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Tag: Osun 2018

  • Osun 2018: SDP clears Omisore

    The leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Osun State, has declared the former deputy governor of the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore, a bonafide member of the party. The state chairman of the party, Hon. Demola Ishola, at the inauguration oF the steering committee of the party in Osogbo, disclosed that many notable politicians are coming to join the party before the September 22 governorship election.

    He described the SDP as the party of the masses, saying plans are underway for national leaders of the party, including Dr. Yemi Farounbi, to come down to Osun for a and  welcome new members into the party. He charged members of the party to start house to house mobilisation of people into the party. Dignitaries at the event include former member of the House of  Representatives, Hon. Bade Falade,  former Commissioner for Works in the state, Dr. Bayo Faforiji, and former legal adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South West, Barr. Ojo Williams.

     

  • Osun 2018: ‘Don’t sacrifice merit for zoning’

    Abdulrazaq Aderemi Abubakare, a Professor of Arabic Studies and former Vice Chancellor, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, in a chat with Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, spoke on the raging debate over zoning and the choice of the next governor of Osun State.

    FORMER Vice Chancellor, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, Professor Abdulrazaq Aderemi Abubakare, has said that despite the clamour in some quarters that the governorship position in Osun State be zoned to the Osun West Senatorial District, where he hails from, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should look out for the best among its aspirants to present as candidate, so as not to sacrifice merit in the governance of the state.

    The Iwo-born university don, while speaking with The Nation during the week, made the appeal, saying he is more concerned with ensuring that the good legacies of the current administration under Governor Rauf Aregbesola is built upon by the next governor, than lending his support to some sentimental demands that are based more on geographical consideration than merit and capability.

    He said the task of taking Osun to greater heights must not be put in the hands of incompetent people as Aregbesola prepares to leave Government House. He challenged the ruling party to look beyond the clamour for zoning and decide who its flag-bearer will be, based more on competence, loyalty, track records and the ability of each aspirant to work as a team player if given the opportunity to govern Osun.

    Abubakre, who described the outgoing governor as an excellent administrator who is determined to bring about the much needed change in Osun, said though he is a proud son of Iwo and by extension the Osun West Senatorial District, he will not watch and see the ruling party make a dangerous mistake in its choice of candidate for the all-important 2018 governorship election.

    “Aregbesola is an excellent performer. He is a brilliant administrator who came determined to bring about the much needed change in our dear state. He has forever changed the parameter of governance in Osun State. Before he came, Osogbo, the state capital, was more like a glorified local government headquarters. But he saw the need to change that and what we see in Osogbo today are testimonials of his achievements.

    “Here is a governor who spends the larger chunk of his security votes on securing the lives and properties of the people of the state; and look at what he has done in the educational sector of the state. The schools he built can only be emulated by other states; none as we speak can beat the standard of the architecture of our schools in Osun. The facilities too are world class.

    “He has also not neglected human capacity development. In spite of the financial difficulties he encounters, he sent people abroad to be trained and developed so they can come back and serve Osun better. Those are the legacies of this administration we must put into consideration when choosing a successor for Aregbesola. And to get the very best, we must look beyond the need to zone the governorship ticket of the ruling party,” he argued.

    He also said all the zones in the state were given equal opportunities to prepare themselves for the 2018 governorship contest and as such, it will be unfair to ignore a zone or aspirant that is better prepared for a zone for an aspirant less ready for the job. “Let us look at a zone which currently has the number three man in the state as its own person. Shouldn’t such a zone or person be well prepared for the contest?

    Prof. Abubakre also warned that given the performance of the APC in the West Senatorial District during the last senatorial re-run election, it may not be wise for the party to give its governorship ticket to a candidate from the area. ‘The PDP won across the senatorial district showing that the people here prefer the opposition party to the APC. Will it not be wise for the APC to also go to the central senatorial district where it has always won with a landslide?

    “I say this because the current governor is from Osun east and it is only fair another zone takes the slot. That is the type of zoning I can support. And there are many good candidates in the central senatorial zone too. I know of the current Chief of Staff to the Governor, Gboyega Isiaka Oyetola. He is one man that has shown that he is ready to carry on Aregbesola’s legacies. We can trust him with the job.

