as the best, participatory and cheap.

    Oyetola noted that it was an innovation that should be replicated across the country.

    The APC candidate urged the U.S to continue to support Nigeria and even do more for the nation’s federating components in many other areas.

    He said Osun State under the Rauf Aregbesola administration had become a model for other states in various sectors of the economy, especially in education, agriculture, health, among others.

  • Osun 2018: SSG resigns, defects to ADP as candidate

    Alhaji Moshood Adeoti has resigned his appointment as the Secretary to Osun State Government ( SSG ) and defected to the Action Democratic Party (APD).

    Adeoti had withdrawn from the race as governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress few hours to the primary election of the party on July 20, alleging plot to impose a candidate on the other aspirants.

    After defecting to the party, he became its governorship candidate for September 22 Osun governorship election.

    By affirmation, Adeoti scored 13,324 votes out of 13,367 party’s total votes.

    In his acceptance speech at the party state secretariat along Ikirun road, Osogbo, he promised to be committed to the ADP ideals, adding that he would work according to the party manifesto.

    Assuring members that he had the popularity to win the September 22 governorship election, he said: “I therefore want to seek your support in ensuring success for our party, by launching all out to mobilize support for our party’s victory in the forthcoming election. Today, we make history in our collective resolve to liberate our dear state from the grip of feudal lords who are so poor in humanity that all they have is money without conscience and humanity.

    ” As a grassroots politicians, who had passed through virtually all stages of political leadership as councillor, Local Government Supervisor, and party administrator and later Secretary to State Government. I present a sober, deep and solid experience critically needed to lead a people-centered and masses-oriented administration as the governor of Osun State.”

    The ADP electoral committee Chairman, Mr. Dozie Ike, called on members of the party to support Adeoti to win the election.

    Also, the Secretary of the electoral committee, Mrs. Lynn Olisa, disclosed that 13, 400 party members were accredited for the primary, while 13,367 voted.

    According to her: “Adeoti who is our only aspirant scored 13,324 votes and 43 votes voided.”

  • Osun 2018: provision of level playing field as against do-or-die politics

    Intrigues, conspiracy, gang-up, blackmail and cold war have characterized and enveloped the political atmosphere in Osun State after the electoral umpire,  the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifted the ban on politics and released the time table for the governorship election in the state. INEC had done this at the time it did to ensure that the electoral body meets the deadline stipulated by the Electoral Act, as amended for 2019 general elections. Osun State, relatively, is one of the most politically peaceful state in Nigeria. It is also one of the few states that is emerging as a force to reckon with due particularly to the massive investments by government in the last few years.

    Apart from the clamour for zoning where a group of people had agitated that it is the turn of the Osun West Senatorial zone to produce the next governor of the state; another call is by a group of people and their cohorts, who probably due to their pecuniary agenda, is the clamour that only home-based politicians should be allowed to vie for the position of the governor in the state. Surprisingly, this agitation is emanating from groups within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This is being pursued with some level of vigour, zeal and clever maneuvering to the extent that only people who could reasonably distinguish between personal agenda and overriding public interest would not listen to the call.

    The call, to foist a ‘locally made’ governor on the people of the state, apart from being an insult on the collective intelligence of all the well meaning people of the state, it is also a cheap blackmail on the Aregbesola’s administration not to handover to someone who is capable of delivering the dividends of democracy, but instead to those who only believe in massaging the alter ego of few politicians at the expense and detriment of the public which constitute the majority and whose votes are actually required to win an election.

    Travelling, according to an adage, is part of education; since it gives people necessary exposure, experience and indirectly expand ones’ horizon and capacity to deal with issues from a broadminded level, it is the same adage which is supposed to be an asset that some feeble – minded individuals and politicians want to capitalize upon and use as a minus to promote their own personal agenda. It is the desire of every right thinking human being to seek for greener pasture at every given opportunity. Besides, it should be recalled that, forty five years ago, when a foremost aspirant, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, completed his secondary education at Ife Oluwa Grammar School Osogbo, there were only few universities in the country and those few were concentrated in the major cities. It would be a great miscalculation for a student who had ability for further study to limit himself or herself to its environment and after the attainment of educational goal, for him or her also to return to his place of birth, more so when the course of study of such a person is a specialized type and the only place where it could secure employment are in the cities. These are the circumstances which made Alhaji Oyetola to be a sojourner in Lagos where he had his university education to pursue a degree in Insurance and also secured employment with one of the foremost insurance company then, the Lead Way Insurance Company.

