Political solution to end the reign of PDP in Osun state, by Kola Amzat
Even though there were periods when political mistakes and outright miscalculation dearly cost progressives victory in Osun state, it’s never in doubt that the state is predominantly that of progressives, even, for ages.
Lending credence to this, Osun was carved out of the old Oyo state, a progressive enclave in all ramifications, in 1991, with Chief Bisi Akande elected to lead the state as its first democratic elected governor.
Succeeding Bisi Akande was Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who ascended largely on account of the rigging machine of PDP controlled federal government.
He was thereafter shown the way out of office, as his election was annulled by Election Tribunal, paving the way for Rauf Aregbesola, the authentic winner of the election to assume office.
This writer is therefore re-emphasizing that conservative regime in Osun state remains an aberration and would continue to be for years.
The crux of this Piece is therefore to alert the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC), as well as the party hierarchy in the state on the urgent need to arise and devise a political solution to reclaim the state back from the clutches of PDP during the next gubernatorial election and to achieve this, I would humbly suggest three options as follows:
The National Working Committee could work out a modality to lure the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke to seek second term under APC platform, with Rauf Aregbesola handing over senatorial ticket of Ife/Ijesha senatorial districts, as well as the incumbent Minister of Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola favored with Osun central senatorial districts ticket and also allowed prerogative of vying for governorship office after Ademola Adeleke’s second term in office.
As logical as the above option seems, the drawback remains how the party would accommodate and contain the excesses of Ademola Adeleke, as he’s obviously not accustomed to ideals, tenets and principles of democratic norms, which are incidentally the hallmarks in APC.
Another challenge remains whether emerging strong political forces in the party would be comfortable with Oyetola flying the flag of the party after year 2028 thereabout, after Adeleke might have completed his second term, owing to former old age.
Second option remains an arrangement that would ensure governorship ticket is handed to Bashiru Ajibola, with Oyetola favoured with Osun central senatorial districts, and Rauf Aregbesola accommodated with Ife/Ijesha senatorial districts.
The challenge of this arrangement remains whether it would sit well with the Minister of Blue Economy to have one of his faithful assuming the governor’s office when constitution still allows him 4 years in office.
The final option remains handing over governorship ticket to Oyetola during the forthcoming elections, with Rauf Aregbesola favored with Ife/Ijesha senatorial districts, and Bashiru Ajibola given the ticket of Osun central senatorial districts, an arrangement that would ensure that the three key political figures collaborating and move spiritedly with their forces to ensure that Ademola Adeleke is ousted from office.
The third option looks the most plausible, as it indicates a win-win situation for all the APC political gladiators in the state.
Even though, it’s reported that generality of Osun people were indeed not too comfortable with the overall performance of Oyetola as governor, the main reason why the party lost the state to PDP anyway, nonetheless, this writer humbly appeal to National Working Party to offer him a second chance with a view to completing his tenure.
At 70+, it’s expected that the former governor would have learnt some bitter lessons, and in hard way, too.
Rauf Aregbesola has been a recurring decimal in this Write-up, for the reasons only known to politically-discerning minds.
Despite the fact that he’s really not covered himself in glory particularly with his reckless altercation with the president, his political benefactor forever, the fact remains that the party needs him most especially, in the whole of Ife/Ijesha senatorial districts, where he’s a Cult hero.
This writer also implore the president to have a place in his heart to forgive him for his recklessness, after-all, politics is about permanent interest and not to cultivate permanent enemy.
It’s also expected that the immediate Interior Minister would have learnt his lessons after been in political wilderness in the last two years.
Osun state is very important for the APC and progressive blocs across the country; therefore, no resources must be spared to reclaim the state.
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)
Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,
09077509348.