Nigerian Concord Newspaper
APC in Osun is the biggest joke of the century. Some of us are visible supporters of President Tinubu, so we have access to first-hand information.
It is common knowledge in Abuja and in Osun State today that all ‘security’ reports and political analysis relating to the Osun State election clearly indicate that the APC and its gubernatorial candidate have no chance whatsoever of winning the governorship election in Osun State, and that they cannot win a single local government. In fact, the APC candidate, Oyebamiji has been described as unpopular and not acceptable.
It was also strongly advised that any plan to manipulate the Osun State election will not succeed. While this popular opinion already everywhere in most powerful circles remained painful for the Oyetola-led faction of APC politicians in Osun, some within the party are quietly pleased and are circulating the gist to mock the imposition of Oyebamiji on them in the party. Even within the APC Presidency, there are open acknowledgment of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s performance, peaceful disposition, and conscience-driven leadership.
However, some desperate Osun APC characters found this disturbing and have been struggling to see if it can be changed. In their attempt to see if they could alter this reality, they came up with two political ideas.
First, to mobilize people from Ekiti, Ondo, and parts of Osun to stage a large rally in Ede, the Governor’s hometown, in order to create a false impression of strength and presence and send misleading signals to security agencies and innocent observers, but it failed shamefully.
Second, to purchase and distribute motorcycles to security agencies illegally, without any clear budgetary process, in the hope that this would influence or distort the consistent reports that APC is not on ground in Osun State. It failed, in fact, the APC was mocked for such a trivial strategy.
Rather than achieve their aim, these actions have further exposed them to embarrassment. It was evident that many of those who attended the Ede rally were not from the town, as they were seen arriving and leaving in organized batches.
Osun APC needs to understand what ‘security’ reporting truly represents. It is not just about security agencies alone, it is about independent observation and positioning. It is a reflection of the reality on ground, not something to be manipulated through hurried associations with security agencies.
When individuals whose legitimacy is already under serious question suddenly begin to make symbolic gestures in the name of supporting security agencies, the people must ask the obvious question, Is this about public safety, or about political survival?
Governor Ademola Adeleke is too popular to be taken out of circulation by such gestures as 300 motorcycles, especially when a larger percentage of the motorcycles are already arranged in a way to be given to the APC members in Osun.
By Pelumi Olajengbesi