By
Gbenga Olorunpomi
With
the dust of the upcoming Osun gubernatorial election beginning to settle, it is
now clear to everyone that this is clearly a one-horse race. The main
opposition in Osun, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), will surely believe
they are still in the race. This is simply because they are getting
unscrupulous and illegal support from Abuja.
But,
the more they boast of their financial prowess and their propensity for
violence, the more they grow unpopular with the very people they hope to
govern. They more they spend bashing the very vivid and life-saving
achievements of the incumbent, they more they are hated for their lies. The proverbial
wind has blown and the anus of the chicken is on public display.
It
is obvious that Sen. Iyiola Omisore clearly miscalculated in his ill-advised
bid to unseat Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. He also did not take into account the
mentality of the people he was hoping to trick, bribe and force into
enslavement. For starters, his party is losing credible members like rats
jumping off the sinking Titanic.
Only
recently, four of the six state executives of the PDP publicly declared for the
APC. One of them, the Former Assistant State Secretary of the party, Alhaji
Razaq Oyetunji, who spoke at the Ilesa leg of the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
Reelection rally on behalf of his group, urged the remaining members of the PDP
to leave the “sinking” party.
“The
PDP have nothing to offer,” he said. “It is a group of selfish people with very
dark and evil intentions. They have no good plans for the people of Osun and we
should stay away from that sinking ship. Don’t be deceived. Let’s all go out
and vote for Ogbeni Aregbesola come August 9th. He has done more
than enough to be reelected.”
Meanwhile,
the Ogbeni Aregbesola ‘Love Boat’ is suffering from over-crowding. Very eminent
and credible personalities have been falling over themselves to endorse the man
the people love to call ‘The Symbol.’ These credentialed people have no qualms
staking their well built brand on Ogbeni’s. It is unprecedented. From scholars
to clergymen to international organisations to senior members of the PDP
itself, the accolades have never stopped coming.
Only
two weeks ago, Ogbeni was bestowed the award of The Most Innovative Governor Supporting
Education in Nigeria. This was conferred on him in Osogbo by Zuriel Oduwole,
the ten year-old Nigerian girl who has made history as the youngest person ever
to be interviewed in Forbes and was quoted as one of the 100 most influential
Africans. She had this to say of the Osun governor; "It is difficult for a
child to learn without the right learning aid. Good
learning aids have been made possible for students in this part of the world.
It is in recognition of this that on behalf of the 'Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand
Up' Project that I present the award of the most Innovative Governor in Nigeria
supporting Education to Governor Rauf Aregbesola."
Last
week, the General Overseer of the Living Faith International Ministries was
marveled by the number of road projects and the unique educational
transformation the state was undergoing that he publicly stated that the
governor deserves “global applause”. Hear him: “I deeply appreciate the
infrastructural development (of Osun). Besides, the education revolution is for
us a great achievement. I can see the massive
road construction going on. This is to the benefit of the people. No policy can
remove the roads. I am very impressed," Oyedepo said.
Besides
these, most of the traditional leaders in the state have given their blessing
to Ogbeni Aregbesola’s second term bid. One after the other, they thanked him
for bringing progress and prosperity to the people and fulfilling his campaign
promises. They also prayed for his good health and pledged their support.
The
Timi of Ede, His Royal Highness, Nurudeen Adesoji Lawal, said, “May you
(Aregbesola) be granted the key to Abeere (Government House) the second time.”
Enough said.
The
Elademure of Ibokun, Oba Festus Adegboro, was must direct in his endorsement;
“Rauf Aregbesola, whoever says you will not make a second term will be
disgraced by God’s grace. What Aregbesola is doing here in Osun is what people
rush to foreign countries crave for.”
A
Yoruba socio-political and economical body, Afenifere Renewal Group, after
studying the antecedents, policies and plans of each candidate said this of
Aregbesola: “We endorse him for reelection and enjoin residents of the State of
Osun to vote massively for him in the forthcoming gubernatorial election. We
believe that the future of the State of Osun in terms of development and
prosperity is guaranteed with Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.”
And
it gets better.
Nobel
laureate and globally revered play writer, Wole Soyinka, could not hide his
admiration for the free school uniform policy adopted by the Osun Government
under Ogbeni’s leadership. Speaking philosophically, he said, “The (Osun)
uniform policy will stem the tide of inequality among school children. It is a
philosophy that should be adopted throughout the country.”
Even
senior members of Omisore’s party and members of the federal executive council
are not left out on Ogbeni’s list of endorsers. Former governor of Abia state,
Orji Uzor Kalu, was so impressed with what he saw on a visit to the state, he
announced his bias for ‘The Symbol.’ “Though, I am a member of the PDP, I
cannot close my eyes on the numerous achievements of Mr. Aregbesola has
recorded, which spreads across almost all spheres of human life,” Kalu said.
“You
have demonstrated that good governance is possible with your programmes. You
have demonstrated that youth development is possible. Your programmes so far
have demonstrated that you are a good example of Government and Governance.” These
are the words of the Nigerian Minister of Finance, Ngozi Iweala-Okonji.
These
endorsements have not stopped. The people of Osun themselves are very clear on
what they want; a second term for Aregbesola. They have insisted that Osun is
very different from Ekiti. They will defend their votes with their very lives
if they have to. President Goodluck Jonathan will do well to be reasonable and
allow the will of the people prevail. Or, he may have more on his hands than he
ever imagined.
Osun
is going to vote and Aregbesola is going to win. No other result will make
sense. No other result shall be accepted.
Gbenga Olorunpomi tweets at @gbengagold and is a
digital strategist based in Lagos
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