Olu Akaraogun
I heard that some people are saying my name is unusual. Well…since I do not have a control over my naming, I would just implore them to focus on the message and leave the messenger alone.
However, by a way of introduction, I am from Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State. I will not mention my ward so that some misguided agents would not play funny and assault my aged parents.
I had a rare privilege of attending two great colleges in the then Ifelodun LG. I started my college at Kiriji Memorial College, Igbajo and completed it at Akinorun Grammar School, Ikirun.
I just took a decision this afternoon. A far reaching one for that matter. Though a painful one at that. Hmmmmm…..after a wide consultation with my siblings, friends and political associates, I have decided not to vote my party’s candidate for Osun gubernatorial election come September 22, 2018.
I voted for Rauf four years ago because I was convinced he was the best candidate. But today, I am simply not convinced that our candidate, Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola has what it takes to make a positive difference. His continuity agenda is just a rehash of the pains we have gone through since our local economy recessed four years ago.
Do not get me wrong…Oyetola could still win the polls without my support, but I do not want to be complicit in bringing forth more hardship on my people. No….not any more! We have suffered enough in Osun.
Let me share my reasons with you. Feel free to join me if you are convinced. And if you are not, enjoy your choice and its consequences soon after the election.
• STATE OF IKIRUN-IRAGBIJI-ADA-IGBAJO-ROAD: The state of this 14-kilometer-road always drives me nuts. It is beyond rational thinking that Oyetola, the self-styled engine room of Rauf’s administration could not influence the repair of this road. It becomes more painful, when you know that the Chairman of our party, Prince Gboyega Famoodun hails from Igbajo, which means that he also regularly plies this road. Do not mind that my first reason is very local. You know…all politics is local.
• CONTINUITY AGENDA: Knowing the public perception of our party, I expect Oyetola, a self-styled seasoned technocrat to cleverly coin a message of hope and tactically espouse what he will do differently. May be I am wrong. He may just want to continue what Rauf is doing. But I no longer want to be associated with Rauf’s heritage of half salaries; non-payment of pensions and arrogance of ignorance that pervades the land.
• ‘FEDERAL-MIGHT-IS-RIGHT’ SYNDROME: Imagine a party that prides itself “egbe onitesiwaju” with all its flavours now boasting of winning a gubernatorial election with federal might, a euphemism for rigging which was notoriously popularised by the PDP. Ask any of our party leaders in Osun how we are preparing for the coming polls, they will simply whisper to you that we will use federal might to deal with the oppositions. This is how difficult it has been selling our candidate to the electorate.
• CONFLICT OF INTEREST: I believe public office should be a place of honor and not that of enterprise. My biggest grouse with Oyetola is that he sees public office as a place of enterprise where private profits are maximized.
Today, INFINITY, the consultancy firm that collects tax for our state is partly owned by Oyetola and Tinubu. Rumour has it that the company allegedly charges as high as 40% commission on a monthly basis on our IGR. For me, this is a conflict of interest that is too glaring to overlook.
• OYETOLA IS NOT PREPARED FOR THE JOB: I had a privilege of listening to Oyetola at Ibokun in February when he flagged off his consultation tour. A gentleman asked him why it took him so long to show interest in the governorship race. He naively answered that he joined the race when they asked him to do so. That day I knew the “engine” was not prepared for the job. Osun Chief Executive job should not be thrown at anyone who has no preparedness for it. The challenges are too many for a reluctant and remote-controlled candidate.
• HALF SALARY DEBACLE: The truth must be told at all times. I am not going to support anymore what symbolises half salary payment to our civil servants because, I am too convinced that we could have done better as a party on the salary debacle.
• IMPOSITION ON THE PARTY: The imposition of Oyetola on our party has dealt a monumental blow to the unity in our fold. At a time that our party is divided along Senatorial agitations, we do not need a divisive person like Oyetola as our candidate. We as a party have never been this weakened and fractured just because of one man’s ambition.
• SURROGATE GOVERNOR: Someone wrote somewhere and I completely agree with the person that: “Tinubu has a retinue of qualified followers in Osun, each of who were ready to be Governor. Tinubu did not consider any of them worthy except his younger brother. By hook or by crook, he determined that his younger brother must emerge as the party’s candidate, when majority of his followers were openly displeased about the choice. Today, his intransigence has left the erstwhile formidable party in tatters.”
Olu Akaraogun wrote from Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government area of Osun State
