BAYO AGBOOLA reminisces the Abiola Ajimobi era in relation to his strength of character and leaves no one in doubt that the late politician would have by now learnt from his mistakes to build the All Progressives Congress (APC) on a sound footing to possibly win the 2023 governorship elections .
The death of the late immediate past governor of Oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi which is a little bit over a year now, is taking its toll on the major opposition political party the All Progressives Congress (APC)in the state.
Be it negative or otherwise, going by the silent war in the party over who takes what particularly on the race to Agodi Government House come 2023, all cannot be said to be well for the party.
To some political pundits, if late Senator Ajimobi was to be around at a time like this with political activities- the manoeuvring and scheming gathering more momentum- the presence and clout of the former governor would have surely be an added advantage to resolving the brewing crisis on the 2023 general elections because he would have brought to bear his wit, sagacity and above all, the conciliatory prowess to resolve disputes both real and imaginary.
Although there were pockets of internal crisis in the Oyo APC prior to the 2019 general elections as a result of purported imposition of candidates on the party courtesy of the late governor, it is no longer news that the crisis snowballed into the major defeat suffered by Oyo APC in the 2019 general elections.
Aside this, most APC members are of the view that with the defeat, the former governor, no doubt, learnt his lessons in a big way having lost the Oyo South Senatorial district election himself and that if he was to be around, he would do all within his capacity to prevent a repeat of the 2019 episode in Oyo APC.
Going by the graveyard-like peace in the Oyo APC and considering the serious cold war among aspirants in the party for the election or selection of those to contest under the party’s platform in the 2023 polls, there is palpable tension generated by differing camps clashing over which of the interest groups within the party would have its way in the forthcoming congresses of the party which to many will be the deciding factor and major pointer to the direction the party is or will actually head for come 2023.
As at present, APC in Oyo state is having some of its prominent members eyeing the 2023 though yet to be formally made open. The likes of Senator Teslim Folarin, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Chief Joseph Tegbe, Professor Adeolu Akande, Dr Azeez Adeduntan, among others.
Apparently, sensing the fears among the APC members, leaders and stakeholders on the preparations for the 2023 general elections, a former governor of Oyo state and Chairman APC Elders Advisory Council, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala voiced out his neutrality. Acting as a father to all to assuage feelings when it comes to who gets what in the 2023 general elections in Oyo state, he advised, “intending gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of the party to desist from actions that can undermine a united APC in Oyo state”
Otunba Alao – Akala minced no words in tasking all those with aspirations in the party that as far as Oyo state is concerned, “APC tickets for the 2023 polls would be decided at the party primaries which is won on the field of decent politicking and that the aspirants should rather get to work and meet with party faithfuls who will form the bulk of those to decide who flies the flag of the party at the 2023 polls”, a decision, he said, all members would abide by once it is decided at the party primaries.
“For the umpteenth and the last time, His Excellence Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala is making it clear and stating it unequivocally that he is a father to all and has no bias or personal interest in any of the intending gubernatorial aspirant in the state as he operates an open door policy and will never discriminate against any member of the party, no matter the status of who is involved.The interest and the choice of the unwavering party members is what he will stand with come rain, come shine and will henceforth not take with kids glove any publication or comment linking him with any of the Gubernatorial aspirant as being his preferred choice.”
Against this backdrop, the party warned against what it called circulation of concocted figures and data on the party’s last registration and revalidation exercise in the state, stressing that such concocted figures and data emanating from some doubtful and unverifiable sources outside the party “should be ignored since the party has not released any official figure as representing the number of old and new members who participated in the last registration and revalidation exercise”.
In a statement jointly signed by its Oyo state chairman and secretary of the Media and Strategy Committee for the registration exercise, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan and Olawale Shadare, the party said, “It is only the national secretariat of the APC that could release any data or figure relating to the whole exercise in all the 36 states and the FCT. Therefore, all we have to say now is that we are satisfied with the outcome of the exercise and we are optimistic that the results obtained would be enough to return our party to power in 2023 and also enable our dear state to return to its rightful place among the comity of progressives in the country”, it said.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Local Content Senator Teslim Folarin though yet to publicly announce his governorship intention come 2023 but who political observers in and across the state consider to be a leading gubernatorial aspirant in the APC as at present, in one of his recent parley with stakeholders in Oke Ogun area of Oyo state, emphasised “the need for caution among aspirants in Oyo APC ahead of the 2023 polls”, saying, “the forthcoming APC congresses in Oyo state must not be a do-or-die exercise in the overall interest of the party.”
Addressing APC leaders and stakeholders in Saki Parapo Hall, Saki as well as at Okeho in Oke Ogun area of Oyo state, Senator Folarin said, “as a stakeholder in APC, I’m here in Oke-Ogun to meet with our leaders, elders and fellow members to charge us to remain united. It is painful that APC had a temporary setback in 2019 elections due to our avoidable crises. The forthcoming APC congresses in Oyo state must not be a do-or-die exercise and must not divide us again. We must learn from our past costly mistakes. There should not be winner-take-all at the ward, local and state congresses because all legacy parties have equal stake”.
According to Senator Folarin, “discrimination and winner-take-all tendency will definitely retrogress and retard both the party and the ambitions of individuals instead of progressing us. We’re progressives, therefore let’s progress in peace, unity and harmony in order to takeover from the misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state.”
Corroborating the importance of the late former governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, in the task of regaining Oyo state come 2023,: stakeholders in the party are now expressing worries about the much needed leadership role of a respected and fearless leader like Senator Ajimobi in the forthcoming political battles in the state for the race to Agodi Government House.
To Senator Folarin, there is no doubting the fact that the death of Senator Ajimobi “has robbed the progressives family of its eloquent and exemplary leader.”, saying, “we are greatly missing him. Though Ajimobi is no more, his legendary achievements as a public administrator live on.
Folarin continued, “a year plus without my very thoughtful first cousin, political leader and benefactor is tough and unimaginable. I miss ‘egbon’ for his extraordinary intelligence and sincerity of purpose.
“When it comes to saying the truth, he didn’t care whose ox was gored. Ajimobi’s friends and foes knew that he was a powerful strategist with high intelligence and the ability to read situations; a man of quality ideas and quick thinking no matter how complex the situation. Love him or hate him, he was fearless in the face of tough decisions with focus on excellence and best practices.
With the 2023 politics drawing nearer, the question in the lips of political observers in Oyo state now is that with the waning popularity of the present administration in the state arising from the prevailing security challenges facing the state, if APC had the opportunity to have a leader, a coordinating factor like Senator Ajimobi around for the 2023, political scheming in Oyo state, the general would have by now had the APC bouncing on its feet, a feat recorded by the late governor in the area of security in the 8 years if his tenure.
