By kola odepeju
The Osun governorship election may have come and gone though, the tension it generated for critical stakeholders in Osun democratic project especially for members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as its keenly contested nature, cannot be easily forgotten. Of course, it will continue to linger in human memory just as it will also for a long time serve as a reference point for political analysts whenever issues of electoral contest become a subject of national discourse.
The election, which has been adjudged free, fair and credible by both local and international observers, remains the most keenly contested and most tense in the annals of electoral contest in Osun, nay, Nigeria. This remains an indisputable fact. Given the nature of the election; the very marginal figure with which the APC emerged as the winner; more of a narrow escape, it was quite obvious that something went wrong within the progressives’ camp. But this is not the subject of analysis for this piece. What is important is that the progressives were able to laugh last despite the much tension and apprehension the election brought on them. Also, the nature of the election gave them the opportunity to look back and see where mistakes have been committed and the need to make necessary corrections so as to be able to avert such an experience in future elections.
The role money played in the election is important to mention as it exposed the nature of our politics to be getting increasingly monetised by the day. As living witnesses, we all saw how the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that came second in the election almost hijacked victory through inducement of voters with money. And on the part of the electorate, we could see also the premium many placed on immediate gain rather than enduring ideals. How people could easily sell their conscience for pittance remains an issue of much concern to me. But it also tells us the extent money can go in influencing the minds of the people in a massively impoverished society like ours and this tells us that there’s a big challenge before our leaders at all levels to urgently address the issue of massive poverty ravaging the land. Otherwise, our democracy is in danger.
For God’s sake who could ever believe that the ruling party would be so punched to that level in spite of Ogbeni Aregbesola’s stellar performance in the state? However, any society that places emphasis on material wealth – rather than positive and enduring values – will always face such experience. But of utmost concern to me here is the issue of Osun continuity project; the good governance that defined the outgoing Aregbsola era. As the results of the election were trickling in and it seemed the opposition PDP would carry the day, I was overwhelmed by a feeling of sadness and I felt sorry for my dear state as I could imagine the setback that good governance, education, economic prosperity and peaceful democratic atmosphere as experienced under Governor Aregbesola would suffer should the PDP succeed in manipulating its way into power again as it set out to achieve.
The eventual victory of the APC made possible by the rerun election in a few local governments where the PDP’s anti-democratic practices became obvious, was more of divine than human factor. And this is why the Osun people must continue to give glory to God for the outcome of the election which indicates continuity of the good and pro-people programmes of the Aregbesola administration. But more importantly, they should be more grateful to God that the peaceful democratic atmosphere that has berthed in the state since Ogbeni mounted the horse of political leadership, will continue; as against the pre-Aregbesola era reign of terror that would have found abode again in the state had the PDP had its way. This is what makes me happy personally. I say this much because the PDP elements, in their characteristic nature, in the hope of winning the election when the victory was initially going their way, had started terrorising the town by unleashing attacks on APC members and their supporters. They even reportedly killed an APC party agent in a place called Esa-odo in Obokun local government.
For the aforementioned reasons, this writer is happy that the political status-quo will remain in the state for years to come, but what makes me happier is the calibre of the person that will step into Aregbesola’s shoes. Being a technocrat, an accomplished administrator and financial guru, there is no doubt that Gboyega Oyetola is competent enough to take Osun to a higher level. With his track record – both in the private and public sector – Osun needs a leader of Oyetola’s ilk at this stage to move it forward. Having being lucky to have a leader like Ogbeni who elevated the state from developmental nadir to an enviable position amongst the comity of states in the federation, Osun cannot afford to slip back into that inglorious PDP era when infrastructural development and peaceful democratic atmosphere were sent on exile.
Conclusively, I will like to congratulate the good people of Osun for another great opportunity God has given them to continue to enjoy their peace under the APC government. It’s only in an atmosphere of peace that our democracy can flourish and economic prosperity can be guaranteed. Leadership of course comes with lots of challenges and it’s not going to be different for Oyetola who, by God’s grace, will become Osun’s chief helmsman come next month, one cannot but wish him a peaceful, prosperous and successful tenure ahead while also wishing the outgoing Governor a happy landing.