    It is this same asset (traveling) that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the man who could be described as the founder of Nigerian’s modern good governance, had employed and today has had the impact of transforming the entire political landscape of the country. After assuming power in 1999, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, embarked on massive transformation of Lagos State. One of the lofty projects of his administration was the notorious Oregun Road, which he reconstructed, widened and made a dual carriage way. The popular Adeola Odeku, Akin Adesola and Ahmadu Bello way in Victoria Island were reconstructed using interlocking system where necessary which could not be washed away due to the water logged nature of the place. The entire Lagos Island, Marina etc that used to witness serious flood after a little rain was reconstructed with good drainage system. Asiwaju did not stop there, he established some key agencies which are relevant to the enhancement of people’s welfare such as, the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA), Lagos State Waste Management Agency(LAWMA), High Way Managers, Lagos State Metropolitan Transport Agencies known as the BRT today, (LAMATA), the Drain Duck for clearing the gutters and Lagos State Ambulance Services.

    When Aregbesola took over in Osun State, he embarked on massive road construction in the state by directing all the Local Governments in the state to pursue the reconstruction of 10km roads in their areas; this is in addition to opening up of Osogbo township roads to have a befitting look of a state capital. He introduced Osun State Youth Employment Scheme known as OYES to engage the youths in the state by giving them monthly allowance in order to have sense of belonging. Through this, he has been able to reduce thugery, crime rate and unnecessary youth rascality which has now made the state to be rated as the state with lowest crime rate in the country.

    Giving the kind of monumental development which the state had witnessed during his tenure, the fear which many are having is how to have someone who would continue in his developmental strides as his successor. The only way to achieve this is to throw open the contest for the governorship election, whereby anybody who feels he is capable and worthy to be Aregbesola’s successor would be given the opportunity to contest through popular democratic process and not by selection through shadow , restrictive or stage managed  primary election. So far the person is a bonafide citizen of the state.

    Amazingly, instead of people to key into this vision, some fifth columnists have been trying to manipulate and restrict the choice of his successor to not only to a geographical part of the state but also to only those politicians who had not lived outside the state since their birth if this is the meaning of what their home based politicians implies. Instead of embarking on an issue based campaign to sell their candidates to the people, they have embarked on malicious campaign and some character assassination spree against the candidature of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, especially that he is not a home based politician.

    Unfortunately for them, taking a cursory look/review of the background and profile of all the former governors of the state, one will be able to see whether their line of argument is reasonable or not. The first Executive Governor of the state, Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, of blessed memory, came from America when he contested and defeated Mr. Dosu Oladipoduring the Social Democratic Party primary election in 1991 and later became the governor. Our highly respected elder in politics, Chief Bisi Akande was based in Ibadan before he contested under the Alliance for Democracy in 1999. The next is  Prince Olagunsoye Oyinloa who after being retired from the Nigeria army, contested and took over as governor of the state in 2003. The next is our indefatigable Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, the incumbent, the rest is history. Not only that, if we extend our scanning to other neighboring state, Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara and Oyo, it is only former Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state who was a home based person because he had a flourishing hospital where he was practicing before he became the governor. One therefore, wonders where they had seen this conspiracy theory of politics of home based. Besides, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola had been Chief of Staff to Governor Rauf Aregbesola for an uninterrupted period of seven and half years. What could have made him more home based than for somebody to live in a place for an uninterrupted period of seven and a half years. It therefore implies that the promoter of the agenda of home-based political theory are mischief makers and that they have also forgotten that modern politics has gone digital and no longer the out dated old fashioned type they are used to. If this is the case, why do we want to hoist unqualified and selfish candidates on the people by embarking on campaign of calumny, blackmail, character assassination to attack the personality of some contestants?

