Oyetola’s Victory At Appeal Court
Oyetola’s Victory At Appeal Court
OSUN gubernatorial election was held July – 2018. Before then nature had played an unpleasant trick on the state which is the source of the Yoruba race and culture. With a dynamic population of politically informed citizens, and performing leadership handicapped by the economic recession, the state was doing its best to reward and reinforce the acceptability of All Progressives Congress as truly progressive. Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke was another star in the party and he had signaled his intension to bear the gubernatorial flag .
UNFORTUNATELY, death struck and took away the progressive aspirant. The brother, Nurudeen did not satisfy APC to inherit the investment of the late senator in the politics of the state. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took advantage of the resultant ill-feeling and secured prominence for Nurudeen as he had earlier won the bye election to replace his brother in the senate and shortly also he became its gubernatorial candidate.
WHEREAS charisma is not automatically transferable, with dancing step, the new senator Adeleke became a big fish in the politics of Osun , and the PDP worked hard to harvest this reward. Here both the incumbent APC and the powerful contender were in the gubernatorial contest neck by neck , creating a stalemate and the gubernatorial election was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).
THE rescheduled election delivered victory to Adegboyega Oyetola . Though the merging of victory was narrow, the reception given the winner at declaration in July 2018 and the glamour and glee that attended the inauguration in September 2018 further confirmed not only the victory but also the joy of various interests in Osun politics. It was therefore anti climax when that victory was upturned in favour of senator Adeleke at election petition February in 2019.
THE pronouncement of the Court of the Appeal in favour of Oyetola on Thursday May 9, 2019 was a soothing balm to the governor and his party. In spite of the fact that there is still one major river to cross, the fact that the majority of the judges, that is, four to one confirmed, the victory of APC and the candidate, call for celebration. Again that the Appellate Court faulted the process at the tribunal also, in a way, reinforces confidence that the Supreme Court would speak joy. More importantly, that the senator Adeleke and PDP on one hand and governor Oyetola and APC on the other have sought the final say from judicature gives hope to our democracy.
THE HOPE salute the conduct of the Osun political class so far and wishes that the Omoluabi attitude to politics must not only be sustained, but also improved upon remembering that charity begins at home.
AGAIN, now before the final verdict , Governor Gboyega Oyetola should begin to demonstrate magnanimity in victory. The gentle man that he is, should remain focused in taking Osun to the next level and refuse to be distracted by inter party conflict which he should discourage, and move forward to rally the whole of Osun political class behind him for the onerous task.
It is also imperative for politicians to be consistent and not just opportunistic. The Nigerian politics of tomorrow is definitely not for the defector. Everyone preparing for a space in politics should henceforth join a political party and start to play a role from the unit level to the ward level, making themselves and their persons known. So they can be understood, corrected and integrated into appropriate unit. This mentorship is essential to improve quality of socialization and recruitment of the party .
THIS is also an opportunity to caution the Nigerian political class to put their various parties in order . They should demonstrate the spirit of sportsmanship within the party and in all inter-party contests.
WE of The Hope believe that given a patriotic spirit of nation building , there are enough institutions and regulations to make this system work. Unnecessary litigation undermined institutions and their personnel. Politicians should reduce unnecessary burden placed on INEC if they play by the rules and encourage members and aspirants to be faithful, loyal and honest. Nobody profits from bugging down the system. Let the political class device an efficient mechanism for bargaining, conflict resolution and a determination to make Nigeria work.
THE amount of desperation or commitment, funding and determination invested in office seeking and electioneering is so enormous. The elite should diversify and invest that much into seeking solution to challenges in curbing corruption, providing energy and power and making Nigeria economy work.
WE congratulate Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola, executive Governor of the state of Osun and wish him final victory at the apex court. We also share in the joy of Osun voters and progressives who started another round of expression of approval through jubilation on Thursday .
THE HOPE wishes All Progressives Congress and His Excellency, Gboyega Oyetola a resounding victory at the Supreme Court and in delivery of good governance in the State of Osun.