Osun West by-election: Why Adeleke will triumph

THAT the late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke lived a beautiful life, full of robust achievements is not contestable. His life was a testimony of goodness and patriotic service to humanity. He left nobody in doubt that he was one of the finest politicians ever produced from this part of the world. He came angelically and transited gloriously, resting peacefully in the bosom of Almighty Allah.

Therefore, politics in the Adeleke family is synonymous with selfless service to the people – particularly the down-trodden. It is, therefore, not applicable to the Adeleke family, as being erroneously canvassed in some quarters, that they are in politics to make wealth. This is blackmail that holds no water. The Adeleke family built its financial empire through the grace of God, Spartan discipline, hard work and prudent management of resources. So many people have benefited from the family’s large-heartedness without any string attached.

The esteemed Adeleke dynasty has been championing the tenet of politics without bitterness and violence since the hero of the family – the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke- became the governor of Osun State in 1992 and laid a solid foundation for the state. What point, therefore, are detractors of the family trying to establish by making wild comments and unjust accusation, concerning the painful and sudden death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke on April 23, 2017? It is sad that they are turning fact on its head as far as reference to the family’s stand on same is concerned.

The family, at a press conference addressed by Dr Deji Adeleke, had called for absolute observance of peace and maintenance of law and order on the part of the sympathizers. That went a long way to bring calmness on the sympathizers who were genuinely “crushed” by the sudden death of our beloved Adeleke. What else was expected of the family, who are still in deep grief, to convince political traducers that the family is a promoter of peace and concord?

Chief Ademola Adeleke’s efforts at contesting the vacant seat of Osun West Senatorial District is every inch justifiable, as a law-abiding  and eminently qualified citizen of Nigeria. It is more of a right for him to signify interest, coming as it were from the esteemed Adeleke family. In other climes, it is a matter for the political party, which the late Adeleke represented at the Senate, to call on his family to nominate somebody to complete his remaining two years.

In the United States of America, the Bush family produced father and son as presidents of the country. Chuba Okadigbo died as a Senator and his wife succeeded him. The Adeleke family, ordinarily should have been offered the opportunity to bring one of them board by APC, the party the deceased represented.

It is a matter of conjecture for whoever to think that Chief Adeleke was not a member of APC before he left it. He registered at Sagba/Abogunde Ward in 2014 for APC alongside his late political mentor – Senator Isiaka Adeleke. He presented his membership card at the screening exercise and was cleared by the committee. It could not have been possible for him to scale that hurdle, if he has no APC membership card. He duly paid for all relevant forms to qualify for screening. Why will some mischievous people stop at nothing to drag the good name of the Adeleke family through the mud, for cheap political gains and belly-aching? They have failed woefully in their nefarious activities.

Adeleke is not a political coward as some people would want the public to see him, all by pitching his tent with PDP. It is an unassailable fact that he enjoys every right to identify with any political party where he thinks his ambition could best be realised. That is the beauty of democracy. And so far, his wide acceptance in the course of his campaign to different local government areas has shown that he is the candidate to beat. The peasants have spoken. They have given their fullest support to him in the July 8 by-election. God works in a miraculous way; His wonders to perform. Ademola Adeleke’s candidature under PDP is manifestation of God’s support for Isiaka Adeleke and continuity of his laudable legacies .

Let me state that Senator Mudasir Hussein did not in 2015 concede the ticket to the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke as being falsely peddled in some quarters. This is far from the truth. The late Adeleke won the ticket and the election into Senate through his well-grounded political structure which he brought from the PDP. In addition to other contributions of the Adeleke family, this went a long way to ensure the victory of Mr Rauf Aregbesola’s re-election in 2014. The late Adeleke, together with Ademola Adeleke, were involved in rigorous campaign outings throughout the length and breadth of Osun State with Aregbesola in his second-term bid. Glory be to God for paving the way for him to leave the APC. The late Adeleke was eminently given the ticket based on his towering political image and invaluable contributions to the success of Aregbesola at the 2014 polls, in addition to the massive followership he brought from the PDP.

Ademola Adeleke’s opponents should wait till July 8, 2017, when the voting public in will unanimously cast their votes for him. There is no gain-saying the fact that the voters are ready to continue to give their unalloyed support to their beloved Senator Adeleke, whose death they are yet to come to reality with. The thousands of voters in Osun West District are of the opinion that the best they could do to immortalise the memory of the late Adeleke is to vote massively for his brother who has over the years learnt the political rope from his late father of blessed memory – Senator Raji Ayoola Adeleke and his late brother and mastered it well. He is best equipped and articulate to marshall the continuity project in the senatorial race. It is God’s own project, which time has arrived to make life and living worth the while for the people of the district. Adeleke University continues to give hundreds of employment and scholarship opportunities to Osun citizens. The Ede City Hall completion is being undertaken by the Adeleke family.

The Adeleke family and indeed the PDP in Osun West District are appealing to all those, who will in one way or the other partake of the July 8, 2017 Osun West by-election in whatever form, to do so with the fear of God and absolute peace, orderliness and maintenance and observance of the tenets of their various professional callings. They should provide level-playing field for all candidates so as to write their names in hall of fame as the whole world is watching. The wish of the voters should be allowed to prevail without let or hindrance. The voice of the people, which is the voice of God, will manifest in favour of Ademola Adeleke. They are very ready to vote and guard their votes jealously on as free citizens of Osun State.

Otunba Ademola Adeleke is coming to the “battle” on July 8, 2017 like the biblical David, while his opponent “claims” to be thalbae biblical Goliath. Just as God Almighty gave overwhelming victory to David over Goliath, so shall it be for Otunba Ademola Adeleke. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. July 8, 2017, it’s Ademola Adeleke versus Ademola Adeleke. End of discussion.

• Lawal wrote from Ede, Osun State.