    “I have heard some people describe him as Lagos based. Here is someone who built his country home in Iragbiji as far back as 2002, long before he got involved in politics. Was Baba Akande not living in Ibadan before he became governor? Was Bola Ige living in Esa Oke before his election? We all have where we work outside our hometown. I am in Ilorin now. So, such description lack basis and should be disregarded in the interest of merit and good governance after Aregbesola,” he said.

  • Osun 2018: Akinbade, Adeleke declare interest

    Ex-Secretary to Osun State Government (SSG) Alhaji Fatai Akinbade and the lawmaker representing Osun West Senatorial District, Ademola Adeleke, have declared interest in the governorship election holding on September 22.

    The duo are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Akinbade, a former chairman of PDP in the state, on Tuesday submitted his letter of intent to the party secretariat amid jubilation by hundreds of his supporters.

    The former SSG said his 20 years of experience as a politician and in government positioned him for election as the next governor.

    But the younger brother to the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Ademola, made his intention known in a letter he wrote to the leadership of the party in the state, where he pledged to prioritise agriculture, education and cushion the effect of poverty.

    He said: “I have the ability to galvanise the electorate towards ensuring victory in the coming Osun gubernatorial poll, just as I have done in the last Osun West Senatorial District election. My late brother, Isiaka, had laid the foundation which is visible to the electorate and I am ready to sustain the legacy.”

    Adeleke advised the PDP leadership in the state to give him the opportunity to fly the party’s flag in the forthcoming poll.

  • Osun 2018: New leadership changes permutations in PDP

    The outcome of last weekend’s state congress of the Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP) in Osun State, which produced Olasoji Adagunodo as the authentic chairman of the party, has unsettled permutations in the race for its governorship ticket, reports Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor.

    The election of Hon. Olasoji Adagunodo and others in his camp as the new members of the state working committee of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun state, after years of intra-party rivalry, following the boycott of the congresses by the faction loyal to former deputy governor of the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore, according to chieftains of the party, has opened a new chart of discourse in the race for the governorship ticket of the party.

    Some pundits say the new development, aside from ending the crisis that lingered for so long, may have ended the age-long hold of Omisore on the party in the state and throw up new chieftains of the PDP as possible guber candidates.

    Speaking to The Nation last weekend in Osogbo, Comrade Fasiu Ajetunmobi, a former ex-officio member of the PDP in Ife Zone, described the outcome of the congress as a mixed bag of fortunes for the party ahead of the 2018 governorship election. “We have on our hand a situation where our party is freed from an age-long encumbrance. Those who boycotted the election have been the problem of the party all along. We are happy they are no longer in charge.

    “At the same time, we are not happy some of our people are threatening to opt out of the party with them. But the majority members of the PDP in Osun are happy that Adagunodo is the man in charge and we are going to work hard to win the next election. Especially now that we have the opportunity to present a new, untainted and widely acceptable candidate to the good people of Osun state,” he said.

    The state congress, which was held at the Osogbo Township stadium, was monitored by the national officers of the party led by Emmanuel Agbor, who is the Chairman of the Electoral Committee. The congress was monitored and observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Former National Secretary, Wale Oladipo; former deputy governor, Olusola Obada, former Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, former National Deputy Chairman, Shuaib Oyedokun, and a member of the House of Representatives, Oluwole Oke, all attended the congress.

    Also in attendance were a former Secretary to the Osun State Government, Fatai Akinbade, Francis Fadahunsi, a former chairman of the party, Gani Ola-Oluwa, former Speaker, Adejare Bello, National Deputy Publicity Secretary, Diran Odeyemi, frontline governorship aspirants, Ayoade Adewopo and Lere Oyewunmi, among many others, also graced the occasion.

    Speaking after his victory, Adagunodo lauded the National Chairman of the Party, Prince Uche Secondus, the National Working Committee and the National Executive Council of the party for saving Osun PDP from total collapse. “I commend their sense of justice and fairness in breaking the logjam which has bedeviled our party in this state for long and allow the constitution of our party to reign supreme through this internal democratic process.”

    The new frontrunners

    While the PDP currently boasts of over a dozen gubernatorial aspirants aside the embattled Senator Omisore, the emergence of a new leadership from a faction other than the one loyal to the former deputy governor has thrown up a couple of these aspirants as the men to beat in the race for the party’s governorship ticket. The Nation gathered that the emergence of these aspirants is largely based on the roles they played during he lingering crisis and their acceptability to party members across the state.

