… as APC learns first hard lesson
Untold story of Oyetola’s loss
BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Following the outcome of Saturday’s Osun State gubernatorial election, major parties have been forced to go back to the drawing board so as to strategize ahead of the 2023 general elections which is seven months away.
Particularly, the ruling All Progressives Congress, smarting from the dramatic loss, is said to be planning how to quickly adjust and put its house in order to forestall further loss of political capital.
For the APC, the signs were palpably ominous as it headed into last Saturday’s governorship election.
A source within the party in the state confided in this paper that internal contradictions that proved irreconcilable, robbed it of victory and not some alleged poor performance on the part of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
The source equally revealed that it is not also the governor’s often cited lack of charisma but the blunt refusal of party members to sink their ego, effect a reconciliation and face the opposition that was also confronted by equally daunting challenges.
“The handwriting has always been boldly written on the wall. We all saw and could read it. We only did our best, hoping that the opposition which also had challenges wouldn’t be able to sort out their own issue too.
But unfortunately, the opposition rallied around at the eleventh hour and went into the election with a determination to unseat the government. It relied heavily on the disagreement within our party, exploited it and now we can all see the result. That was what happened. Imagine a party waiting for a court judgment 48 hours before the election to ascertain whether the governor will participate or not. A suit filed by a member of the party. That was demoralizing enough and made people lose interest and enthusiasm. That alone sent wrong signals that all was not well with the party. I think that the party deserved applause,” the source told The Point.
For a good number of Osun residents, especially those who are keen watchers of political happenings in the state, the victory of the People’s Democratic Party at the Saturday governorship election in the state, didn’t come to them as a surprise.
The candidate of the PDP, Ademola Adeleke, polled 403,371 to defeat incumbent Governor Oyetola, who garnered 375,027 votes, while Lasun Yusuf of Labour Party, polled 2,729. Adeleke won in 17 local government areas against Oyetola’s 13.
But this wasn’t the first time Adeleke would be winning in Osun mainstream elections. Since Adeleke started his political career in 2001 alongside his late brother, Isiaka Adeleke, who died in April 2017, he had become so popular among the people of the state. This is partly owing to his dancing skill which has earned him the nickname, “Dancing Senator.”
“For a good number of Osun residents, especially those who are keen watchers of political happenings in the state, the victory of the People’s Democratic Party at the Saturday governorship election in the state, didn’t come to them as a surprise”
This has been counting in his favour during elections notwithstanding backlash in some quarters.
When Adeleke contested at the Osun West 2017 by-election after the death of his brother, he emerged the winner by winning nine out of the ten Local Government Areas that make up the Senatorial district.
In 2018, defeating Akin Ogunbiyi by seven votes in a primary election, Adeleke emerged the governorship candidate of PDP in Osun State. Adeleke contested for the governorship position in the state against top contenders such as Gboyega Oyetola of APC and Iyiola Omisore of SDP on September 22, 2018.
Adeleke had reportedly maintained a moderate lead in the keenly contested election before it was declared inconclusive by the Independent Electoral Commission and a rerun was slated for September 27, 2018. After the supplementary election, INEC declared Oyetola the winner. Adeleke protested the result which he described as a “coup” but the Supreme Court eventually upheld Oyetola’s victory.
Since Oyetola’s emergence as governor after spending eight years in the administration of his predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola, political pundits had argued that the Iragbiji-born politician might be faced with difficulty securing a second term.
Oyetola’s undoing
Analysts revealed that the feud between Oyetola and Aregbesola contributed to causing the former’s defeat.
It was observed that all known strong loyalists of the minister supported and worked for the victory of the PDP in the last governorship poll on Saturday. Unconfirmed information revealed that Aregbesola might have instructed his followers across the state to vote against his successor. One of Aregbesola’s loyalists was seen acting as PDP’s agent in Ilesa on Saturday.
Watchers said Aregbesola, although not in the country as at the time the election was held, could have decided to take his pound of flesh on Oyetola by working against him. The minister was said to have allegedly done this to exert vengeance over efforts inadvertently made by Oyetola to paint his (Aregbesola) administration as wasteful and thus changed some of his policies. Aregbesola had vowed that Oyetola would not taste a second term while speaking recently in the state.
A close ally of the minister, Adebayo Rasheed Mabayoje, corroborated the fact that Aregbesola’s impact was felt in the governor’s electoral loss, saying, “I think they must have understood the meaning of Rauf Aregbesola as explained in the Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Osun Politics.”
Almost immediately after Oyetola won in 2018, APC was torn into shreds as some camp pitched tents with Aregbesola, others with Oyetola while others went with Lasun Yusuff, who defected to the Labour Party about three months ago.
