Events unfolding at present within the Osun PDP family are rather unsettling. The party chieftains in the state are not making the expected waves to put them in reckoning in the race towards 2014 governorship election in the state, where Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is soldiering on without batting an eyelid. Opinions in some informed quarters are that Osun PDP, as it is at present, is like a house divided against itself and could not be said to be ready to engage headlong against the ruling party, (APC), which is ready to force ‘APC ELERIN’ down their throats. But I am sure Osun PDP can take APC headlong and give it a good fight. Some of those who are supposed to work tenaciously to ensure the good fortunes of PDP’s return in Osun are busy setting one personal score or the other. Others are just not ready to dip their hands into their deep pockets and provide the financial muscle the party badly needs right now to confront Aregbesola at all fronts. Do they have other agendas up their sleeves? Why has everything gone topsy-turvy? It is stating the obvious if one says Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is transforming and fixing the state in his own little ways, though many of his projects are muddled up. Why shouldn’t Aregbesola finish one project and inaugurate it before embarking on another. However, despite his modest achievements, Aregbesola should not allow political sycophants and hypocrites to continue to indulge in over-singing his praise. They shouted ‘Hosanna’ yesterday to former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, only to turn round today and say ‘crucify him’ as if the amiable gentleman did not at all impact positively on their lives when he was in power in the state. These same people are back with Aregbesola- in various forms. Different banners are flying all over the state, drumming support for his second term. They are bootlickers and political jobbers. They are liars. Aregbesola and Osun APC should be wary of the “Saintly Peters” in their midst and their doctrine of treachery. Once beaten, twice shy. Aregbesola should watch his back and design a way of monitoring the feelings of the grassroots people about his administration. He should not rely entirely on the self-serving field reports from the so-called official and non-official “Special Advisers” and self-centered foot-soldiers. The governor should not delude himself believing he would have an easy ride back to the Government House for a second term. Neither can he have a 100 per cent membership control of the state and National Assemblies again. Things have changed. His party members, if he should know, are seriously disenchanted with him over the “Lagosnisation” of key appointments in government in the last two and half years. The on-going demolition in the state, though said to be for development, caught the citizens unawares and they did not bargain for such gargantuan losses, which they may not recoup in many years to come. Back to Osun State PDP stalwarts, to the best of my knowledge and reading the situation at hand, some of them are ready to jump ship and seek solace elsewhere. Do you say APC? I don’t know. These bigwigs are of the opinion that they don’t think PDP may easily win the governorship election in 2014. Is this not a defeatist attitude? Why not get to the bridge, before deciding how to cross it. They should not be chicken-hearted or lily-livered. Very soon, PDP at the centre will come up with programmes that will put smiles on the faces of the people across the country, Osun inclusive. Osun PDP should try to strengthen its hold and consolidate its present political gains. It is pertinent to state, however, that all Nigerian politicians without exception are no longer interested in discussing issues and policies. According to a former senator from Osun and I quote him: “All that the politicians concern themselves with is how to effortlessly make billions out of the political system and rush to invest same in developed economies of the world, with Dubai as the new destination of choice and affluence”. I believe him. The former parliamentarian went further to offer words of advice for his co-travelers in Osun PDP and again I quote him: “Right now, anybody worth his name in Osun PDP should try all their level best to win back the state or else we all go into political exile”. Those who have ears should listen. There are, including himself, individuals in Osun PDP, who are long distance runners, who could win election on their own merit and sterling pedigree and deliver dividends of democracy to their constituents as they did in the past, much against what obtains presently among those at the state and National Assemblies on APC ticket. PDP has credible people with towering images. We should not throw away the baby with the bath water. When the going is tough, the tough gets going. The “umbrella” should be strengthened. Where are the Osun PDP “Shehus” and Lions of Judah of yesteryears to salvage the situation at hand. Those who became bull in the China’s shop and destroyed everything on their way while in the saddle should see what they have done. Yes, Osun is making modest progress under Governor Aregbesola’s aggressive and visionary leadership, coupled with passionate commitment. But must we ‘borrow blindly” as it is being alleged, before we can fix infrastructure in Osun State and in the process, mortgage the future of our unborn children? This is an area where the PDP should come up with a viable and workable blueprint, instead of the unnecessary squabbles they are currently engaged in. The voting public should fashion out avenues to sieve the grains from the chaffs among our politicians in Osun. The state political affairs is too volatile to be left in the hands of one political party, as far as elections into local government, state and National Assemblies are concerned. We cannot afford a one-party status in Osun in order to make for viable democratic practice and accountability among public office holders. As presently constituted, there are no opposition members in the state and even among local government chairmen, who can look at the governor straight in the face and ask tough questions. Timidity and winners-take-all profile among APC members in Osun is the order of the day. Nobody in Osun PDP should think he or she can rely on any force or influence outside the will and wishes of the electorate to rule Osun. Anybody with this thought should perish it. Osun governorship race is not for sale to the highest bidder. Prof. Attahiru Jega, INEC National Chairman, said it loud and clear on AIT and Channels Television during interview sessions that 2015 and indeed, any other election conducted by his commission would be far better than the 2011 election. President Jonathan is in concurrence with him. One man, one vote is the mantra now. People’s vote must count. Therefore all politicians, inclusive of those in Osun, should assert and exert themselves strongly on the political terrain more than ever before. The electorate are ready to take their destiny firmly in their own hands. If anybody thinks, he or she can come to Osun and sell dummy to the electorate that he has the support of “Zuma rock or Olumo rock” or whatever rock, he or she should have a rethink. All factors put together, anybody seeking any position in life should know that only God gives and withdraws position from His servants as He wills. Therefore, they should downplay the do-or-die approach to the issue of Osun 2014 governorship election. Nobody, no matter how highly placed is greater than the collective resolve of the citizens of Osun who only will determine who rule them. If Aregbesola will have only one term and go, so be it. And if he will go further, let God and the people decide. The only thing that is permanent in life is change. Only the best should be good for Osun and let us make the electoral process and the election peaceful.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 11:48:45 +0000
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