    In conclusion, holding political positions should be seen as a call to service and not an avenue to promote personal agenda or make money at the expense of the masses. It is purely for promotion of the interest of the public which implies greatest good for the greatest number, a call for selfless service which involves holding it as public trust; and this requires accountability, honesty, dedication rather than for mere personal aggrandizement.

    It should be for people who have good vision, the required wisdom; who should be able to live above board and not just people who want to satisfy their personal ego or have personal agenda to pursue. If we look at politics from this perspective, there is no reason whatsoever contesting for political offices should be seen as a do or die affair.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Osun 2018 and Adeleke’s legacy

    Politics is in the air in Osun State. As the September 22 governorship election beckons, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Olumide Lawal, reflects on the vacuum created by the death of the first elected governor and how it will shape the race for the Bola Ige House.

    THE long awaited month of July for the conduct of political party primaries for the Osun State governorship race is here. It is the month the Osun people have been eagerly looking forward to as regards what political fortunes beckon at her. The bone of “contention” is who will succeed Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the incumbent governor of Osun State. Certainly July 17 and 19, 2018 are defining dates for the state when the ‘boys’ will be politically separated from the ‘men’. It is not going to be a tea party, but a survival of the fittest.

    For some months now, it has been ‘feverish’ but lively, as many aspirants from different political parties have erected giant billboards in strategic places, particularly Osogbo, the State Capital. The campaign billboards came with different themes and message. It is either ‘Idera de; Irorun de; Itura de; Aanu de; Ibukun de’ Ore-ofe de; Itunu de; Imole de. These are the themes without any indepth analysis as to how these slogans will be implemented. It is a war between ‘The old domitable’ and the new reliables in the political turf.

    There is no way the present politicking in Osun State would be practised without due reference to the big vacuum created with the glorious transition of late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the first executive governor of the state. He was since 2016 miles ahead in the preparation for his emergence as the governor of Osun State come 2018. I remembered vividly, a particular day in August 2016, when my late boss, Senator Isiaka Adeleke put a call through to me from Abuja and firmly instructed me in his usual velvet voice, to issue a press release in my capacity as his Special Adviser (Media & Publicity) to the effect, that he was out for Osun governorship race come 2018.

    Senator Adeleke, unlike many of the latter-day aspirants without clear cut ideology, pointedly told me further, to adopt as his campaign theme: Life more abundant to all, as encapsulated in a nine-point agenda, that include but not limited to rural re-integration; establishment of cottage industries and mineralisation of Osun through the exploitation of her vast mineral deposit and other natural resources; sound entrepreneurship training for school graduates; robust welfare package for civil servants and pensioners to make them have a truly living wage; solid development of local government administration to make it the centre piece of his administration.

    These are the robust programmes Adeleke had envisaged to make Osun grow in leaps and bounds.

    That was the man the good people of Osun State were eagerly waiting for as their next governor. He was fully prepared to make Osun a pride of us all. Here we are today grappling with governorship gladiators whose contributions to the development of Osun in years past are suspect. They are here to have a piece of the action, only to go into political recess after July 17 and 19 primaries. They will not identify with us again until 2022. Nobody is quarrelling with their constitutional right to try their hands on the plough. The issue is what are their antecedents in years past to improve on their immediate catchment areas?

    The likes of Adeleke and his lineage are shoulder high in the development of their place of birth through far-reaching development projects, benefiting hundreds of people through gainful employment opportunities. There would be sustenance of his legacies as one of their own Senator Ademola Adeleke is effectively in the race. It is now left to the delegates to party primaries and voters in the general election to put round pegs in round holes as far as governorship candidates from parties are concerned.

    We should put in place a new governor that will make the welfare of the civil servants and pensioners a top priority in its agenda. The comfort of the civil servants and pensioners is the comfort of the people of Osun State, since this is a civil service-oriented economy. This indeed was the primary concern of Adeleke with a marshal plan to that effect; copies of which are in possession of this writer for implementation at the appropriate time. Definitely, Adeleke is the missing link in Osun 2018 governorship race. The central issue in Osun politics, whose glorious transition has changed the political equation of the state of the living spring.

