By Adewuyi ADEGBITE
Osun State governorship election has come and gone. The ruling party in the state and Nigeria lost to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by close to 30000 votes. One of the impacts of the election is that power actually belongs to the people. Then, contrary to the belief that monetary inducement determines where the pendulum swings in Nigeria's electoral process, Osun people showed clearly that not every voter has a price.
Beyond the above, the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under Professor Mahmood Yakub means business as this is exemplified by immediate transmission of results to INEC portal. This, definitely, curbed manipulation of figures on transit from polling centre to the collation centre. For this feat, the winner of the election in Osun is INEC. One hopes that INEC would sustain this historic feat for the betterment of our electoral process.
Having said this, I want to congratulate the outgoing governor, Gboyega Oyetola, for his level headedness as a governor and for his humility. Electioneering campaign in Osun was largely devoid of thuggery and hooliganism. Opposition was not hounded out of the state and people were allowed to make their choice. Unlike his predecessor, Oyetola’s policies were people friendly and the fact that he reversed most of the anti-people policies of his predecessor and his love for workers and pensioners warmed into the people’s consciousness.
Adeleke, on the other hand, deserves accolades for his doggedness, determination and tenacity of purpose. In spite of the character assassination he was subjected to especially as regards his educational qualifications and other sundry allegations, including lack of support from the PDP family in the South-West, they did not attend his mega rally. At least, he was undaunted and set his eyes on the prize. These have paid off. One hopes he would not betray the hope Osun reposes on him. When Professor Yakuub told the U.S. ambassador who visited him in his office few weeks ago that votes would count in the election, I was sceptical. My position is that if votes would count, it means the opposition party would carry the day. The question that bordered my mind was that in a country where election is taken as war by other means, would the ruling party concede victory to opposition? My guess is as good as yours. My proposition as regards the triumph of the opposition in the coming election is premised on the alienation of electorate by the ruling party. In some saner climes where power resides with the people, a ruling party would do all in its best to carry along the people by providing good governance and policies with human face.
But can we say this about ruling APC? The answer is no. APC-led Federal government inherited myriads of problem like corruption, comatose economy, insecurity of lives and property, among others. Eight years down the line, can we say that improvement has been made as regards the aforementioned afflictions? Electricity, the driving force of the economy in many states, is epileptic as ever; Boko Haram insurgency has not been brought under control but excercebrated by ISWAP presence in the North East, banditry and kidnapping for ransom has been increasing insecurity of lives and property; corrupt profound haven in the ruling party and corruption fettered. Price of fuel is unstable as official prices of petroleum products are no longer adhered to by marketers and the government helpless. Herdsmen, banditry, kidnappers and the likes are killing people and destroying farmland. Jailbreak is a common occurrence with no one held responsible. Owo massacre occurred during the presidential congress of the ruling party, till date, Presidential Buhari has not visited Owo to commiserate with the hapless people.
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and related unions in our universities are on strike in the last five months and our children are roaming about streets with government paying lip service to the anomaly. In this circumstance, how would reasonable Nigerians vote for continuity?
The presidential candidate of the ruling party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has hit the ground running if he is to triumph in the next election. As the social economic lives of the nation is, the future is bleak as exemplified by Osun election results. Asiwaju is the best hand for the job, having paid his price for the development of the nation. His attainment in life personally and as a governor of Lagos State speaks volume about his competence but convincing Nigerians to vote for continuity would be a Herculean task. Not that the PDP is a good or better alternative; the fact is that the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Federal Government has not fared better.
In sum, it was not Oyetola that was rejected in Osun, Osun people vented their anger on President Buhari’s insensitivity to their plight, nothing more, nothing less.
Adegbite writes through ayekooto05@gmail.com.
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