By Alabi Yusuf
The forthcoming general election will be the most civilized election to the rest in the past. This is in the magnitude at which people made differences; bring out a yardstick and made firm justification before any support. Prudential exhibition is alarming and frightening the politicians. Despite the fact that many of the people have not opted for what is real.
Notwithstanding, we thank the Lord of enlightenment for the new development. The dissension seems clear, that the people can make a little judgement. Unlike those days when the total vote is from loyalists, party members, families and friends. Many have tested but little did what is expected. This gives for a new leaf.
Politicking in Oyo State is second to none in Nigeria. The level prediction goes so low that nobody could predict the winner. Here, everybody comes to poll with equal chances of winning and nobody seems leading until the vote is counted.
Hence, in Oyo Central Senatorial District the battle will be tougher. The political heavyweights coming head-to-head in the district are influential and popular, with the people of the region each of them hails from. This is dreading and frightening the certainty of Chief Bisi Ilaka of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) fate’s again.
The people of Oyo town sympathise whenever they see Chief Bisi Ilaka’s posters all over again on the street. Why he has not made it to the red chamber? When will it be? These are questions that plumbers. Despite the love Oyo gives him all time, Ilaka has always flown in Oyo all the times he came to poll. The way politics downplayed on him and against his favour savour the people’s hopes for him. Ilaka really worth it but Oyo alone cannot make it be.
Oyo Central Senatorial District consists of eleven local governments Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East, Oyo West, Egbeda, Ogo Oluwa, Oluyole, Lagelu, Surulere, Ona Ara and Akinyele. Out of these eleven local governments area, only four are marked to Oyo town. If the four submissively and totally cast their votes for him without a bit for any other opposition, will it beat the rest seven local government areas? Absolutely, this is a fake possibility. It is not reasonable. Therefore, the votes from these local governments where he hails from cannot only take him to the ladder.
Parallel competitor Honourable Monsurat Sunmonu came in 2015, from Oyo East Local Government. The same Local Government Cheif Bisi Ilaka hails from. The then speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly came in contact with him at the poll and won. The muscle and devotedness laid by the people on APC then was a gale which no parties could paradise. Chief Bisi Ilaka won in the four local governments of Oyo town but dashed by the rest of the constituents.
Today, the game will be a tough contest between four strong influential politicians. Senator Teslim Folarin, the former Senate Leader and 2015 gubernatorial candidate of People Democratic Party (PDP) ; Honourable Olatoye Temitope Sugar, a member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Lagelu / Akinyele Federal Constituency; Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, former speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly and a serving Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District and; Chief Bisi Ilaka himself , the beloved son of Oyo .
Lagelu, Akinyele, Egbeda and Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State are the stronghold of Hon. Olatoye Temitope Sugar. The votes from these local governments propelled Sen. Monsurat to the red chamber as she could not get enough from the rest. This was as a result of Sugar’s popularity and crowd lateral support APC gathered in 2015. However, the game is not as seen from the vision of the past. Sugar contesting for the senatorial seat under Action Democratic Party (ADP) after the game was crossed over him in All Progressive Congress (APC). Hon. Olatoye Sugar has worked down and up the aisle beyond the senatorial district in his programmes. Many have benefited from his Olatoye Sugar Foundation – scholarship, empowerment, free health care and many altruistic services to the people. The popularity and influence of Olatoye Sugar cannot be undermined.
The former Senate Leader, Sen. Teslim Folarin is a storm and obstruction to the success of other contestants. The former People Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate has a power which many others could not bash. He is an elder in the game and leader of the table shakers in the state before the power shifted. Sen. Folarin has his popularity in the core part of the constituency in Ibadan like Egbeda, Oluyole, Akinyele, Oluyole and, Lagelu. His popularity may influence Ona Ara and Surulere. Sen. Folarin’s way to the ruling party APC is a score for him. The power of the incumbent government cannot be underestimated in electioneering. Every might will be used to make him succeed in the forthcoming election. Moreover, Folarin has the money and charisma which may bulk up support for him above his counterparts. If Nigeria factor will effect into the election processes, then Folarin may clutch the ballot.
The female Senator who enjoyed the benefit of APC unhindered supports in 2015 now in a new party African Democratic Congress (ADC) contesting against her former party and now strong opposition. The battle seems tougher. The local governments under the constituency in Ibadan who gave their trust integrally to the success of the last election are now thorns to tear her apart. The four local governments of Oyo may be his brightest focus but in loggerhead with Chief Lagelu of Oyo Kingdom. The team worked within her party not working hard to her favour and her campaign was not people’s base at the grassroots of Oyo town. She needs to make the ‘Monsurat’s speak’ speak to the people at the grassroots to lull the spirit of Oyo-ness with Chief Bisi Ilaka. Senator Mansurat Sumonu is a tough edge to this subject.
However, more hope for her and brighter still as the only female in the contest. The might and enlightenment of feminism can make her conquer, only and if the people know well how the female is needed and can take that side towards her. The chance of a good and strong party is on her side. The juvenile party now stout and firm to stand on, threatening the opposition and giving out hope of victory. A very good platform for her to ride on! Moreover, the power is still with her to use as the incumbent. Nigeria things can be done with dough in the pocket of people and on the street. We should know what that means in a lighter mood. After all, 400 million Naira was just awarded to her as constituency projects bills. Good use of the money for what the money was stated for, Chief Bisi Ilaka will need to back home again and come back later.
If the people know of stuff and expertness the candidacy of Chief Oyebisi Ilaka would have been the best choice for them as a representative in the red chamber. The Curriculum Vitae of Ilaka worth a finance ministerial appointment. Chief Oyebisi L. Ilaka serves as a Financial and Tax Consultant. Chief. Ilaka served as Managing Director and Chairman of Mortgage Assistance Co. Ltd., UK and Total Realty Property and Financial Services Ltd. He has many years of experience. He also served as the UK, Director of Wiggin Teape Nig. Ltd and a Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser of a bank in Nigeria. He serves as a Director of Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation. This is his background on Bloomberg.
Consequently, this should be a point of the campaign for him. Do the people read profiles? Are they concerned about the professional achievements and expertness of a candidate? This is one of the crudeness of politicking in Nigeria. The people do not care about the background and achievements of the candidates but care for how much they come and dance in public, spray money on the street and brandish them with falsehood.
Undeniably, the contributions of Chief Bisi Ilaka to the development of Oyo Central Senatorial District was meritorious. The contribution was so glaring and undeniable by friends and foes. Despite the political interstice between him and the ‘royal house’. He was conferred the Lagelu of Oyo Kingdom. His contributions through Bisi Ilaka Foundation benefited people enormously. Anecdotal information shows that 27 boreholes were provided throughout the constituency. I can say he initiated the construction of a borehole in Oyo town. He gave scholarships and grants to excellent students in the constituency, especially in Oyo town. Ilaka’s philanthropy in his early advent in political limelight was a landmark and examples which many politicians trend today in Oyo town.
The loudest of his achievements was his grip in a sport . The Ilaka Football Club and Oba Lamidi Adeyemi Football Tournament. This won him the soul of youths in the town. The football club participated in matchup both within and outside the Oyo State.
His achievements made the people of Oyo submissive to his political wills and unconditionally showed him love at polls. The sympathy for his loss at polls all time and the effort he has put in place for more than three turns of elections, make many go for him at the expense of the political juggernauts at his side. One of the former players of Ilaka Football Club told me, he is voting for him because he has done so much in the past and earned nothing in NJ NJ return.This is how it is, with many who can trace his trend.
How far will this go with him? The time shall tell.
Alabi Yusuf writes from Oyo state.
