The people of Osun State will on Saturday go out to elect a new governor that will pilot the affairs of the state for the next four year.
Both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agents have confirmed their readiness to conduct and provide the needed security during the election.
Although 48 political parties were cleared by INEC to participate in the election, the major contenders for the coveted seat, according to political pundits, are the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore.
Also prominent among the contestants is the candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Alhaji Moshood Adeoti.
So far, all the candidates, well supported by their political parties have been up in arms, trying to outdo one another in the bid to win the votes of the people. But how do they really fare? Who would the people of Osun State give their mandate?
Iyiola Omisore, SDP
If the performance at the governorship debate held for the candidates by Channels Television on Sunday in Osun State is anything to go by, the Social Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Iyiola Omisore, is best suited for the Government House. His composure and depth displayed as he answered most of the questions thrown at him, showed his suitability. He displayed good knowledge of the situation and problems of the 27 years old state.
However, despite his wealth of experience and qualification for the number one job in the state, having served as former deputy governor and senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it has become obvious that not many people are in love with him. He has the problem of being suspected to have a hand in the death of former Attorney General of the Federation and popular orator, Chief Bola Ige. Ige was assassinated at his Bodija residence in Ibadan on December 23, 2001 and accusing fingers were pointed at him. In fact, the question was raised at the debate.
The Bola Ige issue may just be one of the reasons why the people of Osun State may not trust him with the mandate of the number one citizen of the state on September 22.
Gboyega Oyetola
Oyetola is the candidate of the ruling APC who aspires to continue from where Governor Rauf Aregbesola will stop. His desire to succeed Aregbesola may be a tough battle judging by the performance of the outgoing administration, especially in its inability to pay workers’ salaries. For some months, workers in Osun State were paid half salaries.
During the debate held on Sunday, although he admitted that the civil servants were owed backlog of salaries, he did not articulate how his administration would be able to surmount the problem if voted into power. Apparently unhappy with the current situation in the state, the people Osun State may not want to invest their trust in Oyetola to be at the helm of affairs for the next four years, having been unable to articulate any agenda to be implemented that would make him better than the outgoing governor. However, being the choice of the incumbent, the structure of the party may be deployed for his victory and that may indeed help him.
Senator Ademola Adeleke
Adeleke represents the people of Osun West in the Senate. The people of the state were denied the opportunity of hearing him speak on how he plans to take Osun State to the Promised Land. He was absent at the debate on Sunday. He was however quick to explain that he was held back by the people of the state where he had gone to campaign. According to him, the people would just not allow him to leave on time apparently because of the love they have for him.
Adeleke was elected as senator last year after the sudden demise of Isiaka Adeleke, his elder brother, to represent the people of Osun West senatorial district. His victory at the election was regarded as a political blow to the ruling APC which vowed to win the election.
The victory of Adeleke against the candidate of the ruling APC, according to investigation, was to protest against the ruling APC which the people believe had marginalized them in the distribution of dividends of democracy.
Last July a protest by artisans, students and traders almost grounded commercial activities in Osogbo, the state capital, to a halt. The group protested against the continuous marginalization of Osun West in the governorship position of the state. They claimed that while the central senatorial district had had the opportunity to rule the state for 11 years, the East would complete its eight years by the end of the present administration of Rauf Aregbesola in November. The group threatened that any political party that failed to present a candidate from the West in the September 22 governorship election in the state would suffer electoral defeat.
The coordinator of Osun Continuity Movement, Mr. Saheed Mifah, who led the protest, said that late Isiaka Adeleke, was the only governor from Osun West. He, however, had his tenure truncated after 22 months in office by military junta in 1993.
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“In the interest of fairnessAl-Makura probes predecessors, sets up committee equity and justice, Osun West senatorial district should produce the next governor of the state,” he said.
The people of the senatorial zone adjudged to be the largest may vote for Senator Adeleke whom they see as capable of governing the state and also representing the interest of the zone.
Observers believe Adeleke could still re-enact the victory of last year on Saturday if INEC lives up to its promise of conducting a credible election.
However, chances are that somehow, his electoral fortune may suffer as a result of his alleged involvement in a secondary school certificate scandal.
Moshood Adeoti
Until July this year, Adeoti was the Secretary to the State Government of Osun State. He resigned from the position to pick the governorship nomination form under the platform of Action Democratic Party (ADP). Adeoti may not be new in politics, his ability to convince the people that he is the best man to do the job and get their votes may be difficult for him at this time.
From all indications, the issues that will determine the winner of the coming election will largely depend on the performances of the different major candidates in the past. Also, the issue of zoning will play a vital role, and to a reasonable extent, a lot will be determined by whether or not the people of Osun State would want a continuation of Aregbesola’s government through Oyetola or simply say enough is enough and vote for a break from the past.
With the election on Saturday, the people of Osun State have the opportunity to decide who the cap fits.
