Oyo: Opposition parties contemplate coalition to oust APC

The multiplicity of political parties contesting for various elective offices in Oyo State has made the oncoming elections largely unpredictable. It is going to be a hot contest among the old political warhorses that are employing all tricks to lure voters.

Political parties in hot contest in Oyo State are the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Action Democratic Party (ADP), as well as the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Observers tend to disagree on the strength of these parties. Some believe they will not only share elective offices in the state, two or three them may have to come together to form a government. But a few think APC still looks good to form a ‘rickety’ government.

However, the election will be a referendum on the eight-year administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the APC, who is traversing the nooks and crannies to canvass votes for the former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief Bayo Adelabu to succeed him, while he moves to the Senate.

Meanwhile, other contestants like Engineer Seyi Makinde (PDP), Senator Femi Lanlehin (ADC), former Governor Christopher Alao-Akala (ADP) and former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Sarafadeen Alli (ZLP) do not see why APC should continue in office and are battle ready to change the ruling party in the state.

In the opposition camp, apart from Lanlehin and Alli, both Alao-Akala and Makinde are not new to the contest.

Makinde was the governorship candidate of the SDP in 2015, while Akala won governorship election in 2007 under the PDP.

Makinde is not a push over in Oyo State politics and he has been consistent in providing alternative ideas and policies, which kept government on its toes, but how far he has gone in galvanizing the weak structure of the PDP will be seen in the coming elections.

The PDP held sway in the state between 2003 and 2011 and its achievements are still subject of controversy despite the fact that former Governor Rasheed Ladoja and Alao-Akala that led the party at that time had since dumped the party.

Alao-Akala is famous among teachers and civil servants, for whom he had his own kind of “stomach infrastructure” when he was a deputy governor and governor.

That will to some extent determine his success or otherwise. Many see him as the Generalissimo of Ogbomosho politics, the second largest voting town in the state.

Adelabu, relatively new in Oyo politics has intimidating credentials as operator in the financial sector.

In addition to being a grandson of one of the finest politicians of the first republic, the late Chief Adegoke Adelabu popularly known as penkelemesi, the young politician is not only enjoying the influence of incumbency, he parades the advantage.

He has convinced many that if not for his love to serve his people and drive Oyo State to the “next level,” he wouldn’t have resigned as the Deputy Governor of the CBN to contest the election.

Apart from Governor Ajimobi, he enjoys the support of the powers that be in Ibadan, especially, associates of the late Chief Alao Arisekola.

Lanlehin, on his part, is a brilliant lawyer and fine politician who carved a niche in the progressive camp as a Senator. His family background was well known in the political circle and he has convinced many that he has what it takes to govern the state.

Himself and Alli were known to be political associates of former governor Rasheed Ladoja.

Indeed, they pulled out of the Accord, Labour Party and the PDP at the same time to form ADC in Oyo State.

While Ladoja was in the ADC, together with some disgruntled APC members known as Mandate Forum, it was seen as a strong and credible alternative to APC and PDP.

In fact, ADC at a period had equal number of legislators as the APC and two Senators and some members of House of Representatives. But while consolidating the new party, Ladoja pulled out to join the ZLP.

He alleged that “unseen hands” were controlling the ADC and he was not consulted when the Deputy Governorship candidate of the party was to be selected despite the fact that he single handedly picked Lanlehin as the governorship candidate of the party.

Ladoja’s mission in politics is as vague as his recent moves.

His reasons for quitting the ADC had been criticized as an act of sabotage to weaken the opposition in the state and to trade his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but his supporters have roundly defended him that he dumped the party out of principle. They also cited the inability of the ADC to adopt what Ladoja described as the winning formula in the state, especially the zoning of elective offices to some local councils.

But all hopes seem not lost for the opposition parties to give APC a good fight. One of the governorship candidates, had during the week confided in The Guardian that they are waiting for the outcome of the February 16 election to take final decision on the governorship election.

He said: “You cannot doubt the possibility of the major opposition parties coming together to form a coalition against APC after the Presidential election, though we are fighting our battle differently, we have a common enemy which we don’t want again in office. Wait and see what will happen.”