    “One thing is obvious now; Omisore or his group can no longer corner the governorship ticket as it was in the past. The members of our party will decide who will contest for us. As it is, we know those who are acceptable to our members across the state. We also know those who stayed with the people during the truffle and we know those who stayed with our oppressors but only returned to us when victory was near. All these will matter during the primaries,” Ajetunmobi said.

    Aspirants expected to vie for the ticket under the PDP led by Adagunodo include Gbenga Owolabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ayoade Adewopo, youthful Ife-born legal practitioner, former Secretary to the State Government, Fatai Akinbade, a business tycoon, Dr. Kayode Oduoye, and Lere Oyewumi.  Speaking to The Nation recently at a prayer session organized by the party, Adagunodo said any one of these aspirant was capable of winning the governorship election in September.

    However, further checks by The Nation within the party revealed that leaders and members of the PDP in Osun state may have resolved to shop for an aspirant who will compete favorably with whoever the ruling APC is planning to field and go along to win the September election for the opposition party. Thus, a few of the above mentioned aspirants have become favorites of party members across the state.

    “We are looking for a young, capable and acceptable candidate who will change the voting dynamics and deliver the votes to the PDP. We have a number of them and we are settling for one of them soon. In the same vein, we are equally considering who will be the deputy governorship candidate. We want to come out with a ticket that will attract the people of Osun to once again vote for PDP,” a party executive said.

    New permutation?

    The Nation further gathered that not a few party chieftains and members across the state are rooting for the candidacy of Adewopo, who Ajetunmobi described as the ‘new face of Osun PDP’. “He is one aspirant who is fresh and untainted by any past records. Aside that the fits the bill as he is young and widely accepted across the state by our members. He also stood firmly with the Adagunodo group all through the crisis,” he added.

    Ajetunmobi and others are not alone in their thoughts. Many watchers of the politics of Osun state insist the stiffest challenge to the old order within the party is being mounted by Ile-Ife-born legal practitioner turned politician, Dr. Ayoade Adewopo. According to reliable sources within the party, many party leaders are making up their mind about the Adewopo who they say has popularized the PDP more than any other aspirant in the last couple of years.

    “It is not politically incorrect to say that today in Osun, Adewopo is the man giving our opposition sleepless nights. This is for many reasons. One, it is the first time in a long time that a strong governorship contender will be sprouting out of the Ife axis to challenge the old order for the coveted ticket. Adewopo is not just from Ile-Ife, he is from a prominent family. He is also maternally a prince from Ede,” a party chieftain added.

    And if they have their way, those pushing for Adewopo’s candidacy across the state will prefer he is given one of either Lere Oyewunmi or Fatai Akinbade as deputy governorship candidate because, according to them, Adewopo’s youthful vibrancy will be greatly helped by the maturity and political experience of any of these two old warhorses.

    “Akinbade is no push over in Osun politics. He is a grassroots politician and has the resources and contacts to help the party. He has been contesting in the governorship election for a while now. He was a member of the PDP. But for age which is not on his side, he would have been a good choice too. No doubt, he will be a big asset on the ticket of the party as a running mate,” a chieftain of the party said.

    Speaking about Oyewunmi, Ajetunmobi said he is the best option if the party desires to win the election with Adewopo as gubernatorial candidate. “Lere is a PDP chieftain to the core and the people across the state love him. He may not posses the youthfulness and vibrancy we need now, but he is a man with a political arsenal that the party cannot ignore in its quest to win the next election,” he opined.

  • Osun 2018: Who succeeds Aregbesola?

    Osun 2018: Who succeeds Aregbesola?

    No fewer than 14 aspirants on the platforms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are struggling to succeed Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola whose tenure expires next year. Correspondent ADESOJI ADENIYI writes on the succession battle.

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are warming up for next year’s governorship election in Osun State. Many aspirants for the exalted seat have signified their intentions on the platform of the two parties. Though very few of them are bold enough to set up structures in support of their ambitions they have really commenced underground moves in support of the actualisation of their dreams.

    Aspirants itching to succeed Governor Rauf Aregbesola include his Chief of Staff; Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG); Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, the state Commissioner for Finance;

    Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly; Hon. Najeem Salam, the lawmaker, representing Ejigbo/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa federal constituency in the House of Representatives; Hon. Mojeed Alabi, the deputy speaker in the House of Representatives; Hon. Lasun Yusuf, representing the Orolu/Irepodun/Osogbo/Oroluunda Federal Constituency.

