By Oyedeji Ahmed
Nothing could be accomplished with a Third-force in Oyo state, and party members didn’t realize this until all of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidates were defeated in 2019 general election.
Although the governorship candidate of the party enjoyed widespread popularity as well as candidates that contested at the national level with their strength, including my respected boss and father, the Baamofin of Kishi land, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, who contested for Oyo North; Senator Sumonu Monsurat, Oyo Central; and Senator Soji Akanbi for Oyo South, where it seemed like ADC during the electioneering period then was all over Oyo state.
But we received the greatest shock of our lives when we saw result coming in against the party and how those who have strongly pledged to elect our candidates suddenly voted the candidates of the two main strong parties in the country; All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP).
Our crime was because we didn’t have a presidential candidate neither a formidable structure across local government areas that makes up Oyo state.
The people came out en-mass to send our candidates and party back into the trenches of frenetic forgetfulness, little did they know that the action hunted many members and that some ADC candidates suffered greatly in silence. However, all thanks to Governor Seyi Makinde who, out of his favor, revived, revitalized, and gave many of the party’s candidates hope as well as rescuing their political careers through appointments and engagement.
The election of Governor Seyi Makinde seems to have awakened many people to the futility of the Third-force party’s campaign. The outcome made it abundantly clear that a Third-force cannot fly regardless of who your candidates are, let alone Mulikat Adeola’s Social Democratic Party or Olopoenia NNPP’s party, whose gubernatorial candidate’s convoy is not even comparable to a candidate for a House of Assembly under the People’s Democratic Party.
The choice of Hon. Akinwole Akinwale, also known as Wolekanle, to lead the Oyo north senatorial district is without a doubt the result of the current yearning and calls by many illustrious sons of Ogbomoso to hold the top position in the senatorial district as many have continued to have a distasteful taste of Fatai Buhari, who is currently seeking a Third term in office. The electorates were left with no other choice but the elite consensus with a resolution that with Wolekanle this time around, both Ogbomoso and Oke-ogun will enjoy.
Cut me some slack! For Mulkat Akande Adeola who couldn’t fly with a formidable party (PDP) in 2019 to be thinking it could be possible now under a Third-force without a popular presidential candidate nor a formidable political structure across all local government areas that make up Oyo state should rather be described as a joker. In fact, a real joker.
And I am confident that, given the rigor of the campaign, every conscientious citizen, especially the illustrious sons of Ogbomoso, would be aware that a Third Force is an attempt in futility, and that, in addition to her gender, it is unpopular with the vast majority of the People of Oyo North, who are largely Muslim, to permit a female to hold the covetous seat.
The sooner the SDP leader wakes up, realizes what type of monster they are up against, and realizes this, the sooner Hon. Mulikat Adeola should be saved from yet another coming defeat that may force her to spend every single kobbo in her kitty.
And is the Third term for Fatai Buhari the greatest option for the people of Oyo North? No one has ever openly disagreed with me that his party, under the leadership of Muhammadu Buhari, has destroyed the future of millions of people, destroyed the economy, stoked ethnic and religious tensions, impoverished the populace, brought tears to the eyes of the oppressed, and stripped our country of its glory.
As a result, we must be ready to stand up, be firm, and speak out with our votes to elect Hon. Wolekanle as the next Senator for Oyo North.
We just always remember that the only thing left for APC to do is to crush and try to silence, degrade PDP members in the state. They know we have got a capable hand and Hon. Wolekanle remain the best among his contemporaries to do us proud in Ogbomoso and Oyo North at large.
Isn’t it the best time for Hon. Mulikat Adeola to support Hon. Wolekanle just like she wanted to cast a ballot for PDP presidential candidate? Oh, someone should let Alhaja to know that that would be so honorable.
Shalom!
Oyedeji Ahmed is the SSA to Deputy Governor on Public Affairs.
He Writes from Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
