For some time to come the Oyo South Senatorial election will
be spoken about; not just because of the major upset that occurred but also
because of the factors that led to the eventual outcome. Both Governor Abiola Ajimobi who
occupied the position from 2003 till 2007 and the incumbent, Senator Adesoji
Akanbi lost the election to Mohammed Kola Balogun, the candidate many wouldn’t
have staked their money on.
Balogun, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party
polled a total of 105,720 votes while Senator Ajimobi who came second had
92,218 votes, followed by Senator Soji Akanbi with 49,437 and Dr. Fola Akinosun
who had 13,149 votes.
The fact that the All Progressives Congress won the
remaining two senatorial seats and nine House of Representatives seat points in
one direction, it wasn’t so much about parties but about the individuals that
flew the flags of their different parties.
The talk in and around Ibadan presently is that a number of
things cost Governor Ajimobi the election. First among the factors was a
statement he made openly in the presence of the late Aare of Ibadanland, Alhaji
Azeez Arisekola Alao, former Governor Omololu Olunloyo, Alhaji Azeem Gbolarumi
and popular Islamic cleric Sheikh Muideen Ajani Bello. At the function, Senator
Ajimobi had declared that after his term as Governor, he does not want another
position.
That to an extent gave some people, especially those
aspiring for Senate within the party the assurance that he wouldn’t be contesting.
Before then, Senator Soji Akanbi, who has a long-standing relationship with the
Governor, was believed to be holding the Oyo South position in trust. The point
where the Governor decided to contest was the turning point for Soji Akanbi,
who had never decamped all through his political career.
The Governor’s attitude too went a long way in pitching him
against people. At every gathering, the odds that Mr. Governor would make a
statement that could affect his political goodwill became overwhelming. At a
recent award ceremony, the Governor took time to chide some people for not
standing up when he entered the auditorium.
In the course of working enormously hard to ensure things
went well in the state, Governor Ajimobi got into many fights, some of them
needless. He had issues indirectly with parents who had children in schools. The
protest by secondary school students was about the first in the history of Oyo
State.
One of the things that worked in Ajimobi’s favour as a
Senator was the vocational centre he set up at Oke Ado. It was for many years a
reference point. People acquired skills with which they were able to start up small
businesses. Things however changed when the vocational centre was closed and
the building became the state secretariat of the governor’s party. Apart from
the question of His Excellency, the Governor being the party’s landlord, it
painted a picture that politicking was of greater importance than skill acquisition
for those in the Governor’s immediate constituency.
Then the Ladoke Akintola University Students’ protest
through which the Governor awarded himself the sobriquet “Constituted
Authority”. That protest buffeted the Governor’s image in no small measure.
Though damage control efforts were made with government officials trying to
explain what constituted authority means at every official function that had
the governor in attendance, the efforts could not compare to the damage done by
the video of the protest that went viral.
The forceful ejection of butchers from the Bodija Market was
another issue that affected the administration’s goodwill. The unfortunate loss
of life that happened during the eviction would make it even more difficult to
appeal to the sense of fairness of those affected.
The Olubadan factor
is another issue that has pitched the Governor against many Ibadan indigenes. All
of a sudden, the status of 30 people suddenly changed and they became obas;
some without domains. Though to some, the issue is solved and gone, but to
manage the far reaching effects, extreme intelligence and wisdom are required.
At the outset, some Ibadan indigenes complained and raised
issues. Those who described it as an explosion waiting to happen are beginning
to appear correct. With the other members of the Olubadan Advisory Council,
except the Iyalode now obas, the traditional Olubadan-in-Council meetings no
longer hold. The looming disaster is the inability to fill vacancies in the
three chieftaincy lines. Of particular note is the vacant Iyalode position.
There is an Iyalode designate and what is delaying the
installation is the fact that only the Olubadan and one High Chief have signed
the letter that should notify the state government of the Olubadan-in-Council’s
intention to install a new Iyalode. The other members of the council who are
obas are yet to sign the letter. Not a few Ibadan indigenes read the affront against
the Olubadan as a declaration of war against Ibadan.
Another disturbingly wrong move was the “partial demolition”
of Yinka Ayefele’s Fresh FM. Opponents of the ruling party took full advantage
of the demolition to lampoon the government as they continuously sympathized
with Ayefele. Some even allegedly offered to help him rebuild. The height of
absurdity was that the same government that ordered the demolition also
financed the rebuilding of the demolished part.
After the demise of Alhaji Lam Adesina and Aare Arisekola Alao,
the last godfathers who were rallying points for politicians and business
people, fate placed Governor Ajimobi in the position of godfather. The effect
of the Governor’s management of that role became obvious at the senatorial
poll. Under Governor Ajimobi’s leadership, intra-party squabbles occurred.
Loyalists of Late Governor Lam Adesina went away, some others who were denied
the opportunity to contest election also left. Those who did not leave
apparently stayed back to work against Ajimobi’s interest.
Some members are no longer comfortable with him as leader
and would want to wrest the party from his grip. That, to them can only be done
if he is not occupying any elective office. Like a true statesman with regard
for decency, the Governor has congratulated Dr. Kola Balogun and the winners
from the All Progressives Congress.
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