An APC caucus in the state that is loyal to Aregbesola, The Osun Progressives, after failing to stop Oyetola from picking the governorship ticket, reportedly voted in favour of the PDP. Already, a popular former aide to Aregbesola and former TOP member, Kola Alimi had defected to PDP and also boasted that Oyetola would be defeated.
“Unconfirmed information revealed that Aregbesola might have instructed his followers across the state to vote against his successor. One of Aregbesola’s loyalists was seen acting as PDP’s agent in Ilesa on Saturday”
While APC failed to ensure proper reconciliation, PDP Governors led by its vice presidential candidate, who doubles as the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa; his Bayelsa counterpart, Douye Diri, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, pulled all the strings and ensured that a last-minute reconciliation of aggrieved members of the party’s top hierarchy in the state was affected. But it was not the same with the APC.
Then, the inability of Oyetola to offset outstanding pension entitlements, and workers’ half salary arrears might have worked against him at the poll.
Despite the governor’s excuses that the entitlements would be paid when the state economy improves, most retirees in the state had expressed serious displeasure at the governance style of Oyetola and vowed to oust him with their votes. Same thing for civil servants who were both happy that the governor didn’t pay their modulated salary arrears that was orchestrated by Aregbesola’s administration. The small amounts that some of the workers received as promotion arrears did not go down well with the workers who had secretly expressed reservations against the governor.
The voting pattern of Osogbo suddenly changed on Saturday in favour of the PDP. That was evidence that the governor was not in the good book of many workers in the state. It was as bad as the governor losing the Polling Unit in Government House, Osogbo.
Some argued that the governor didn’t perform enough and that he was too stingy. Some APC members had complained that money had ceased to circulate within the party as it was when Aregbesola was governor. They also said that most of the governor’s aides were fond of always ridiculing Aregbesola and every other political chieftain in the state who appeared not to be in Oyetola’s good book.
However, a loyalist of Oyetola and an APC chieftain in Osun, Ipoola Hameed Omisore, blamed Aregbesola for Oyetola’s electoral misfortunes. He asserted that administrative challenges such as non-payment of pension and salary arrears were all inherited from Aregbesola’s administration.
Omisore, in his reactions to the poll tagged: “Why we lost Osun”, wrote, “back to the drawing board.. To win, we must kick out traitors, admit hardship complaints in town and address them. Stop ‘Campaign Council’, use Strategy Committee,” he advised Oyetola and other party stakeholders.
He added, “Why we lost Osun: Owing salaries and pensions or paying 50%, in a Civil Service state killed the party. It was only buried on Saturday. APC awaits Aregbe to roll out drums-in-joy! Aregbe is the faulty foundation. Did we win easily in the 1st election at the end of his term? No. Enraged civil servants were unhappy with him and the party, and till today, a spillover.
“Aregbe’s stubbornness on loans, white-elephant projects, half-salary, unpaid pension/gratuities destroyed the party till today. Inherited salary destroyed schools and school system, unreasonable taxes, fraudulent Opon Imo, same school uniform and many other evils.
Very true, the man (Oyetola) is just a victim of circumstances. Osun was already milked dry by Aregbesola before he came,” he claimed.
Checks by our correspondent revealed that most of the people of the state had been yearning for a change of political party before now. They had also expressed their anger against the APC in the country as a whole as some of them felt that the modest achievements of Oyetola would not retain him at the Oke-Fia Government House.
In an exclusive reaction made available to our correspondent, Aregbesola feigned a lack of culpability in the events leading to Oyetola’s electoral loss and described the victory of Adeleke as a “temporary setback.”
The reaction made available by Sola Fasure, the minister’s media aide on Sunday read, “It’s unfortunate. But the people have spoken and we must recognize their supremacy. We are going back to the drawing board. Our party will bounce back big. The setback is only temporary.”
How Adeleke won
The PDP in Osun State wasn’t too different from the APC in terms of internal party crisis. Their point of divergence was that the PDP was able to broker peace with aggrieved leaders and chieftains of the party including former state governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Shuaib Oyedokun, Erelu Olusola Obada, Dotun Babayemi, among others few hours to the election.
The presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, his running mate Okowa, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State and Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State met with the aggrieved party leaders and made peace with them.
The overwhelming popularity of Adeleke’s dynasty and the love of the people of the state notwithstanding Adeleke’s shortcomings and controversies surrounding his reported Christian-Christian ticket and capacity worked in favour of the major opposition party.
The general distraught over skyrocketing prices of food items across the country, security challenges and economic quagmire among others also encouraged people to vote out APC being the government at the centre.
