Until his emergence as APC candidate in the state, Oyetola was the Chief of Staff (COS) to Governor Rauf Aregbesola. But he is a “foreign” politician who does not have his political roots in Osun State.
Born in Iragbiji of Boripe Local Government of the state of on September 29, 1954 he attended University of Lagos, where he bagged Bachelor of Science and Master Degrees in Business Administration with specialisation in Finance from the same University of Lagos in 1990. He is a successful insurance magnate and was appointed as the Chief of Staff by Governor Rauf Aregbesola on January 7, 2011. It is being rumored that he is Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s first cousin.
His influence and weight in his home town remain cloudy, dicey and un-predictable as he is still learning the politics of the state.
However, his political backer and mentor – Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola- who has achieved greatly in giving dividends of democracy to the people of the state could be considered as his ladder to the Osun State helm of affairs.
The outgoing governor would not want to lose at the poll but to win to boost the chances of APC in Osun State for another four years after expiration of his tenure. The party’s victory in the state will soften the ground for further elections in 2019 and at the same time plant his political machinery on ground to dismantle any opposition.
The influence Aregbesola and power of incumbency which he wields so strongly is a strong factor and the governor in his hometown Ilesha, can convince his kinsmen so easily and this will help him sell APC to them bearing in mind that his constituency is one of the largest voting zones which dictate who governs the state.
From all indications, his dream of planting his successor on the seat may be realized since he has a structure on ground, he continues with such. His vision for qualitative education, health, agriculture and roads will be better intensified if re-elected.
Without mincing words, Ogbeni Aregbesola is a strong political APC stalwart and as the governor, he is a grassroots mobiliser. His affinity to Asiwaju Tinubu is a plus for him and this will definitely boost successor ego. The financial wherewithal is no problem for him, as the incumbent, he has access to resources to face anyone.
Another dream of Ogbeni Aregbesola is a matter of continuity as he would work so assiduously to retain the seat for his successor to ensure that all his projects and legacies are not rubbished by any successive government; knowing full well that he was the initiator of such projects.
Of equal importance is the federal might and supports of neigbouring states in the South-West. On Thursday, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo led several governors and party leaders to the state rally to boost his moral with the broom revolution.
But considering the fact that he is from Ilesha, he is definitely going to meet a very stiff opposition in the likes of Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Erelu Olusola Obada, who are from the same place with him. The Ilesha people may definitely split their votes for these giant politicians. Since he is vying for governorship, people tend to see other politicians from the zone as home based while Ogbeni is seen as an ‘imported’ politician from Lagos who did not actually spend most of his life at the grassroots.
But to his credit, his educational and infrastructure reforms are to certain extent-remarkable only that his classification exercise married its achievements relatively. Summarily, Governor Aregbesola is a strong APC stalwart with former Governors Bisi Akande and Ahmed Tinubu being his mentors and godfathers. His popularity amongst civil servants hangs in the middle as the pacts with Osun labour unions have not been fully implemented.
Non-payment of workers’ full salaries is a major hindrance. Of course, this could be a major reason why his candidate may be voted out on election day. Osun is a civil servants’ state and if the workers determine not to vote for his successor, it means, the party and the candidate would lose during the exercises.
Also, failure of the government to pay compensation to many of the people rendered homeless by government through its urban renewal policy and still squatting in friends’ houses is a major problem. As a result of this, they might not vote for his candidate at the poll.
There are so many aggrieved party members who were opposed to the emergence of Oyetola as the party flag bearer for the race. Out of these members, thousands had defected to other political parties while some are believed to remain in APC to serve as spy for those who had already left. This development may cripple APC chances at the poll.
Some indigenes of the state who are members of the APC are said to be opposed to his candidacy for eight reasons. They said though the voted for Aregbesola four years ago because they were convinced he was the best candidate, today, they simply not convinced that Alhaji Oyetola has what it takes to make a positive difference.
They said the continuity agenda indicated that Oyetola wants to perpetuate current government’s “heritage of half salaries, non-payment of pensions and arrogance of ignorance that pervades the land, conflict of interest in the collection of the state’s IGR and lack of preparedness on the part of the candidate.” They also fear that Oyetola, who is from Iragbiji might turn out working for a surrogate governor in Lagos.
