Politics is a game played with one hand opened and the other hand closed. When both hands are opened it becomes a manacle round the neck and when both are closed it turned deceit . Politicking is not actually playing bad and deceitful games but a game of the people’s interest and emotion . The people’s population need to be considered, their interest preserved and their emotion kept stable along the line . Dereliction of any of these may end up being a bad game in the political realm.
What makes those leaders remain with their relevance lies here: The people come first in their priorities . When they tampered with their emotion and dignity or go against with their will even if done in secrecy, the leaders will come out in disguise for the people’s regards .Despite the fact that the people must bow for the interest of the leaders as their political drivers and small gods, It takes rhetoric to conquer the poor heart as they have pledged their allegiance and loyalty to the leaders. Party members and loyalists are not leader’s kids or their loyalties are not obliterated and they are liable and entitled to their choices . The leaders who people hold to a very high esteem may be due to their generosity or approaches must be watchful . They are party members but most of them are not reliant , they are professionals that have great enthusiasm for politics and political participation. Many of them are not from the political purses .
After the resolution of PDP and the court judgement which terminated the faction of the party and brought the party back under one umbrella in 2017. Baba Ladoja re-joined the party he had once served as senator and governor, Prior to consultations and agreements. The Ibadan giant political leader and high chief was warmly welcomed and he became the leader of the party that he deserved . The Accord party was completely emptied . This is the party that had contested in two consecutive elections and couped to seat many House of Assembly members and came second at the gubernatorial polls. A party that people look up to see the next hope . A giant party!
Persistently , the business was not real according to agreement reached before joining PDP . It seemed SeyI Makinde would be imposed , legitimate primary wIll not be conducted and the party would not be democratic in putting things in place . As a political leader he saw these earlier as threat to thwart his interest and ambition of his people. So, he left to a newly introduced party ADC. A wise decision though !
Like home we come. Aggrieved members from different political parties came and make the party stronger . In few months it gained popularity and did not look like a new party anymore. Baba Ladoja stood as the apex leader of the party state level and hold to champion the affair as the major contributor to the party . Politicking was not falling real , many political giants stood on their feets to champion the affairs too . The biggest interest of him is to have Senator Olufemi Lanlehin as the gubernatorial candidate amidst twelve other candidates contending for the ticket . Expectantly, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of the party . According to a wide publication by Oseni Aderemi, one of the aspirants questioning the emergence of Lanlehin as undemocratic, opined that Lanlahin was imposed by the party secretariat. He argued that Dr Nureni Adeniran won the primary election. if all said by Oseni Aderemi seemed true, then the gimmick Baba Ladoja ran away from in PDP now become his choice in ADC. The feat started lingering and party members want to swing to action and bring SOLAN to The top . The people ready to feast but something Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) was sprouting . Who is bringing this ? What for ?
Baba was not satisfied, yes, he is so confident. He believes in people too much, that his way is the only way to paradise, his wish is their command and they follow him ‘dogmatically’. That was his insinuation. He wants everything to bow for his interest and champion all the slots. Anecdotal report shows that he has already planted one of his long time boys Waheed Akanbi in ZLP to execute his selfish ambition. The excuse of the region of the Lanlahin running mate Mr Saheed Alaran was not strong enough reason . In less than 48 hours , ZLP posters , Bill boards and jingle hit the town . It becomes a known party within a week, all candidates are substituted before INEC deadline and local and state leaders emerged immediately. What else for a good plan ?
This put loyalist , grassroot leaders and mobilizers in deep confusion. They all times go around to debunk the move, while underground plans were going on too to perfect the defection. The leaders preventing the party members giving dose of calms and exploring all tactics to save the new party. Baba Ladoja was on his own and his gimmick teams were mocking the effort of these poor loyalists. From the erstwhile Accord party to PDP, ADC then to another New party. Many of his members are tired of defections. Those who found PDP useful stayed , some remain in Acord while some are already stake holders in ADC and many not caring to leave . At least they liable to their choice .
What else does he want ? This is the question begging for answer . If the issue is the Iseyin local government where Lanlehin running mate hails from, then that is no issue . In no way could a party satisfy a local government area in distribution of power not even a state like Oyo state . If that could be a consideration, what will be the fate of Oyo town , Ogbomoso and other major towns in the state .
It seems, he has achieved his political acme this season and we are all waiting to see how this will come to his favour . If only he is the God of the people that has absolute power over their will. When group of loyalist that could not collectively win him gubernatorial seat in three elections consecutively will win when divided into two , three and four .
Alabi writes for Oyo
