Osun election, PDP and the Adeleke factor

The electioneering started in Nigeria in 1923 through the Clifford Constitution of 1922 and it was only in Calabar and Lagos. Many hold the belief that this was the year democracy birthed in Nigeria, though the country was not in existence until the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorate.

The democratic process was however scuttled in 1966, 1983 and 1993 by the military interregnum. Perhaps our political class never got it right then or the military was just impatient. All these have gone into the anal of Nigerian political history. Indeed, there is no way you can write or talk about the history of Nigeria, that this will not crop up especially when considering whether we have moved forward as a nation or not.

Constitutionally, the normal term in a Nigerian political office lasts for four years, after which a new election comes up where the people converge in their various polling units to vote for whoever they want. The prelude to this is various parties presenting their candidates for different positions for election.

And before a party can present a candidate, there must be the establishment of a duly registered political party and internal shadow election across all parties. This kind of election usually involves only the card carrying members of given political parties and usually leads to implosion unless there is an internal mechanism to resolve issues arising from contention on results.

And in Nigeria today, an election period is coming and as usual, the usual bickering, assault, mudslinging and all sorts of political gimmicks, including lies, are gradually cropping up and creating tension in the polity. It really doesn’t matter the affluence, wealth, pedigree or social and professional standing of a candidate, immediately he signifies interest to contest in an election, opponents will release negative information about him and this has become the norm in Nigeria.

A man that wants privacy and peace cannot venture into Nigeria’s political terrain. It indeed takes a bold heart to brave the stormy waters of politics in Nigeria and it is time our politicians put aside selfish interests and politics of negativity for the overall development of the nation and its people. This may be the reason a wise man stated that “when life throws knife at you, use it to carve a new beginning for yourself, do not use the knife to hurt yourself.”

The last governorship election in Osun State was conducted in 2018 but stakeholders have continued to say that it was a battle between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for some reasons.  There are still people that hold the belief that Senator Ademola Adeleke won the election but the All Progressives Congress (APC) got the victory through the backdoor. This kind of situation is dangerous for our democracy.

The September 22 gubernatorial election is a demonstration that interests can hold sway in an election on who becomes what in any democracy. It also reinforced some peoples’ belief that it is not the electorate that determine who wins an election in Nigeria. And when some say it was a battle between PDP and PDP, they have their reasons; many of PDP’s gallant soldiers belonged to other parties then and even the pillar of the party in some communities were lured to work for the ruling party.

Looking at the candidate of the PDP at the time, one wonders how he was able to gather votes that unsettled the known order; the Adeleke family in Ede are not only known in Edeland but all over Nigeria, particularly, Osun State. The family is Primus interpares when it comes to humanitarian gestures and has in no way stopped in doing this.

Many believe that Senator Isiaka Adetunj Adeleke did not die; in fact he didn’t because everything he stood for is still upheld by the family. Standing on the podium of the Adeleke family history; the man Adeleke that gave birth to Alhaji Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke also gave birth to Dr Deji Adeleke, Mrs Dupe Sanni Adeleke, Senator Demola Adeleke and Dele Adeleke, this family has become one of political convention having produced three senators in a state.

The family produced the first Executive Governor of Osun State and it was through political exigency and the influence of late Bola Ige, among other factors

That made Baba Bisi Akande to win the election in 1999.  The man Senator Ademola Adeleke won the election into the Senate in 2016 with an unprecedented result in the history of the state; he won nine local governments out of 10 and in 2018, during the governorship election, he gave the ruling party a run for their money and made history.

It is obvious already that the political template of 2022 will be different from that of 2018. And now, the PDP is gradually moving towards presenting the candidate for the 2022 governorship election and there are unconfirmed reports that not fewer than six people are ready to vie for the PDP gubernatorial ticket, an indication that the party is still very vibrant in the state. But those who want to slug it out with Senator Ademola Adeleke should remember that he is a man of no mean stature in every sphere of life.

It is a good development for others to come out and contest for the position but the PDP by now should have a mechanism of resolving whatever may emanate from the primary election so that the party can go to the poll with a united house and one voice.

Ademola Adeleke to me remains the best candidate for the party as at today; when you look at the other parties, they do not change their candidates, we have many of them that have contested for more than two to three times and failed. Yet, the party maintained them until they coast home to victory. For example, the late Abiola Ajimobi got it right the second time, President Muhammadu Buhari also got it right the fourth time, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu won when the party presented him the second time, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi was nominated by the party again and won.

And as Senator Ademola Adeleke was presented by the party in 2018 and did well, he should also be presented again. Also, the issue of financial ability must be considered because only a delusional person will think money does not matter in Nigerian politics. Anyone that will contest election in Nigeria today must be able to boast of sound finances and the Adeleke family has what it takes.

Another reason is that only a respected and loved candidate can unseat a government in power, the relationship the Adeleke family has with communities in the state is outstanding. I doubt if there is a town or ward that has not benefited from the family and is still not benefiting till today from the family.

Moreover, among the array of contenders, there are many who have no political base needed for such a foray and are not known even in their wards. Many have not even checked on their constituents since the last election, how will an individual that has lost touch win people’s confidence?

One fact that remains incontrovertible is that Demola Adeleke has what it takes to win an election; he did well before and can do it again especially considering his antecedent, the power and reach of the party and his family. With Senator Ademola Adeleke, the PDP will sweat less as he has at one time wormed himself to the heart of the people in Osun state. It is not a lie that the only candidate that can give the ruling party sleepless nights is no other person than Senator Ademola Adeleke.

 

• Babalola, a journalist and social commentator sent this piece from Ibadan via 08166526864.

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