Oyo 2019: Why Oke-Ogun should present Okediran as consensus candidate

POLITICAL calculations, permutations, alignment, re-alignments and persuasions have all started in earnest since February 14, 2018 when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the time table for the next year general election.

Aspirants have swung into action to meet and reconcile with even their arch political foes as a way of massaging and assuaging their egos. The people of Oke-ogun axis of Oyo State are warming up for the benevolence of destiny conferring on them the opportunity to govern the state. Activities are on-going across the political levels from the Ward, Local Council, State, Federal Constituencies, Senatorial and the Federal as individual aspirants make consultations towards getting supports to clinch the ticket.

Oke-ogun should gear up and not relent in its efforts to reach out to other zones to give them the opportunity to govern the state in the next dispensation, 2019. Our zone, like other zones in the state, has actively participated in the previous electoral exercises and supported the preferred and successful candidates from Ibadan and Ogbomosho axis that have administered the state.

Oke-ogun is a dependable ally, sincere and reliable people to align with. They look for the best material in terms of the candidate and the political party to align with. In the current search for the probable candidate among the retinue that have indicated interest, Oke-ogun people, therefore, needs to streamline and prune down the list of the aspirants. The zone will queue behind the party that presents its candidate from Oke-ogun and give block votes to the party. We have played second fiddle for a long time. Be that as it may, Oke-ogun will be counting on the good people of Ibadan, Ogbomosho, Oyo and Ibarapa to give us massive to emerge as the next governor.  We need other zones’ support, because we cannot do it alone. Negotiation is a key factor in politics to secure elective positions and this is on-going across various political camps and this is why we will be counting and beckoning on the other zones to support us at election.

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But as they say, charity begins at home. The zone should do its home work properly and harness its potential and present a capable, impeccable and quality candidate that can stand the rigour of governorship election. We have competent materials as other zones do, but in the spirit of fairness, equity and justice, Oke-ogun will be grateful if the incumbent governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, can fulfill his promise of assisting the zone to produce the next governor of the state. It is our passionate appeal to the other zones to give us the needed support. Yes, we have the population but we are not relying on that as the only factor to clinch the ticket without the support of other zones, because a tree cannot make a forest. We pray and earnestly hope that our demand will be acceded to by our brothers and sisters from other sides of the State. By presenting a competent and quality person eminently accepted by other zones, Oke-ogun will provide the needed responsible, responsive and quality democratic dividends to the people of the state in 2019.

As a pace-setting state, if the incumbent governor can fulfill the promise, which he has reiterated at different fora in Saki, Iseyin and Okeho in Oke-ogun axis of the state, that he will ensure the emergence of an Oke-ogun person as the next governor, we earnestly hope and yearn for the fulfillment. The good work that Ajimobi has been doing stands him out and there is no doubt that he will want someone who can sustain his good legacy and a credible candidate to take over the rein of governance in the state.

Oke-Ogun has a credible candidate in former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Wale Okediran, who parades unrivalled political credentials considering his previous political engagement, pedigree, level-headedness, dedication to the service of the people and sincerity of purpose. Other candidates are also good but the zone cannot ignore tested hands and known for unknown. We cannot gamble when the opportunity is availed the zone to present a candidate that the other zones will not be comfortable with. The devil we know is always better than the saint we do not know. Oke-ogun earnestly wants to govern the state in 2019 and this is the more reason we should present eminently qualified and tested person to the state. While one is not condemning or running other aspirants from the zone down, quality is always better than quantity.

An analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and the threats conducted on some of the aspirants from Oke-ogun showed that Dr. Okediran is far better.  Okediran should be our preferred candidate from Oke-ogun, and many of us are sure that he will be acceptable to the people from the other zones, because he has distinguished himself in the previous political assignment he undertook. He represented the Itesiwaju/Iseyin/Iwajowal/Kajola Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007 where he demonstrated uncommon responsibility and dedication to the service of humanity. As a responsible representative, the constituency witnessed unequal representation. The present governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, who was the Speaker then, counted on Okediran as a reliable, competent, vibrant, intelligent, dependable and responsible member and ally. As a matter of fact, Masari appointed him into various Committees of the House and made him to Chair Ad Hoc Committees despite his engagement in series of assignments on behalf of the House and his constituency.

Okediran networked regardless of political parties’ affiliation. This is the quality this aspirant is made of. We should, therefore, not trade or ignore quality for quantity. Oke-ogun should queue and stand stoutly behind Okediran to clinch the governorship ticket and gain the confidence of other zones for us to govern the state in 2019. He is the best candidate among the aspirants we have. We should give him the opportunity. Oke-ogun cannot afford to lose the opportunity availed us by presenting a political neophyte. Eminently qualified, more sellable, amenable and acceptable better than most of the other aspirants of his previous contributions, Okediran will facilitate the desired developments to Oyo State to the admiration and appreciation of everyone.

• Adelowo writes from Ayekale, Saki