    The race to Bola Ige House, come September 22 is a serious issue, that requires the services of the strong-willed. It is not a job for the lily-livered and chicken-hearted ones, who are without blueprint. It requires an home-grown democrat, that truly knows where the shoe pinches the people of the state and would be ready to identify with them through the thick and thin as was the practice with Adeleke of blessed memory. He was a shining star in this regard. Osun was Adeleke. Adeleke was Osun, while at this divide. May his spirit give us direction in the present game! Adeleke was the man, who gave Osun State a solid foundation and identified with her yearnings and aspiration. Surely, the legacies of Senator Adeleke shall endure forever.

    This time demands, in the history of Osun State, a governorship hopeful, that will rise above political squabbles and pettiness. A candidate, who will be very accessible like Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who gave us his large and golden heart. The tasks ahead are gargantuan but not insurmountable, with a charismatic leader like the late Asiwaju of Ede, Otunba of Ejigbo. All the aspirants are no pushover. The only problem is that, they should employ decorum and love of the people in the conduct of their politicking. Whoever emerges as our next governor, should be ready to make governance, the exclusive property of the electorate who voted him into office. Nobody, should ever see himself as a tin-god, who is untouchable in the administration of Osun State as the governor. God is the ultimate giver of political power and only he would judge how well one has utilised it.

    A time like this demands a man, who in this innermost heart is pure and thorough; a leader who will not be bought or sold. A man who will be ready to make himself a genuine grassrooter; straight in deeds. An incoming governor that will sustain the relative peace and tranquility we are enjoying presently in the state.

    There are more than enough eminent Osun indigenes to pilot her affairs in whatever capacities. As time tickles into days and hours, the would-be-delegates of various political parties should be guided by the resolve to elect candidates that would make Osun State prosperous in the final analysis and not mainly consideration for wads of naira notes from the aspirants.

    Without doubt, the best out of the rest should emerge as our next governor. An incoming governor that is vibrant, resourceful, dedicated and fully ready to raise the bar of governance for the benefits of the voiceless and helpless in the society to the admiration of the founding fathers of the state. And this is very important and salient. For Osun 2018, aspirants and their supporters should imbibe politics without bitterness as enunciated by its apostle, Adeleke. This brings to the fore the unguarded outburst of one Professor Lasisi of LAUTECH Hospital, Osogbo against the Adeleke family as published in some newspapers and I quote him: “they have material wealth, but they don’t have knowledge”. This is most uncharitable and very sour to the sweet memory of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who was an eminent member of that family. I am duty bound to defend the legacies of my late boss and his family interests, hence I want to ask Professor Lasisi, whether he is aware, that the Adeleke family prides itself with a world-class university, with tens of outstanding and renowned Professors on its payroll, not to mention eminent past and serving Vice-Chancellors in its Governing Council. Honour and integrity reign supreme in that family like many others. We are polished.

    Let us try to avoid belly-aching, run-him-down syndrome and cheap blackmail in the race towards Osun 2018, particularly among aspirants. Osun State is greater than any individual or group of individuals.

     

  • Osun 2018: Oyemomi picks APC’s nomination form

    …promises to move state forward

     

    One of the leading contenders in the forthcoming Governorship race in the State of Osun, Dr. Ezekiel Oyebola Oyemomi, has said that he is in the race in order to move the state forward by putting his past experience into use.

    Oyemomi, a former Federal Permanent Secretary , Farmer and Chartered Accountant stated this on Monday in Osogbo after picking his nomination form under the All Progressives Congress APC .

    He said he would invest on Youth Development, Women empowerment, Tourism boosting, rural development, amongst other things that could make life more meaningful to the citizens of the State, if given the chance to rule the state.

    “I am a man of the people and I am virtually known by those in my community and beyond there. My mission is to serve. Make live more meaningful to the downtrodden. Promotes good governance, boost Tourism especially when you put in mind the cultural values that abounds in the state of Osun.

