This piece is for my good people of Okeogun, perhaps we will change our mindest and strategy.
No because, the PDP that I know will give ticket to the incumbent (who has power+money). PDP will not toy with one person who has amased money on their Platform and allow him to use it to contest on another party. They prefer the incumbent even if he will loose. The only time they can trade off a sitting governor is when PDP is controlling the federal so that they can use INEC, police and the army.
As far as some Okeogun PDP members are concerned, even if you dashed them Governorship ticket in 2023, they will cheerfully give it to Seyi Makinde.
APC:
A person can be deceived but he must not deceive himself or allow himself to be deceived.
With the reality on grounds, I don’t see the seriousness of Okeogun for APC ticket on the following grounds:
1. Is there any formidable candidate whose names ring bell? That has money to run aggressive campaign. That is already shaking Okeogun. That has brought people together from different political Parties?
2. Has Okeogun people started serious joint mobilisation for that person?
3. Is that person among the 3 serious contenders in Oyo State?
4. Who amongst the Okeogun is a critical stakeholder in APC today? The person whose absence may force a meeting to be postponed. Whose talk or silence has implication? What serious position is Okeogun holding in APC today?
3RD OPTION : NEW PARTY
From the history of Oyo state, we are very conservative. Our political culture has been to identify with known parties not new political party.
Any candidate that can fly a new political party must have already established a name. He must be a household name with structures in at least 2/3rd of the state. Or he must be a money bag.
But even with that, Ladoja from Ibadan and Akala from Ogbomoso couldn’t make it.
Who has acquired the status of Ladoja and Akala from Okeogun?
See how ADC also failed to present a candidate in 2019.
ADVICE:
The best is for Okeogun not to insist on using Okeogun lo kan. The slogan that will embrace other marginalised and politically disadvantaged communities in Oyo state is to advocate for power shift and rotation among all regions. If we do that, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Ibarapa and even substantial number of Ibadans will support it. We can then agree among ourselves, who takes the first shot.
If we don’t do that, it means you have allowed Oyo, Ogbomoso and Ibarapa to stick to Ibadan.
God bless you as you read with open mind.
Barrister W.O. Lawal.