Alao-Akala also echoed the same plan of last-minute coalition against the APC in his campaign rallies, where he reportedly said he was not desperate to become a governor again but he was just interested in seeing APC out of power in the state.

While the opposition parties are still looking at the possibility of working together to chase out APC, Ajimobi’s supporters are of the opinion that the achievements of the administration in the last eight years will win elections for both their governorship candidate and others candidates.

To them, Ajimobi should not have problem winning election to represent Oyo South Senatorial District on February 16.

Ajimobi who had represented the zone between 2003 and 2007 will slug it out with the incumbent, Senator Soji Akanbi, now in ADC; Dr Fola Akinosun on the platform of ADP and Adebayo Lawal of the PDP.

One interesting thing to note is that those contesting the seat against Ajimobi were members of the APC before the primaries.

Ibadan South has the highest voting population among the three districts in the state and it is always a battleground for whoever wants to become a governor.

Observers think that Ladoja and Ajimobi are always in tbattle to control Ibadan votes but with Ladoja now in the relatively unknown ZLP, Ajimobi he may have boxed himself to a corner.

For Ajimobi’s supporters, Oyo State people will not forget in a hurry how he changed the face of governance through provision of infrastructure.

Speaking on why Ajimobi and Adelabu may emerge victorious in the coming election, his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Mr. Bolaji Tunji said, “for you to appreciate what we are talking about, when Ajimobi came into office in 2011, there was perpetual fear and strife. The rule of brawn superseded the rule of law.

Brigandage and violence was the order of the day, headlined by incessant attacks and killings by drivers’ unions, as well as fatal bank robberies. But between 2011 and 2019, Ajimobi restored sanity, law and order by establishing a well-kitted and equipped joint security outfit codenamed ‘Operation Burst.’ 

The governor also introduced the ‘Safe City’ project, which witnessed the installation of Closed Circuit Television cameras across flash points in the state. The effort was to nip criminality in the bud and that was achieved.

“You can bear me witness that not a single incident of bank robbery has been recorded in the last five years unlike before.

This administration also established Security Trust Fund that has donated millions of naira worth of equipment to security outfits and refurbished many grounded patrol vans.

“Oyo people will want continuity because of this government stride in education in the last eight years. This is the first time we are recording best result in WAEC, what about the establishment of the Technical University of Oyo State, the first of its kind and efforts of the School Governing Board that has attracted more than N2b from non-governmental investment.”

Tunji mentioned the Health Insurance Scheme, which UNICEF recently urged other states to emulate and the launch of N50bn health endowment fund, free health missions across the state and medical equipment worth $2m distributed to health facilities across the state, as reasons why voters should support continuity.”

However, the peace and security which Ajimobi touts as a major achievement is being threatened by pockets of politically motivated crises that have seen some people killed and maimed in the last couple of weeks.

Only on Tuesday, an APC chieftain, Alhaji Salau Salimon Alade was reportedly shot dead in Omi Adio, shortly after Ajimobi’s campaign train left the area, while the immediate past Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Professor Joseph Adeniyi Olowofela escaped death by the whiskers when political hoodlums attacked his residence and vandalized about six vehicles.

Many people who sustained injury at Olowofela’s residence are currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Ibadan.

Olowofela, a candidate for Federal House of Representatives in Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency expressed shock and described the attack over the attack.

The precarious security situation has forced the PDP candidate, Makinde to call on the State Commissioner of Police Abiodun Odude and the Director of State Security to as a matter of urgency invite all the leaders of political parties in the state to sign an undertaking of peace because of rising spate of political violence and thuggery in the course of ongoing campaigns across the state.

He said: “Apart from the few skirmishes here and there, the spate of political thuggery and violence is assuming a worrisome dimension that should be of grave concern to all. In the past two weeks alone, violent incidents have been witnessed in places like Ogbomosho, Igbo Ora, Ojoo, Omo Adio, Oke Ado and only yesterday (Monday) in Oyo.