“I congratulate Ademola Adeleke on his victory at the polls yesterday. The people have spoken. Democracy won and we respect the people’s choice. I thank our supporters for their continued show of commitment to our cause. Important lessons have been learnt and we will be back stronger. Most importantly, I thank the people of Osun for once again displaying the qualities of true Omoluabis. Our election was devoid of violence.” That was the scanty statement that was released by a very “humbled and tamed” Baba Kabir, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. Some ascribed this failure to the law of Karma. Some said Aregbe is AD in Ondo, PDP in Ekiti and APC in Osun. Let us leave all that to posterity to decide.
That the All Progressive Congress (APC) was exposed to a very avoidable and shameful defeat is no longer news. What is the news now are the responses of bookmakers and the lessons therein. The senatorial by-election of Osun west was indeed a leveler. The election has once again showed that Aregbe is also human. He is fallible like the rest of us. He made mistakes and quickly accepted that he was wrong. However why would Aregbe wait till he was disgraced before waking up to the reality that the people indeed have a voice? Aregbe brought this shame and disgrace on the APC. We should also remember that the same Aregbe has won several electoral medals for the APC in the past. Then, where and how did Aregbe get it wrong? How did he lose track? Who are the conniving sycophants that derailed his train?
Aregbe like Mimiko rode to power through an impressive populist followership. They both exhibited good sportsmanship at the beginning, all through their first term. They were good team players and leaders. They were both good listeners. They both fooled the people and made them believe that their voices and opinions will always count. However, the moment they got their second term ticket the story changed. The people suddenly became voiceless. Aregbe like Mimiko became the alpha and omega. He neither listened nor consulted again. He became law unto himself. He even tried to annex Ondo state (lols). Aregbe may have been aided and pushed to self-destruction by sycophants around him who can never and will never tell him the truth because of the fear of losing their source of livelihood. Party members may not be bold to face leaders, to speak the truth to them as followers often read the countenance of their leaders and only speak to them what they want to hear so as to continue to enjoy the goodies from them. Leaders who are only comfortable around “yes-men” should be watchful. Leaders should be brave enough to accommodate people who love them enough to hurt them with the truth.
Ademola Adeleke could have been the impetus needed to strengthen the APC in Osun state. Unfortunately Aregbe and his conniving sycophants blew the chance. You don’t need to be a genius to know that Adeleke will win the election, no matter the platform he uses after the APC frustrated him out of the party. Adeleke’s victory is not a victory earned by the PDP but unfortunately it’s for the PDP. The APC structure across the senatorial district worked and voted for him. The electorates today had realised that they can decide who leads them. Electorates are now coming to terms with the power to vote in or out anybody. Unfortunately some leaders are still engrossed in the euphoria of political dictatorship. By now we should be celebrating Senator Ademola Adeleke as an APC senator. God has used this election to prove that he is the only almighty God. Political leaders that easily get carried away with power, influence and affluence of office should be careful. Leaders should stop thinking that they are wiser than the rest of us. Leaders must study the people and do what the people want. Monetary inducement, rigging, bullying, militancy, and dictatorial influence can not be the decider of elections forever. People are getting wiser!
“Have you noticed that we haven’t heard cries of rigging and manipulation? It means the election was relatively free and fair, INEC and security agents behaved. It means people voted their conscience. It means the ruling party is failing in the state and the people are sending a message to the ruling party in the state and nationwide. It means there is just a ray of hope for democracy. It means that if we put our collective energies, resources and time in politics and focus on how we elect our leaders, we might just be able to take control of our future. For all of us full of regrets, anger, complaints and disappointment over the direction of our country, let’s join hand together and use the only weapon we have ‘our votes’ to chase away bad leaders, corrupt government, and irresponsible legislators. This is a clarion CALL.” A food for thought from Otunba Femi Pedro.
Some people posited that this defeat was caused by imposition, bad governance, overconfidence and sympathy vote. Right or wrong, this defeat is for APC and not for Aregbe alone and it may have multiplier effects in Ekiti, Oyo and Ogun states.This election could be seen as a protest vote from the masses both unpaid civil servants and impoverished citizens. People are just tired of colourful and elaborate projects with empty stomach. Youth are unemployed, artisans and traders have no access to SME loans and or empowerment scheme. Yet only few that owns executive post within government live large, and you think poor citizens are blind? Definitely APC will spend bigger than PDP in this Osun Election. Perhaps people collected APC money and voted PDP. That is what you get when you take the people (especially your party faithful) for granted.
Aregbe has been thought some lessons, as evident in his confession. What about other leaders? Are they going to wait until they are also disgraced before they buckled up? I hope the Governor of my darling state, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu is watching and learning. “Blessed is he that learns through the mistakes of others.” Don’t ever take the people (especially your party faithful) for granted. No matter how beautiful your intentions are, always listen to selfless advices and carry your people along. Economic policy that can not put food on the tables of your people will not take you anywhere. All your developmental projects must be married with programs that will make life more meaningful (real-time) for the populace. As a member of the party that lost in the just concluded election, the outcome of the election is sad and painful as it might be a signpost for the subsequent elections, particularly the 2018 Governorship election in Ekiti and Osun states. It might also be the reversal of our success stories in the south-west, God forbid.
Ekiti state is another time bomb waiting to explode. The current crisis rocking the state chapter of the party is a signal to the great danger and electoral doom that awaits the APC in Ekiti state. If all these crises are not well managed or solved permanently, there could be eminent breaking up and cross carpeting like we have never seen before. Unfortunately, those who should be at the forefront of working out ways to resolve the problems are the one fanning the ember of discord. These leaders are greedily blinded by endless thirst for power. Greed is the only thing that can make any leader believe in the sycophants that urges him to embark on journey that may take him to political oblivion. If not greed, what would make Kayode Fayemi or Segun Oni think of contesting to be Governor again in Ekiti state. Is it that they cant find younger and fresh minds to put forward?
Imagine a situation where Niyi Adebayo, Segun Oni, Kayode Fayemi, Gbenga Aluko, Opeyemi Bamidele, Femi Bamishile, Faparusi, Daramola and others who have been elected for one position or the other before can jettison their personal interest / ambition and come together to form a united front. They will then create a criteria to search for an home grown vibrant (possibly younger) politician to be pushed forward to face Fayose and his co-travelers. The APC will have a resounding victory in the 2018 gubernatorial poll in Ekiti state, if this can be done. Unfortunately this can never happen for two reasons; personal greed of these individuals and the selfishness of the sycophants around them. An home grown (younger) politician with pedigree and known with alternative addresses (not professional politician but professional in politics) should be sort after. Politics of issues should be promoted in Ekiti state.
In concluding this message, I want to re-echo the position of a friend on the Osun election: “Political leaders must accept people’s sovereignty. Power belongs to the people. People’s welfare, particularly workers’ well being, must be the focal point of any government. (Payment of workers salary, their entitlements and pensioners emoluments as at when due). Internal democracy should be entrenched in our body polity. Party machineries should be distinct from government apparatus.Our wielders of political authorities / powers should not attempt to play God. Sycophancy, egocentric dispositions and shenanigans should be banished from our political lexicon. Leaders across the States and political divides should take a cue from Osun experience. Our people, the electorate are becoming more and more sophisticated / politically conscious / alive.” Political Leaders, take them for granted at your own political peril.
May God help my dear APC out of the present multiple quagmire.
Festus Aladesanmi writes from Oba-Ile, Akure.
He can be reached through festusaladesanmi@yahoo.com