Expectedly, the victory of Adeleke, whose slogan is ‘Imole deee’, that is ‘Light has come’, triggered wild jubilation across major towns in Osun State on Sunday morning after he was declared the winner of the election held on Saturday.
INEC’s Chief Returning Officer for the election, Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, pronounced Adeleke winner having scored lawful available votes in the election.
Immediately Adeleke was declared Osun governor-elect, supporters of the PDP at the headquarters of INEC in Osogbo trooped out in joy amid dancing and singing of victory songs.
Others were seen with drums and on motorcycles moved to Ede, the hometown of Adeleke to continue their celebration.
The winner, Adeleke was sighted in a video prostrating to his elder brother and major financier of his election, Deji Adeleke in appreciation of his support.
Apparently overwhelmed with joy, Adeleke was shedding tears while lying down at the feet of his business magnate brother. Present at the Adelekes country home were former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Governors Diri, Obaseki and Okowa.
After prostrating for about two minutes for Deji, the governor-elect rose to thank Saraki and other prominent PDP leaders in the mansion amid victory songs by supporters.
Reacting to the declaration, PDP’s agent and member of the House of Representatives, Bamidele Salam described the outcome of the poll as the wish of the people of the state adding that, “we have a common state, we have Osun, it’s not about an individual, it’s not about any political party, it’s about the destiny of the state. Come November 27, 2022, we want to have a very smooth transition from the All Progressives Congress to the People’s Democratic Party.”
When asked if vote-buying might have contributed to PDP’s victory, Salam said, “You and I know that’s not true. This is a victory that has come as a result of hard work, as a result of the determination of the people of this state to have a positive change and we are so glad about it.”
Also speaking, a member of the Senate, Francis Fadahunsi, described the victory as the liberation of the poor masses in Osun.
He said, “This is a victory for democracy and liberation for the suffering masses in Osun. We have to thank Senator Bukola Saraki, former Senate President, incoming Vice President of PDP, and Governor Okowa, these are the people that really banked Osun PDP including Adeleke’s senior brother, Deji Adeleke. These are the people who stood by Senator Ademola Adeleke to the last.
“We have to also thank Ademola for his large heartedness and bravery, if not, he would have run away. We thank God for the people, the poor masses, those people that are dying that God has finally answered their prayer. We assure them that by the grace of God, PDP is up to the task.
“We are very happy. We are the second state of PDP to Oyo in the South West. What will happen in 2023 is already known and that is we are going to win the presidency and all National Assembly seats with the backing of the incoming Governor Ademola Adeleke and Governor Seyi Makinde. We hope to win the elections with the cooperation of the party leaders.
“People are jubilating because they can’t hide their joy. These are suffering masses that have no jobs. But now, some of them will be councilors and chairmen of local government areas and you know what that would translate to their communities. It’s time for Osun to work and governor-elect Ademola Adeleke is here to make it work,” Fadahunsi said.
Speaking, PDP Caretaker Chairman, Akindele Adekunle described the outcome as a victory for the entire populace of the state.
Adekunle said, “Though it was anticipated because we have been to all the nooks and crannies of the state selling our candidate to a populace that desired change and they proved it at the poll.
“We will not let the people down. They trust and believe in us, our duty is to reciprocate that trust.”
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the Osun PDP and House of Representatives candidate, Adewale Maruf Adebayo, has extended hands of fellowship to the defeated APC in the state.
He said, “God has sealed Adeleke’s victory. This is the beginning of new things. All those who voted won’t regret it. I want Osun people to be on the lookout for greater things. They should celebrate in a way that wouldn’t lead to the loss of lives or the destruction of property. We are not fighting the APC, if they are ready to work with us, we will embrace them.”
Oyetola shocked by election results
The outcome of the poll, it was learnt, sent Governor Oyetola into shock as hours after the results were declared, neither the governor nor APC leadership reacted.
Iragbiji, hometown of Oyetola, where he had stayed since he voted on Saturday has experienced uneasy calm as residents were seen discussing the outcome of the contest in hush tones.
Oyetola had defeated Adeleke in his polling unit and Boripe Local Government Area the same way Adeleke garnered overwhelming votes than the governor in his polling unit and Ede hometown.
I now know there’s God – Adeleke
Meanwhile, Governor-elect, Adeleke, has assured the people of the state that his administration would not be corrupt.
Adeleke said his emergence has proven to him that God really exists. Addressing journalists at his country home in Ede, Adeleke said he would be bringing integrity and steadfastness to his governance after taking over reigns from Oyetola.
He said, “I just feel good. That’s what I can say for now. I thank God and the people of Osun State. I want to thank my blood brother, Dr. Deji Adeleke, and my sister, who is now my mother, Mrs. Dupe Sanmi. I know now that there is God. I am bringing on the table integrity, steadfastness, and corruption is gone already.”
