Politics in Oyo State is taking a very good dimension that we have been expecting long time ago . The era of minority godparents influencing and surpassing the will of the whole people of the state is on extinction.
Oyo state is one of the states in Nigeria with a wide political few and unpredictable emergence of candidates. It is only in Oyo State that we had four candidates side by side and nobody could tell the winner until after the poll in 2015 . Contrary to the 2015 election , 2019 election was predicted by analyst few days before election and it was a muscular prediction that nothing of efforts changed it till the victory clocked for Seyi Makinde. The questions is: how the game changed?
Ajimobi changed the game . His last four years was marred by primacy , trash-talking , so bumptious and turned himself to demigod with unquestionable rhetoric . The emperor of Ibadan land is nobody’s mate . Older than his father and anybody in the state . When he speaks nobody dares question him . His authority has no check neither balance . He is alpha and nobody is omega , his decision is final and anybody who is not satisfy can let the hell loose , he cares not.
His attitudes towards the affairs of the people blighted his loud achievements . Ajimobi kicked his own career and shielded the might of the party for others . One of my experience with him was in 2017 in Awe . As a young graduate in search of greener pastures, I was invited by a friend to the Agriculture Empowerment Programme organized by Oyo State . Not knowing that the whole programme was a scene to take pictures of a thousand of youths . The whole gathering were waiting for the Governor for almost 7-hour . When he finally came , we sat calmly to listen to his long awaited address but it was a shameful one . I didn’t know when and how tears was dropping down my cheeks. I was completely disappointed with the speech from governor to his subject youths . All I have been expecting is his speech on empowerment and how youth can make good use of fertile land I.e agriculture. Like word of encouragement but ‘constituted authority’ as he his well known trash-talk for complete two hours . Throwing words indirectly to the community leaders on seat, sending words to those that are not there and proving himself right for making some decisions that the people are not pleased with . It was my first physical encounter with him and I made it the last one.
When Adebayo Adelabu came to the limelight it was show of glory but the Penkele messed it up with his engulfing submission with the executive governor. He made himself his god-son , he was threading his ways during campaign and branding some of his bad decisions that peolpeople are not pleased with . So many questions were put to Adelabu to answer but instead of giving answer in the favour of the people he his canvassing vote from he was busy answering questions in favour of his godfather who is already a dejected one . This side Adelabu took was as a result of lack of exposure to Nigeria political game. He is a financial technocrat but a political mugwump , sorry to say. He his ignorant of the situation of the state and he is actually not aware of the people’s emotion , needs, dissatisfaction, satisfactions and awareness. It is very much a danger trusting him with the affairs of the people according to his campaign level.
The similitude of this is not far fetch . When the incumbent governor of Ondo state came on the platform of the then ACN in 2012 for the first time with backing of party bigwigs. Akeredolu couldn’t see the light, he lost the election because he based his campaign on party wants and favouring the fathers. Akeredolu learnt his lesson came again in 2016 on his own without party bigwigs supports . He campaigned on his own even against the will of the party and the people cast their votes for him.
Adelabu portrayed himself as a son that will follow the footsteps of his father . In a gubernatorial debate Adelabu answered the question “will you probe Ajimobi” with ” to achieve what , in a race we don’t look back , you face the front . I believed in incremental development, I will not probe.. Have You seen a son probing his father ?” Merely examine this response one could deduct what Adelabu ought to . There is other way round Adelabu could respond to this questions and waive it off in clarity. His stance will be known through it and the people will trust him but he answered the question like a puppet who is boldly in fair. In another occasion Adelabu responded to hike payments in public primary and secondary schools in Oyo State. He replied that education shouldn’t be free. Same question was asked and Eng. Seyi Makinde responded that education will be free . Till a week before the election Adelabu gave no productive responses to backlog arrears of state own higher institutions.
You focus on the people’s interest not godparents or party . The people will vote!
Another point of mess was the poor campaign strategy Adelabu staged . His campaign was was poorly managed to the extent that he was decampained in his campaign. The world has moved beyond moving up with crowds, sharing money and funny stuff there and there and disturbing the street . The elites don’t take that any more!
However , Ajimobi did so many right things that I can insinuate if anybody could achieve that again in Oyo State . The development and reformation he brought to Oyo state are numerous. He made peace reign in Ibadan by cutting short and asilencing the hoodlums. He Reformed the education system of ‘all must promote’ , now students sit tight to avoid repeating a class . He increased Oyo State Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) to a lucrative level and numbers of achievements but all were clouded with trash-talks and doggedness . Sincerely, the new government will appreciate his progress if they will be sincere.
I personally congratulate the governor-elect, Engineer Seyi Makinde, your tenure will serve our favour . You have been so opportune may you reign to fulfil the promises and people’s request .
Alabi Yusuf Olatunji writes from Ibadan, Oyo state capital.