    Others are the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; Dr. Ajibola Basiru, a Lagos-based legal practioner; Dr. Rasheed Adegoke, and the chairman of the Osun State Local Government Commission; Mr. Peter Babalola. The aspirants are presently pursuing their ambitions on the platform of the APC.

    Those that want to actualise their dreams under the Peoples Democritic Party include the former  Secretary to the Government; Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, former deputy governor in the state; Senator Iyiola Omisore, former chairman of Irewole Local Government; Chief Lere Oyewumi, former Speaker; the state House of Assembly, Hon. Adejare Bello, and son to late Senator Simeon Oduoye; a retired Inspecror-General of Police; Barr. Kayode Oduoye.

    Last September, the ruling APC officially lifted ban on participation by aspirants for 2018 governorship election. But with this development no significant political activities designed for the 2018 polls have been noticed. The incumbency remains a big factor in determining who clinches the ticket as virtually all aspirants, particularly those on the platform of the APC are closely reading the lips and body language of the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. They patiently look on to him to make his choice and thereafter pull his weight and all the resources of the state as well as his political structure behind his “annoited candidate.” But the situation is different in the opposition campaign as the aspirants have started campaign work. The major obastacle for PDP aspirants is the fallout of the court judgement that sacked the Ali Modu Sheriff national exco in favour of Ahmed Markafi, which has created a factionalisation of the party in the state. To a large extent, aspirants find it very difficult to draw support from the two divides.

    While the two major parties – the APC and the pDP contend with different challenges, it is very clear that a party that manages its affairs well will get the favour of the electorate. Before now, the APC have been enmeshed in the struggle between members advocating for choice of an “home-based” candidate instead of the “Lagos/foreign” candidate. The clamour has already been established with many believing in the advocacy. The party has been very silent on the issue and some members also consider the matter to be a non issue. For example, the Director of Publicity and Strategy for the party in the state, Barr. Kunle Oyatomi, asked what defines someone as Lagos/Foreign politician and another a home-based. He said: “As long as you are a citizen of the state and you meet other constitutional requirements you are qualified to run for the election. What should be important is how capable and prepared for the job are the aspirants so that the state would not suffer a retrogression as a result of bad governance. The incumbent governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, no doubt has laid a foundation for continued and future development which need a consolidation by the right choice of candidate to succeed him and further increase the fortunes of the state.”

    On zoning, it is not very clear the stands of the two political parties, the APC and the PDP on the matter. But the popular belief is that zoning as a matter of convention should be recorgnised. For APC, the clamour among the members is for the governorship seat be zoned to the Osun West senatorial districts which comprises. Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore, Ejigbo, Ayedade, Irewole, Isokan, Iwo, Ayedire and Ola-Oluwa council areas, because the zone only ruled for barely two years when late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke was first civilian governor from 1992 to 1993. the since creation of the state since 1991. But Osun Central and Osun East, out of 26 years since the state was created in 1991, ruled for 11 and 8 years respectively. Both from Central,  Chief Adebisi Akande was in the saddle from 1999 to 2003 and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola from 2003 to 2010 until he was sacked by the Court of Appeal in Ibadan  and installed the incumbent governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, who has been on the seat from 2010 and will remain there, all things being equal, till 2018 when his second term tenure expires.

    Many other APC members are of the opinion that the good works of Aregbesola must be sustained, therefore, believe that search for credible candidate that can do the job must not be limited to a particular zone if the future of the state will not be jeopardized.  A source within the party, who preferred anonymity, said those “shouting home-based are supporters who are ready to compromise the state development on the altar of selfish gains. They are the ones, who want to appropriate the state resources and they believe selling the idea of an home-based candidate will help them achieve their aims.”

    It is rather different for those that believe that the Lagos/foreign politicians are favoured by the Aregbesola administration and well positioned to take over the  power. They insisted that they may be indigenes of the state but they argued that they don’t know or understand the yearnings of the people. The PDP also shared opinion that the APC-led government by Aregbesola lacked understanding of the state. Many policies of the APC government are not people-friendly, according to a chieftain of the PDP, Prince Diran Odeyemi.

