By Isola Ajisefini
“Change will not come if we wait for some other persons or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek” Barrack Obama
The above quotation must have informed the decision of Elders of the All Progressives Congress in 10 local government areas in Oke Ogun zone of Oyo State who recently took a bold step in their renewed commitment to have one of them fly the ticket of the party in 2023.
The zone, according to 2006 census is an area with 1.6 million people. It occupies 60 percent of the landmass in Oyo state and the people are largely agrarian. Besides, the region is blessed with enormous mineral resources with little or nothing to show for it.
As we move closer to the 2023 general elections, the struggle for the ticket of the APC is becoming more intense and interesting. Expectedly, gladiators have begun moves to outplay one another in their bid to clinch the ticket of the APC which appears to be the only strong political platform they can use to fulfil their ambition. This is because it will be extremely difficult if not impossible for anyone to hijack the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) structure from the incumbent governor, Engineer Oluseyi Makinde.
At a meeting presided over by Alhaj Abu Gbadamosi, a former Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission of Oyo State in Ilero, Kajola local government, the APC elders in Oke-ogun declared that none of their sons and daughters should vie for the position of the party Chairmanship in the forthcoming congress of the party in the state scheduled to commence in July.
One of those in attendance at the meeting argued that their decision not to vie for the party chairmanship from the zone was to send a strong signal to gladiators from other zones that Oke Ogun people are not ready to settle for anything less than the office of the governor they deserve as a people
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“We are not leaving any stone unturned and ready to collaborate with stakeholders from other zones. We are not asking for too much. All we are saying is the time to reward Oke Ogun people for their avowed loyalty to the party is now. Apart from our past contributions to the victory of the party in various elections, the people of Oke Ogun demonstrated their love for the progressives as the highest number of registered members come from the zone after the recently concluded membership registration exercise. The implication of that is that the party is sure of a bloc vote from the generality of the electorate of the zone if one of their own is fielded as the party’s flagbearer come 2023”.He explained.
Other Elders of the party that were part of the Ilero declaration which has rattled Governorship Aspirants from Ibadan zone in particular who wanted to use the party chairmanship position to block the chances of aspirants from Oke-Ogun region were Chief Goke Oyetunji,former Senatoraial Chairman of the APC in Oyo North,Dr Ahmed Ayinla,Chief Tijani Balogun,Chief James Oke,Chief Aderoju Egbedokun,Alhaj Zakariyau Mustapha, Hon John Olaleru, Alhaj Waheed Adesina, Dr Matthew Oyedokun, Mr Azeez Bonuola,Mr Dejo Adebisi and a host of others.
Expectedly, the Ilero declaration has continued to generate mized reactions from within and outside the Oke Ogun region. There are those who believed from within that those who took the decision were not been fair to some of them who have ambitions to occupy other positions apart from the governor. However, supporters of the decision have argued that since their people have been occupying those positions what have they brought to the region in terms development.
Oke Ogun zone of Oyo state had produced four Deputy Governors namely; Engineer Hamid Gbadamosi under Chief Kolapo Olawuyi Isola,an Ibadan man as governor, Chief Iyiola Oladokun under Alhaj Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina, another Ibadan, Chief Alake Adeyemo under Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi,also from Ibadan and the incumbent Deputy Governor, Engr Rauf Olaniyan. Yet no adequate infrastructure. Hospitals are mere dispensaries. No potable water and other social amenities.
Equity and Justice favour Oke Ogun zone this time around in Oyo APC more than ever before but the Elders of the party in the region still have a lot of work to do on themselves. Would the gladiators allow wisdom to prevail by rallying round one of them to lead the charge.
I remember a similar agitation for power shift to Oke Ogun was spearheaded by the President of Oke Ogun Development Consultative Forum(ODCF), Dr Olusegun Ajuwon prior to the 2019 general election. The Forum, which is the umbrella body of all socio-cultural organisations in the zone then visited the secretariats of all major political parties in Ibadan on the need for them to field one of them as their candidate.
The question then is who are those jostling for the party ticket from the region. How acceptable and appealing are they within and outside the region?
As at this moment, only two prominent indigenes of the region have shown interest to contest the governorship position. They are Barrister Abdul Raheem Adebayo Shittu and Professor Adeolu Akande. What are the chances of these two individuals in clinching the ticket of the APC in the state. Who can best represent the region between the two?
Barr Adebayo Shittu
Barr Adebayo Shittu is a former Minister of Communication. He was the flagbearer of the now defunct CPC in 2011. He attempted to grab the ticket of the APC from late Senator Abiola Ajimobi but failed in 2015. He also tried to contest for the party’s primaries in 2018 but was disqualified on the ground of his non participation in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Barr Shittu is a veteran politician who entered into politics in 1979 when he won election as a member of the State House of Assembly from Saki East and Saki West state constituency. He is also a two term Commissioner in the state.
With his experience in politics, one would have expected Barr Shittu’s aspiration to receive the blessing of Elders and party chieftains from Oke-ogun region and beyond. However, recent happenings and events have proved that to be wrong. He was among those who kicked against Elders of the party who met recently at Ilero which suggested that majority of those in attendance at that meeting are not likely to support his aspiration.
Feelers among Elders of the party revealed that majority of them believed the former Minister did not do well to assist individuals as well as the region while he served as a Minister. Charity they say begins at home. The ambition of Barr Shittu appears to have suffered a setback from his region with the attitude of most of the party faithful from the region. Meanwhile, there is still enough time for him to build confidence among party loyalists across the state.
Professor Adeolu Akande
Prof Akande is the Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission. He is a former Chief of Staff to the Late Former Governor Abiola Ajimobi. He is a Visiting Professor of Political Science at the Igbinedion University, Okada. A practising journalist who is well versed with the knowledge and dynamics of politics in Oyo State. Professor Akande is also a lawyer. He is well equipped academically and has been building bridges across the state.
Unlike his fellow compatriot from Oke-Ogun Zone, Prof Akande is believed to be enjoying the blessings and supports of APC Elders from Oke Ogun. Apart from the support from the home front, Prof Akande’s ambition is receiving the support of some prominent party chieftains from other regions of the state who see him as a very reliable and God fearing personality who will not let them down.
The only obstacle which aspirants from Oke-Ogun would have to tackle for now are those super stars from the region who are ready to grab any position that come their way. For instance, politicians from other zones will not have a choice than to give the agitation of the people of the region a second thought if the Elders and Chieftains of the party remain resolute on their decision not to vie for the Chairmanship of the party at the state level. Any political party that is desirous of winning election will not joke with the resolve of the people of the zone with the highest registered members if they insist on their demand. But, how far will the Elders of APC in Oke-Ogun go with their demand? Can they speak with one voice? Time will tell.
Isola Ajisefini writes from Tede, Atisbo LG