    “The farmers and pensioners will see in me a friend and partner. Women empowerment programme that could let them be self-reliant will be one of the key points of our administration.

    “Beyond these, mechanized and industrialised agriculture will be introduced putting in mind that we need to look inward into making the farmers the ‘kings’ Yoruba call them (Agbe l’oba) ; all these we shall promote to a greater level. This is not to hide the fact that I was once a teacher and currently a pensioner. I believe also that these categories of people will know that I will never close my eyes to their needs”

    Continuing, Oyemomi who was surrounded by his supporters went further to say that Vocational education would be introduced to the Youth in order to be abreast of entrepreneurship initiatives.

    “The idea of Youth coming out of schools with nothing meaningful to do will be looked into. We will create laudable and positive ideas that could placed them above their peers, or put them at the same level with them globally. Mentors would be found for them in order to learn from those who have seen it all. I believe in equity, justice and fairness. I will put this into practice. I will work closely with my commissioners and aides, because I would monitor projects given out so that those who vote us in could reap the dividends of democracy”.

    Dr. Oyemomi declared that he was ready for the governorship election and that he has been moving round to ensure that he is victorious during the primary of the party to select its flag bearer in the coming governorship primary election

    ‘’I have been moving round the whole state and I am happy with the ways people are responding, and this has further encouraged me to work harder for the ticket of the party. Because, those that I met are convinced that for the state to move forward, someone with wide range of experience and a good administrator is needed right now in Osun State, to continue with what is on ground, and add other meaningful one that would make other states of the federation envious of the State of Osun ’’

    Oyemomi who was once a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of
    Defence, Land and Housing, Women Affairs and the Head of Service respectively called
    on politicians in Nigeria not to do anything that would put the current political dispensation into disrepute, saying that they should be honest and show transparency in everything that they do so that they would be respected, and the people would know that they are actually out to serve.

  • Osun 2018: Youths protest against zoning

    pressure society in Osun State, the Coalition of Osun Youths Organisation, in conjunction with a non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Development Advocacy Group, yesterday staged a peaceful protest against agitation for zoning of the governorship seat to Osun West Senatorial District.

    Kick-starting the procession at Ayetoro junction of Osogbo, the state capital, the protesters, mainly youths, moved through the Old Garage and Olaiya Junction before terminating the march at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat on Gbongan Road.

    As the protesters marched on the road, they distributed handbills to motorists and passers-by to sensitise them about what they called the “evil” of zoning.

    At APC’s secretariat, the leader of the group, Dr. Ademola Oyedokun, described the clamour for zoning as antithetical to democratic principles and ethos.

    He noted that instead of promoting zoning, which he said was capable of causing disaffections and division among Osun State residents, competence should be encouraged in the interest of the state’s future.

    Oyedokun said the zoning sponsors were only promoting their “parochial economic interests”.

    The spokesman urged the people to insist on competence in the choice of who leads the state and who is capable of providing continuity of good governance.

    He said: “As young citizens of the state, our concern finds expression in the submission of Mao Tsezong that ‘the success of a society depends on the ability of the leader’. The imperative of leadership in propelling development or otherwise is more crucial than that of a surgeon in the hospital. This is because the greatest disease is poverty, which can only be cured by political surgery and care.

     

     

     

  • Osun 2018: Adeyinka joins guber race

    CHAIRMAN, Federal House of Representatives’ Committee on Debt Management, Adeyinka Ajayi, has joined Osun’s governorship race, declaring his intention to transform the state’s agricultural sector and build a solid revenue base for its socioeconomic development. Ajayi, who is representing Ifelodun /Boripe/ Odo- Otin Federal Constituency, declared his intention to contest the governorship seat at the state secretariat of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) in Osogbo, the state capital.

    He promised to consolidate on the giant strides recorded by Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the last seven and half years, if he is elected governor of the state. Adeyinka, a second-termer in the House of Representatives, appealed to the leadership and members of APC, to support his ambition in order to ensure continuity of good governance in the state.