Also speaking, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri, described Adeleke’s victory as a manifestation of the overwhelming support Adeleke and PDP enjoy from the people of the state.
The governor said, “We came here (Osun) to campaign and after, we stayed back here with him (Adeleke). I told the people of Nigeria during our mega rally that there was organic support for the candidate and the party and it has been proven.”
For former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, the message is clear, “Nigerians have spoken.”
Governor of Edo, Godwin Obaseki, expressed hope that members of the PDP who had left would return owing to the victory.
“Others that want to join us now have the basis and reasons to come back to us.”
For Oyetola and the APC, it was not time yet for speaking. Governor Oyetola said he and the leadership of the party were still studying the results of the poll.
He said he had taken cognisance of the results of the election as announced by INEC on Sunday and that his party would react after appraising the outcome of the poll.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan on Sunday, about five hours after the elections were announced, Oyetola noted that the party would be responding appropriately after studying the results and consulting with critical stakeholders of the party.
Oyetola called on his supporters to remain calm, and the people of the state to go about their businesses without let or hindrance.
The governor also called on security operatives to ensure the maintenance of law and order. He also directed security operatives to take adequate charge so as to prevent the breakdown of law and order.
Meanwhile, a PDP Returning Officer in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, Jide Joba was on Saturday shot and injured by suspected thugs working for one of the political parties.
He is currently receiving treatment in a hospital.
Joba was said to be leaving the collation centre in Ikire on Saturday evening before he was shot.
Another agent of the PDP, Bamidele Salam, made this known during the announcement of results at the headquarters of INEC in Osogbo in the early hours of Sunday.
“The PDP in Osun State wasn’t too different from the APC in terms of internal party crisis. Their point of divergence was that the PDP was able to broker peace with aggrieved leaders and chieftains of the party including former state governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Shuaib Oyedokun, Erelu Olusola Obada, Dotun Babayemi, among others few hours to the election”
Salam said there was a disruption of elections in some areas in Irewole.
He expressed surprise that INEC didn’t disclose such an incident when accounting for the vote of the Irewole Local Government Area.
“As I speak, the PDP Returning Officer in Ikire, Irewole Local Government has been critically hospitalized after some hoodlums shot him.
“There was a shooting incident at the venue of collation of results in the local government after which Joba was shot. I had expected INEC to mention such incidents and others but I haven’t heard it,” Salam informed the gathering.
Buhari, Okowa, Makinde, greet Adeleke
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Adeleke, following his victory in Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Osun State.
Buhari, in a statement on Sunday by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, said with the election over, he expresses conviction that the people of Osun have expressed their will through the ballot, and the will of the people must always matter and be respected in a democracy.
“President Buhari notes that the successful conduct of the election is a further testimony to the maturity and commitment of all stakeholders – the electoral body, security agencies, political parties, the media, civil society and the electorate- to further strengthen the integrity of the electoral process in the country.
“The President reassures the nation that the commitment of this administration towards having credible elections remains unshaken,” Adesina noted.
Also, Governor Okowa, has congratulated Adeleke on his victory.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, on Sunday, Okowa described the election of Adeleke as “the affirmation of Osun people’s will” and called on Nigerians to always stand for good leaders with the interest of the people at heart as Osun people just did for Adeleke.
He stated that the electorate across the 30 local government areas of the state spoke loudly and very clearly in their affirmation of their choice of Adeleke as the next governor.
He lauded the former governor of the state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Olu Alabi and other party leaders in the state for working together in the interest of the PDP and Osun people.
Okowa noted that the election of Adeleke had signposted the reality of PDP’s determination to rescue Nigeria, saying “the mission has just begun.
Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Sunday, equally congratulated Adeleke, on his victory at the just-concluded Osun State governorship election, saying that the power of the people has again triumphed.
According to him, Adeleke’s victory was similar to what happened in Oyo State during the 2019 governorship election, when the people exercised their franchise in support of an opposition party.
Makinde, who hailed the teeming voters across the 30 local governments of Osun State for standing by the PDP and staying resolute to ensure that their votes counted, said: “it’s great to have a second PDP flag flying in the South-West.”
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Governor Makinde equally lauded Senator Adeleke, PDP members and Osun State voters for remaining strong and unwavering throughout the electioneering period.
He said: “On behalf of the government and the good people of Oyo State, I congratulate the Osun State Governor-Elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke and the people of Osun State on this victory.
“It is great to have a second PDP flag flying in the South West and this victory teaches all politicians an important lesson- that truly, power resides with the people.
“The power of the people will continue to triumph, the earlier politicians realise this fact, the better for our democracy.”
