The Fear of February 8th By Adetoro Adeyanju The whole state is gripped in frenzy,forcing caucuses of various factions and parties to conduct nocturnal meetings. The apprehension is not just within other guber camps but more within the inner caucus of the incumbent. Why are so many politicians afraid of February 8th. Inside the heartland of Ijesaland last weekend,the date was a subject of discourse. It was like an American state preparing for an impending tsunami . The anxiety at Abere and far away Bourdillon is clearly palpable.Still not sure why the fears and trepidations,questions were raised and it was then I realised the political significance of the date in the impending battle for the soul of Osun state. Back at Abere,I noticed sleepless nights are the lot of the incumbent and his strategists. One rushed to Ondo state and jumped back to Osogbo to tackle an impending wildfire. Then came the arm twisting tactics deployed to frustrate the organisers. Venues paid for were cancelled or denied and state officials were warned against granting any concessions. Then more billboards of the incumbent breaching INEC rule emerged ,making about five hundred as at the last count. I was asking why the fears and anxiety. Should a supposedly performing governor fear Peoples verdict? Outside Abere,the incumbents foot soilders are moving round the local Governments ,trying to sensitise their supporters who are bitter over grinding poverty,domination by Lagos elite and non completion of any signifikant project. When they reached Osun West,the unfulfilled promise of rekonstruktion of Osogbo - Ibadan Road was an issue from leaders from Ejigbo,Ede,egbedore,Olaoluwa and others. Their own members were asking for guidance on how to respond to questions on Education ,health,infrastructures and debt profile of the state. And within the Peoples Democratic Party ,other guber camps appears overwhelmed. A loyalist of another guber hopeful jokingly accepted that he would indeed attend the February 8th event. More top leaders from other camps are pledging the same directly or through leaders from their areas.the Council of elders is having to expand itself to accommodate more leaders. The Youth carnival is spreading across the thirty local governments and many PDP members are accepting that victory can indeed only come through this February 8th man. The date is enigmatic just as the man at the centre of it all. The date is historical and remarkable because this is the first time the man is making it to the ballot as a guber contender .That date is divine because it is blessed. The date is a starting point of victory on August 9th because it it an idea whose time has come. I dont know of others but what I witnessed while in the state for five days showed the incumbent is on edge,scared and unsure of August 9th because of many reasons including the February 8th. But is the man at the center of that date an alternative to the incumbent? Tension being generated by that date confirmed the incumbent has authenticated the potency of the man. If there is nothing serious about the man ,the whole state apparatus will not be on egde. But five reasons appear to positioned the Challenger of the incumbent as an alternative . First is that all concorted blackmail designed to tarnish the mans image have failed. Osun grassroots now know the real man as truly a victimised,harrassed and unfairly treated by those desperate to stop him from reaching Abere. Two, the incumbent has failed across the sectors to deliver on his electoral promises. I read a piece recently titled What Gov Aregbe Hides from British Lords , cataloging the rot in the Education sector. It was pathetic. Three,the new man has pedigree with eight years in the Senate and great accomplishments in the field of Engineering. Hence he is bringing his wealth of experience on a rescue mission in the state. Four,the man has a validated action plan to clear inherited mess and put the state on sustainable path of development. And lastly ,the mans passion is to redeem the state from its present disorientation and transform it into peaceful,developed and collectively prosperous state in the federation. In one of his recent interviews,the man stated his passion as follows: God has blessed me in all ways. My God has given me money and good things of life. What I am passionate about is to give back to the society. My aspiration for governorship is to rescue my people from extortion poverty,joblessness,under- development and Capital flight. Our people deserves the best and I know with my experience ,I have been groomed by God to serve my people But who is this February 8th man? Even when I have not seen his billboards,even when the incumbent runs a government by billboards ,I was told at Ila Orangun that the man is Iyiola Christopher Omisore,a member of the Governing Council of Nigeria Society of Engineers,member of more than seven Engineering professional associations at home and abroad,a doctorate degree holder in infrastructure financing,a two term senator and a former deputy governor of Osun state.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 12:58:01 +0000
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