OPINION: Adesoji OMOSEBI
As the search continues on who succeeds the incumbent governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola come 2018, it is imperative to beam searchlight on a possible contender who will be acceptable to all and sundry in the state.
One basic information is the fact that one community that remains bitter in the state, is Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba race. This is the community that has one of the highest ranking monarchs in the entire Yoruba land. It has the largest landmass and definitely the greatest contributor to the internal revenue of the state.
Incidentally, it is within the same Osun East Senatorial District, with the current governor of the state, Ogbeni Aregbesola. This, on its own is a factor that hinders Ile-Ife indigene from producing the next governor of the state since zoning plays a prominent role in the scheme of things in the state.
It will not be out of order if the same Ile-Ife son or daughter is given the slot of a deputy governor under the coming dispensation.
Should APC decides to give the slot to Ile-Ife, the party should better think in the direction of Hon. Rotimi Makinde as a winning combination for the party. He is such a progressive who is committed and loyal to the ideals of the party. He is a young achiever who is acceptable to the generality of his Senatorial District and the state at large.
His profile revealed that, Olarotimi Mikhail Makinde as a Muslim by faith, though a very liberal and social person, he would be acceptable to both the old and the young generation. He is the son of a popular late islamic scholar and well known in Ile-Ife and the state in general,makinde is from Ife Central while his mother is from Ife East.
Apart from being a well-known member of the Nollywood, he was a former member of the House of Representatives, Founder and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Oodua FM (90.9FM) in Ile-Ife community.The radio station is one of the leading station in the State of Osun.
Hon. Makinde was commissioned into politics by the governor. His track records in the House of Representatives is there for posterity and for everyone to see. As it is now, almost all the gladiators are looking towards his direction to pull the crowd and to change the face of politics in Osun State.
Another permutation in the mind of analysts is the idea that governorship candidate is very likely to be zoned to Osun West and so another book of thought is considering Osogbo as the next home of deputy governor. The reason is not farfetched, it is basically because of the voting pattern over the years which made Oshogbo predominantly for the progressive party coupled with its huge population.
Osogbo, the state capital no doubt enjoyed most of the patronage of the present government on infrastructural developments that befit a state capital and its very likely they would keep on showing their appreciation to the party to deserve higher representative for the continuity.
The city and its people would love to remain relevant and so to have one of their son or daughter as number two citizen of the state is never a tall dream.
There is no controversy that this permutation for an indigene of Osogbo in the forthcoming election and its reward to turn in larger vote is predictable compared to Ile-Ife known as the haven for the opposition. To be so considered for such plum job may go in the favour and in the direction of Barrister Basir Ajibola one of the closest lieutenant of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, he is a technocrat cum Lawyer, the current Attorney General of the State, he is also a Muslim like Hon. Makinde.
One senatorial district that stands a greater chance to pick the governorship ticket come 2018 is Osun West, this is so because Osun Central had produced Chief Bisi Akande, Gen. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, both served for a period of four and seven years respectively.
The current occupant is from Osun East who by the grace of God will be completing his tenure after eight solid years of meritorious service, to do otherwise may spell doom for any of the party especially APC.
It would not be out of place to consider the general notion that it is becoming a norm for the progressives to consider a female, a non-political person as deputy, this is damned common only in the Southwest of Nigeria.
In as much as this explains why most governors in the South West work restlessly and all hours without delegation of duty or allow prominence of their deputy in southwest unlike the North and the Eastern part of the country. The argument in this favour was said to be borne from the experience of Chief Bisi Akande,the former governor of Osun State , where the then Deputy Governor Sen Iyiola Omisore was said to be at logger heads with him all throughout their tenure and so also the experience of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Lagos with his deputy. Women according to this parochial thought are said to be of weaker sex, submissive and good enough to enjoy a level headed administration compared to men.
Who becomes the governor and which senatorial district the lucky man or woman comes from within the APC and PDP? It was revealed they have silently zoned their gubernatorial candidates to Osun West Senatorial District while it was gathered that Chief Iyiola Omisore, PDP from Osun East is also jostling for the same seat.
Under the All Progressives Congress, many likely candidates may spring up in the coming months from Osun West which includes but not limited to likely contenders which may include; Hon. Akintayo Amere, Hon. Yussuf Olasunkanmi, Mr Gboyega Alabi ,Alh Gboyega Oyetola,Alh Moshood Adeoti, Dr Peter Babalola and the current Speaker, Hon. Salami Nojeem Folasayo, Hon. Isiaka Owoade etc. These are likely the home based contenders. The polity would be heated up as soon as INEC gives a go ahead to all political parties to elect candidates to represent their various parties for 2018 elections. When the council of elders from both giant parties are expected to ratify the zoning system.
The clamour and the insistence of a home based candidate may likely affect the decision of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for the continuity of his laudable programmes.
Whoever emerges as the candidate of APC has to be someone with intellectual capacity, strong will, a goal getter, an achiever and a man of the people who will be ready to continue from where Ogbeni Aregbesola would stop with much vigour.
The State of Osun needs a man who can think outside the box for new innovations for the benefit of the people in the state.
How this will play out is just a matter of time.
Adesoji OMOSEBI is a retired banker, a political analyst and a writer of repute.
www.sojworld.com © August 22, 2017.
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