    According to him, Governor Aregbesola has built a solid foundation for the development of the state, which requires a determined and cerebral leader, as his successor, to sustain the people-oriented programmes instituted by the incumbent governor. The lawmaker rolled out three key electoral promises comprising Agricultural development, Public servant welfare and Continuity of Aregebsola’s Social Investment Programmes and Infrastructure Enhancement. He said: “I can assure you, that, with the level of work the incumbent has done in the state, with massive infrastructural development in urban and rural areas, concentrating efforts on agriculture, will help boost the economy of the state while making the state independent financially, without fully relying on federation account.

  • Osun 2018: Defining the stake

    Voters in the State of Osun will be heading for the polls in September 2018. It will be a defining moment for citizens and residents alike. The stakes in this election year will determine for good or ill where Osun will also be in the next four years.

    If between 2010 and now the extra-ordinary battle had been to demonize the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the ruling party for supposedly going out of their way to venture an ambitious plan of development for the state, the next four years will oscillate between continuing Aregbesola’s projects or destroying them.

    This is what the 2018 election is all about. First the battle between 2010 and now to oust Aregbesola, failed badly in 2014. But the disinformation exercise to negatively characterize the governor’s efforts was a success. Negative media against Aregbesola and the ruling party outclassed positive reportage of his successes.

    Now that a transition is inevitable, the question of who succeeds Aregbesola becomes the critical issue. There are contending and conflicting interests across the board; seventy percent of them are intent on destroying Aregbesola legacy.

    However, the facts on ground as to what has happened to this state between 2010 and as you read this script is that, since Osun was created some 27 odd years ago, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was the most incredible agent of change and progress that the state has known!!

    So, the curious question is why is 70% of aspirants across the political spectrum so desperate to wipe out his legacy?

    The answer is simple; they are all jealous of his success in the first place, and scared of the implications for the future of kleptocracy in the state. This tragic scenario is trending politically throughout the country. But that is a subject for a later date.

    We do not need to say it, but Nigeria is basically ruled by mediocre. Always, “the best president will never rule Nigeria,” because it is a country that prides itself of mediocre. That is the biggest stake in Osun today.

    Shall we have a mediocre or a dedicated and knowledgeable professional take over from Aregbesola?

    There is only one place that decision can be taken – at the APC primary. The out-going governor has raised the bar of performance so high that the APC has become obligated to produce the best aspirant as its successor candidate.

    By July 7, 2018 that candidate will emerge no matter what. There are great expectations and powerful interests at play here which raise doubts that the ruling party can deliver the best on offer.

    The opposition parties are hoping and scheming for the worst to happen to destabilize the APC, while the party is working hard to manage the hotly contested primary to produce their best and still remain stable.

    If things go terribly wrong during the exercise, it could give the opposition an advantage; but the other parties themselves will have to be more cohesive than they are at the moment to win.

    However, that kind of co-operation by the opposition parties is least likely because they are currently working at cross purpose, and that is why the APC remains favorite to emerge victorious in September.

    But the most important factor that could influence victory for the APC is the party’s performance in the last seven and a half years. Regardless of the massive negative media that the personality and style of the out-going governor had attracted over the period of his tenure, the fact remains unassailable that Rauf Aregbesola has out-performed most other governors in the country.

    The opposition parties cannot wish that away. But the key consideration here as well is that not a single one of them is a credible alternative to the APC in Osun.

    The most “outstanding” of the opposition parties- the PDP- is in tatters. The others do not have the charismatic personality to stand up to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on the campaign trail, where the out-going governor has a massive advantage.

    Even if the opposition combines to challenge the APC, or the ruling party falls short of producing their best candidate, (a very unlikely event), the party can still clinch victory in September because of the negative and destructive attitude of the opposition to obliterate Aregbesola’s legacy.

    That legacy will be the nemesis of the opposition. The silent majority of Osun citizens know that the best that has ever happened to the state is the Aregbesola-led APC government. They won’t be anxious to substitute the party with either the failed PDP or the untested “new comers” in the other opposition parties.

    That is the crux of the matter.

     

    • Kumuyi wrote from Lagos