By Ayodele Oni/ Akinwale Kasali
The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has again proved for the second time within a month that it is capable of organizing a free, fair and capable election.
First, it was that of Ekiti state on June 18 and now Osun, July 16, where the results of the election was declared by the electoral umpire within 24 hours.
Candidates and even stakeholders have applauded the electoral Umpire for this feat. Security agents too are not left out as they were commended for decent policing, which reduced thugerry if any to the bearest minimum during the two elections.
INEC has declared Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), two time contestant as the winner of the keenly contested election after he defeated incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola who is seeking a second term in office.
This victory is unique. First an incumbent was roundly defeated in a state he has been governing for over three years, in a state where Bola Tinubu the APC presidential candidate is believed to have hailed from, apart from Iyiola Omisore the APC national secretary .
The results as announced by INEC show that Adeleke obtained the highest number of votes from 17 of the 30 local governments in Osun State.
His closest rival, incumbent Governor Oyetola of APC won in 13 Local government Areas.
The results showed that Adeleke obtained 403, 371 votes from 30 LGAs while Oyetola got 375, 027 votes. This has further demonstrated that electorate in Nigeria have the power to effect a change in the leadership when they wish. It is equally a lesson to leaders that there will always be a judgement day, close watchers of politics in the country say.
Governor Oyetola has every opportunity to resolve crisis between him and his predecessor in office, Rauf Aregbesola, now Minister of interior, but he never exploited the chances, apparently banking on power of incumbency to get his way. He was Chief of Staff to Aregbesola, so whatever might have caused the feud, ought to have been resolved. After all, Aregbesola has nothing to loose at the end of the day, judging by the results of the election l, analysts contend.
On the eve of the poll, some members of the Aregbesola faction of APC resolved to still vote for the candidate of their party, but this may just be mere statement not backed by strong will, according to insiders close to both Aregbesola and Governor Oyeta. Aregbesola jetted out of the country on the eve of the election, knowing fully well how his action would affect the governor.
In 2029, it was Aregbesola that came to the rescue of Oyetola when Adeleke almost defeated him.
So, when a former commissioner in the administration of Aregbesola said on the eve of the election that the minister’s supporters will still vote for Oyetola despite the feud, only a few took him serious.
The commissioner said: “As the Osun Governorship Election comes up tomorrow, we The Osun Progressives (TOP) have been inundated with calls, questions and demands for our position by the media and our supporters and enthusiasts.
“Fundamentally, we are unabashedly democrats of the progressive hue. We live its credo and our entire being is in it.
“Our association, a caucus within the State of Osun All Progressives Congress (APC), was founded last year when we alarmingly saw the direction our party was going.
“It was like the falcon could no longer hear the falconer. We were filled with trepidation on the tempest long foretold.
“We were at this junction before, in the run-off to the 2003 General election. We feared that history might tragically repeat itself except we acted selflessly and forthrightly. Like-minded members and leaders of the party, therefore, came together to form the group.\
“The administration of our leader, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, produced a successor in Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, against all odds, by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
“We worked hard on the mantra of continuity, the continuation of the giant development strides of the Aregbesola administration, which endeared the party to the people of the state, producing the victory that brought Governor Oyetola into office.
“As a caucus within the party, we have consistently made strident efforts at peace and reconciliation within our party. For this, we have only asked for one condition, which is inclusiveness.
“The State Governor and his henchmen, most regrettably, have turned his office and our party into a zero-sum game. You are either with them or against them.
“They rejected any idea of inclusiveness. They rebuffed all propositions for peace and reconciliation and not even a Councillorship position was ceded to any other section of the party outside of the Ileri-Oluwa caucus.”
In one of the reactions which trailed the outcome of the election, Solomon Adewoye, an analyst notes that “Fighting those who brought you to power is dangerous. Everyone matters in politics, that’s why they say politics is a game of numbers.
“With Aregbesola foot soldiers in Osun politics, you don’t go into such election without settle matter with them. Sanisile and Adeoti from Iwo, Najeem Salam and Hussain from Ejigbo, Lasun Yusuf and Kolapo Alimi from Erin/ifon. These are Aregbesola’s loyalists and later worked against APC except Nojeem Salam.
“It happened in Ekiti during Fayemi first tenure, when MOB left the party for Labour. That’s why Fayemi lost the election then. Am sure next time, Oyetola will put his house in order. Everyone matters in politics.
In his own reaction, which sounds biblical Rauf Aregbesola says “This matter is by the decree of the watchers and the demand by the word of the holy ones : to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will and setteth up over it the best of men.” – Daniel 4:17. The comment, in the Minister’s Twitter handle has generated 415 likes, 129 comments and 119 shares.
The last may not have been heard of the Osun State governorship election as the loser may not likely accept defeat humbly, there may be attempt to seek victory from the Courts.