     

  • Osun 2018: Clarion call to APC, others for peaceful election

    Osun 2018: Clarion call to APC, others for peaceful election

    The gubernatorial election for 2018 in Osun is fast-approaching  and the political gladiators; the serious, the pretenders and the spoilers are in the field. Like a field events, some have beaten the gun and are not ready to listen to the whistle of the umpire. To some, this coming election, the incumbent Governor Rauf Aregbesola must serve as the scape goat, if their victory must be guaranteed .

    The politicians have a culture of self-adulation; that lead to incivility. This attitude is in semblance with the story of the  elephant in our oral literature that highlights the catastrophe of pride. It goes that long time ago the elephant was deceived into the city by the tortoise that human beings have resolved to crown him a king. The elephant fell for the deceit and was heading for the King’s palace where a deep ditch has been dugged but covered with a beautiful mat and a stool was cleverly place on the pit.

    To get the elephant to its destruction,  a good song was composed and sang for it”: A o merin joba  ereku-eewele, Oba to dade owo  ereku ewele Oba to te  opa  ileke ereku ewele ao merin joba  ereku ewele “. Eventually,  the elephant got to the palace  and was about to sit on the throne when the staged-managed throne caved-in, the people immediately rushed at the elephant and killed it. The import of this story was a lesson in humility and the need to measure the mood of the generality.

    Every citizen of Nigeria has a right to aspire to any political office: while doing so,  one must be humble and and sensitive to the needs and feelings of the people one is aspiring to lead. When an aspirant is marketing himself to the people, caution must not be thrown to the wind in the campaign and promises the individual makes to the people. At the same time, there is no way for would-be candidate, who has not even scaled through the party primariee to start demeaning the achievements of the incumbent, no matter the observed  shortcomings. The people will take such an aspirant or aspirants as a spoilt and incorrigible son that has no respect or regards for the parents. If the opposition does that, it is allowed but for co-members to so do will breed hates and political crisis.

    What then should an aspirant do? The norm in political campaigns is for the politicians to start from where the incumbent has reached in the developmental strides; apraise his efforts and promise to perform far better or to promise to improve where the governor has stopped.

    However,  what we have witnessed by some few political actors from the ruling-All Progressives Congress  (APC) contestant or aspirants is an act of perfidy. A society where everyone else takes into perfidy cannot but falter, fail and fall. If we don’t want to falter, fail and fall in  the APC,  there is an urgent need to retreat and restrategise in the campaign that is ongoing.

    There is no doubt that there is misunderstanding here and there in all political parties of which APC is not an exception. What to do is not to play into the hands of political adversaries, rather to find a means of resolving the conflict. Politics itself is a system of conflict resolution. All men cannot think and behave in the same way. Consequently,  conflicts  are bound to manifest but it must be channelled positively towards the societal values and development.  When a political party sinks itself due to internal strife, it opens its doors to defeat and failure. That is why unchecked brinkmanship often breads cancerous social vices that poison the whole political system that may lead to systemic collapse.

    The Best Road To Political Victory.

    All men strive for success  but not all men succeed. Why, because  men are fallible; men hardly learn from the failure and success of others. Those who  read biographies tend to acquire  more knowledge about successful leadership. In life, we are all students, learning from past leaders.

    Surely, Rauf Aregbesola came to office in 2010 when the whole Osun looked  like the old Osun Province. Nothings seemed to be working and the infrastructure were nothing to write home about.   Schools were like poultry sheds. The then administration was borrowing  to pay salaries. It is no longer news that the first governor in Nigeria that employed 20,000 youths under the Osun Youths Employment Scheme (OYES) at a go was Aregbesola. That feat a lone marked Aregbesola out as a man on a mission. The mission eventually  crystallised  into a national phenomenon that the opposition Federal government sent for the governor to put them through the process. As if that was not all, the United Kingdom parliament  invited the governor on the  subject matter of free-feeding of primary school pupils in public schools that Aregbesola introduced  and eventually introduced same in the UK  that saved parents of £50,000 annually.

    Aregbesola infrastructural development in Osun is humongous,  to the extent that Osogbo Descendants Union gave the governor a special award for his effort in changing the face of the ancient city to unbelievable modern city.

    The educational sector in the state cannot but be a plus for the governor that there is virtually  no local government councils areas that have not gotten one or two gigantic ultra modern school located in their domain.

