By Fidipote Ijaduola
Hack writers are appearing on the stage to test water and to project possibility of a change of guard at Abere in 2026. The strange thing is that the logic of their write up is weak even as they fail to address the lack of electable aspirants within the fold of the APC. Below are the seven reasons why Osun APC cannot beat Governor Adeleke in 2026:
1. Strong united front within the state PDP:
The state PDP is united from local to state level in its resolve to back Governor Adeleke for a second term. The Senator representing Osun East and key leaders from the zone have backed the incumbent for its numerous developmental delivery for Ijeshaland. The case of Hon Wole Oke is a local question. His people said No to his bid for a seventh term as House of Representatives member. In what way does that affect Governor Adeleke? For Osun West, the Governor has a solid home base in both Ede and Iwo alongside such towns as Ejigbo, Ikire, Gbongan, Odeomu among others. For Osun central, Osogbo people are strongly with the incumbent for his transformation of the state capital.
All key leaders of thoughts in Osogbo except two are strongly with Mr Governor. The groundswell of support for the Governor is self-evident across Igbomina area and other local governments across the central district.
2. Overwhelming Performance on Good Governance:
The delivery of the governor in education, health, agriculture and road infrastructure among others in just two years surprised even members of the opposition. The good performance has elicited positive reviewspace from far and near. The state APC cannot deny this reality as unsolicited awards for the Governor are streaming in all over the federation. As an example, a recent federal review of access to primary health care placed Osun as Number One in the South West. Isn’t that marvelous?
3. Labour Union endorsements:
Most defeated Governors in Osun political history lost reelection bid because they lost labour support. In Osun, labour leaders and followers are the main campaigners for the re-election of the incumbent. They applauded the Governor for the ongoing payment of half salary and pension debt, the re-professionalisation of the public service and extensive records on workers’ welfare. Adeleke is the first governor in the history of Osun state to have workers welfare as number one on his governance agenda.
4. Adeleke’s National /Local Goodwill:
Osun election is always like a mini-national election. The rigging of 2018 guber poll in the state has deepened national interest in the Osun election, leading to the win of 2022 and widening goodwill due to the Governor’s Good performance. The local and national goodwill made Osun a no go area for election riggers. The defensive and protective strength of local coalitions and the eagle eye of the world is super potent to deter electoral robbery.
5. APC crisis of candidacy:
The Osun APC today faces a major crippling challenge-lack of electable candidates to square up with Governor Adeleke. The news is not that the former Governor is almost out of the race but his likely choice, Bola Oyebamiji is a worst version of him, a man with no political clout, a feather weight with questionable records as Finance Commissioner, a failure at Inland waterway agency and a man whose traditional ruler has just endorsed Governor Adeleke for second term. The second option, Bashiru Ajibola has inherent unelectability features, a man who despite his education acts, behaves like an untutored hand and so unsafe hands to confer with state governorship. Or Dotun Babayemi. The Gbongon prince is a political businessman with no political pedigree other than cross carpeting for business deals. His traditional ruler only recently endorsed and prayed for Governor Adeleke’s second term. So, Osun APC has no electable aspirants.
6. Osun APC is Unelectable:
Due to its negative records while in power, the people of Osun are not ready to forego the present for the past. APC left over 500 billion debt. Governor Adeleke.has reduced 8t by over 40 percent in two years. The APC while in power demonstrated sadistic mien and treatment of the public. The party pauperised the people and deployed poverty as a state weapon. Adeleke’s administration changed the scenario, paying pensioners, offering free medicare to senior citizens, liquidating the half salary debt, enforcing local content in project execution, deepening local economy, fighting poverty through access to finance and upgrading infrastructure statewide.
7. Dancing Governor as Agent of Good Governance:
What the Osun APC targeted as a weakness for the incumbent has turned out to be an asset. The Governor’s love for dancing has no negative impact on his capacity to deliver on his electoral promises and his performance in government. As the Governor radiates good vibes, the state is witnessing unprecedented turn around attested to by local and national observers. Interestingly, the governor is touching all zones from Ifeland to Iwoland and from Osogbo to Ijesha land.
●Fidipote Ijaduola writes from Riverside, Iwo.
