Many times, phrases like “Only in Nigeria can something like
this happen” has become a recurrent decimal in our polity. The Osun State
elections is one of such where we have political office holders with records resplendent
with faults, bigotry and misdemeanor yet they find their way into INEC’s list
as candidate for a prestigious role of a governor; “only in Nigeria can
something like this happen”.
The Ekiti elections has come and gone but rather than elicit
some kind of remorse amongst politicians and make them do a rethink towards the
Osun elections coming up in less than 4 days, the same strategy is being
replicated where mini bags of rice with politicians name boldly written on it
is shared, a few thousand bucks is also shared and pictures of one ‘powerful’
politician with the President’s backing campaigning with roasted corn in his
mouth, a twisted rhetoric of his blending with the ‘common’ man.
Adebayo Ayoade Salami, a former senator from Osun
Constituency and now a chieftain in Labour Party had this to say, “Take it from me we have a state that is
heterogeneous not an homogenous one like that of Ekiti. I am not unaware that
President Jonathan spoke with all the Obas in Ekiti on one on one basis before
the day of the election; I am not unaware that he will do the same thing in
Osun, but I am aware of the situation in Osun.” But he confidently posited
that, ‘Our Obas are not illiterate, they
are of sound mind and conviction that they know what is right. At the
appropriate time Osun people will take their so-called Ten thousand Naira which
they have penned down for every voter and will still do the right thing. This
is not a place that you come and preach religious differences”.
Sometime ago we even heard that Lagbaja, the masked musician
rejected to perform in the ‘Mega’ rally of that said politician because of his
involvement in the death of Cicero of Esa Oke, former Minister of Power Bola
Ige, claiming that he can’t shake off the fact that this largely clueless
politician isn’t clean despite the court discharging and acquitting him of all
charges.
Amongst the political class, the fear therefore is palpitating
in such a way that many are predicting doomsday in Osun state. For example, one
will ask; why do we have soldiers hurriedly scrambled from different battalions
of the country in droves, all wearing militant style hoods covering their
faces? It leaves little to the imagination why in a democratic setting all
these gangster style of conducting something that is supposed to be civil, organized
and fair has become norm. Power seems to be so intoxicating that politicians
will do whatever it takes to intimidate not just their colleagues into
subjection but will do same for the citizens they are supposed to be
protecting.
Also, we can’t but feel appalled by the behave system (behavioral
setup) of Africans always resolving to ‘fate’ whenever they have circumstances
they ‘can’ actually control. It is of
course different when one has circumstances beyond his or her control but when
you have issues like elections, good governance and human rights left in the
hands of the supernatural, it is mere hypocrisy and good play into the hands of
a population less intelligent and more religious. Both camps are scared
actually; the federal ruling party is hoping the ‘good’ results few weeks ago
in Ekiti State can be replicated in Osun even if their candidate is the worse
they can ever present. Yet the ruling party at State level is not leaving
anything to chance as they keep thundering on and hoping that all political gimmicks
work in their favour; fear nevertheless.
The little I can deduce from the positives of the incumbent
are; (and I actually confirmed from a relative that is living in the State) (a)
Osun was known for floods but during his 3 year reign, he has been able to
dredge a 123km long waterways that has kept the state flood free, (b) 254, 000
pupils have meals daily (though some scrupulous elements claimed that the food
made some kids dull but health workers have confirmed that the food is healthy),
(c) Internally generated revenue increased from 300 million to 1.5 billion
naira monthly, 8,000 student and so much more.
The question remains; why would the ruling party put a man
with track record of controversy as the gubernatorial candidate? Is there
really a dearth of credible, trustworthy and genuine people in the state that
they could have placed on that sacred paper as a contestant that can give
competition to the incumbent? What is the gain to all this whimsical farce that
the ruling party is playing? The electorates are wiser for it and they can
choose who they really want despite party, ethnic, religious or social affiliations.
However, we hope the theatrics employed to cow people into subjection and all
whimsical plots are removed for a true and proper free and fair elections in
Osun State. For the sake of us all!
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