    All the then 30 local government council areas and Area Office in Modakeke witnessed  construction of roads and bridges. Aregbesola administration’s giant strides in almost all the set out six-point Integral Action Plan became headache for the opposition to the extent that some of them decamped to the new sheriff in town to share in his success . While a few others were lamenting over how funds were procured for the projects that turned the state to construction sites.

    Politics, some said, is a dirty game; maybe true or not, some of those who by virtue of being members of the ruling party were awarded the contracts of some of the projects that adorned the landscape of the state today, only for one or two of them who have shifted their allegiances to a new political group to turn around accusing the state and the governor of incompetence. If opposition fear the humongous  achievements of  Aregbesola and turn to the accusation of high debt profiles and members who are now scheming for power now find solace  in painting Aregbesola in bad light in order to sell themselves, one wonders about the logicability of such campaign. It is not a democratic culture to destroy or ridicule your political platform just for the sake of pursuit of power.

    It is  better  to avoid the same bad politics that was played over the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke’s death. That was when some members of the family laid the blame of the said Adeleke’s death at the door of the state government, whereas it was eventually made known to the world that the sudden death was due to medical-mistake of a quack dispenser through the report of a special panel over it. The unfortunate death of the man of the people  (Late Isiaka Adeleke ) was politicised  and the rest is history today.

    It is needful that those who want to tread the same path must pause and note that the gubernatorial election is wider in scope and intense in pursuit. The then APC has  woken up to its responsibilities. The party is up and doing and it is better for all aspirant to work together towards the primary elections and the post-primary.

    There is no shenanigans that can make anybody rubbish the governor in order to win the heart of the people. The people know the challenges  confronting the state; a general problem in the nation, which is paucity of  funds. While some states are worse off  that they could not pay salaries of workers, Osun has continued to pay full salaries to workers in level 1 to 7 and 75% to workers in level 10 to  12, while those who are on 13 and above that earned half  salaries.

    What democrats do id to sell themselves to the electorate, first to acknowledge the achievementsof the incumbent and urge for continuity; urging the people by saying although Aregbesola has done well in his eight years and if given the chance to  continue from where he would stop, you will improve on them or in another word, you may say you will do better.

    To avoid rancour and internal strife in party politics, a democrat can acknowledge what the opposition party has done well . Telling the people that if given the chance they stand to perform  better. But each time aspirants thought the best way to get their dream fulfilled is only to rubbish the good works of others; will always spark off politics of bitterness and snowball into political violence.

    If in the process of climbing the ladder of political power, the lives and blood of the common man is shed, there is no way the death can be compensated because  the living dog is better than the dead lion. But no matter how hard one’s heart may be, once in a while, there is a flash of recall of the violent hours in which the blood of the  innocent were shed for you to ascend to that seat of power and how will you feel if in the political struggle, you lose your son due to the hand work of polititical thugs. Till you bid the world good night, your memories will keep reminding you that you lost a child. The same happened to those who lost their beloved ones  to death due to power struggle. Have you asked yourself about their feelings about those who are in power when their bread winners were killed because of an aspirant?  To save yourself of bad memories, is to be cautious of how you go about your electioneering. Life is precious, don’t let anybody shed blood for your sake. Peaceful election must be pursued.

     

    • Yomi Obaditan is a political analyst.
  • Osun 2018: Aregbesola, APC must work harder for victory

    Osun 2018: Aregbesola, APC must work harder for victory

    The All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Osun State has been urged to close ranks and work harder to ensure the victory of the party in the next gubernatorial election in the state. In a statement issued in Osogbo at the weekend, a socio-political group, Liberty Forum, said the outcome of the next election in the state will largely be determined by the influence of the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

    President of the forum, Edward Olusola Ajayi, who signed the release, said the Aregbesola factor will play the most significant role in determining who wins the 2018 gubernatorial election in the state. The group said the APC is however ahead of the other political parties in the state in terms of capacity to win the next gubernatorial election.

    “From what we have seen, APC is better positioned to win the 2018 election in Osun. It is also clear that the incumbent governor has been a rallying point for the revolutionary changes that have taken place in Osun in the face of scarce resources. The Governor’s high level of fiscal discipline, his moral attributes and his sincerity of purpose puts him ahead as the iconic character whose charm will largely influence the outcome of the gubernatorial election,” the statement read in part.

    According to the group, though some categories of workers have not been paid their salary, but the “openness and transparency of the governor” strengthens the confidence of the workers and masses in him. “Osun has witnessed tremendous experiences that are uncommon. The state has been badly affected by poor allocation, but the governor has brought a lot of wisdom in managing the lean resources.

    He has denied himself personal benefits, he earns no salary, his aides have been receiving only 50 percent of their salaries while the workers on level 07 downwards are paid as at when due. Nigeria in recession was signified by the personal lifestyle of the governor and his aides. They are making sacrifices that people can see,” the group stated.

  • Osun 2018: APC ‘ll win

    The Southwest spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ayo Afolabi, has expressed confidence that the party will win next year’s governorship poll in Osun State. He said: “We have no other competitor in the state.”

    Afolabi, who made the assertion in Lagos while fielding questions from reporters, said the temporary setback suffered by the APC in the recent Osun West senatorial election on July 8 was caused by the crisis of selection, assuring that effective fence mending had taken place.

    He said, it is only an uninitiated politically that would say the temporary setback was the end of APC in the state, adding that those who are conversant with the leadership qualities of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his political dexterity would know that a flight to a successful landing has begun.

    Afolabi said: “There is no opposition against the APC in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is non-existent in spite of its acclaimed rejuvenation, adding emphatically that, “with Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s outstanding performance couple with the competent leadership of the party’s leadership under its Chairman, Hon. Adegboyega Famodun, winning 2018 election is a foregone conclusion.

    He said indices of development in Osun State can be traced to the era of the progressives, citing an example of the ultra-modern State Secretariat that was built during the administration of former Governor Bisi Akande between 1999 and 2003.

    He added: “It was when the administration of Aregesola came on board in 2010 that the state started witnessing growths and development in progressive succession. The infrastructural development under Aregbesola is unequalled despite the paucity of funds. And the good people of the state are not unmindful of these laudable achievements. So, against this background, the people, who are the beneficiaries of these developmental projects will be ready to reciprocate the good gestures from their benefactor by voting en masse for the APC as a sign of appreciation.”

     

  • Osun 2018: My life under threat – Deputy Reps Speaker

    Osun 2018: My life under threat – Deputy Reps Speaker

    The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Lasun Yusuf has raised the alarm over threat to his life.
    His Special Adviser on Constituency, Dr Remi Ajala, told reporters in Osogbo he has received threats since he declared interest in the Osun 2018 governorship race.
    The representative of Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu federal constituency claimed various public instances and actions that followed his declaration have indicated some elements were after his life.
    He asked the public ignore the statement credited to the Osun caucus of the House comprising Jibola Famurewa, Mojeed Alabi, Gaffar Amere, Ayo Omidiran and Olufemi Fakeye shortly after the tribute on the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke at the plenary that his expression of fear was built on emotion.
    He also alleged a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned him and the late Adeleke to forget their governorship ambitions.
    The Deputy Speaker pointed out his plan to attend the birthday of a progressive leader at Ikirun on January 27 was aborted by a text message linked to a thug.

  • Osun: parties regroup ahead 2018 gov polls

    Osun: parties regroup ahead 2018 gov polls

    Political parties have started re-grouping ahead of 2018 Osun State governorship election.
    Chieftains of different political parties, including the Accord Party (AP), the Labour Party (LP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Action Alliance (AA), the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), the Mega’s Peoples Party (MPP), some groups within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) yesterday gathered at the Oba Okunade Sijuwade Memorial Hall, in Ile-Ife to strategise.
    Speaking at the event, the chairman of the occasion, Hon. Bello Sulaimon, from the Labour Party, said the formation of the group was to “rescue” people of the state from the “untoward hardships” that had befallen the state through Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s All Progressives Congress-led administration and to wrestle power from the party in 2018 elections.
    Sulaimon, who insisted that the problem of poor economy must be combated headlong, charged people of the state to be united to vote “your oppressors out of power.”
    Also, former aspirant to the state House of Assembly in Osun East on the platform of Accord Party, Segun Ayodele Fanibe, called for unity among members of the newly formed group.
    According to him, with the power of unity, those who have battered and shattered the country’s economy would be chased out of power.
    In his own remark, the former Public Relations Officer of the PDP in the South-West but now a chieftain of the Labour Party in the state, Engr. Yinka Adigun, said the new group would transform to a political party in May.