2022 Gubernatorial Election: Osun State Should Learn From Oyo -By Abdulsalam Mubarak Adio

When two states share of a border, they birth success once they’re governed by progressive like-minds. In a situation one is steered by good hands but the other by incapable fists, nothing is guaranteed but uneven progress. While one leap in progress, the other crawls in failure.

Oyo State and Osun, since time immemorial, have been birds of a feather that flock together in good and prosperity. They were both evident and vital in the stone age of Yoruba Kingdom. Ile Ife was the ancient city of “Yorubatedo”, while Ibadan had been the administrative capital of the old Western Region since the early medieval age. August 1991 marked the creation of the modern Osun State from the Old Oyo – safe to put that the two have shared historical and mutual interest till date. Over the years, Ooni of Ife in Osun and Alaafin in Oyo have arguably been the two most-ranked and respected kings in Yoruba land, both with their kingdoms in Osun and Oyo state respectively. Talk of the two foremost higher institutions in Yoruba land, your list is presumed to be UI and OAU. The togetherness cuts across sections. The two states had shared an umbilical cord – umbilical cord of success progress and unrivaled landmarks.

Other Yoruba states must be peeping through the holes of their boundaries, just to watch in admiration, the unfettered union between Oyo and Osun. Past Governors in both states have always take to giant strides in keeping the states afloat their standards, until recently Osun was, by crook means, hijacked by APC in the September 2018 Gubernatorial Election that should have favoured Ademola Adekeke of PDP. An incompetent Gboyega Oyetola had his way to the government house, only to manifest his hidden agenda; unstable payment of salary, insecurity, questionable infrastructures and lawlessness. The most pathetic of which is how Osun state has gradually turned the second most indebted state in Nigeria with #182.7bn debt, just after Bayelsa State. A debt the state may not be able to clear in years to come – given their low IGR. Aregbesola, his political godfather whom he served as the Chief of Staff now has a total direction away from his in politics. Their enmity had grown in recent weeks that concerned citizens tend to question the possibility of Oyetola being the APC candidate come 2022.

In the direction of Oyo state; Oyo people had done well to elect Governor Seyi Makinde, to steer the affairs of Oyo state in the 2019 Gubernatorial Election. Ever since then, Oyo had outshone Osun in every sense of betterment. Seyi had not taken any of his campaign promises as joke; he delivers daily and weekly for the people of Oyo state. Just three days ago, Nov 17, he delivered two long and eye-pleasing Coaster Buses to the Shooting Stars of Ibadan and another to Crown FC of Ogbomosho. He has never stopped in his good works. Oyo Civil Servants now enjoy like ants amid sugar, good roads, health, security, infrastructures. How many do one mention in Adipele’s multilayered dentition?

Unfortunately, however, while Oyo leap in progress, Osun crawls in failure. Osun people now bear the brunt of the costly mistake they made in 2018, and most especially the crook emergence of their current Governor. A reversible mistake, it is, however. The Osun state 2022 Gubernatorial Election is on the knock, Osun people shouldn’t watch by and allow their mandate get stolen again. Only Ademola Adekeke, who is bringing “Imole” light to Osun State should be trusted with the mandate. No other candidate(s) deserves the mandate, not even Gboyega Oyetola (a known failure) who had only treaded the same path with his paymasters at the federal level – who had also turned Nigeria to a miasma of bloodletting, hunger and insecurity. Watching closely at Oyetola’s style of leadership and his fellow APC ruler(s) at the Federal Level, it’s evident apple did not fell far from the tree.

Ademola Adekeke had done really well to the state of Osun, even before his campaign to be the Governor of the state. His many projects are glaring for eyes to see in Osun and Ede. He’s financially fed to brim already and not seeking to feed on the treasury of Osun state. He apparently followed Seyi Makinde’s route, who was also financially sufficient and has been doing all sort of good to the state with his hard-earned money, before he even became the Governor of the state.

Now, Seyi Makinde had joined hands with his like-minded Adeleke to regain Osun from the incapable hands of Oyetola and the APC people who had wrecked havoc all over Osun and Nigeria. Osun people should watch how life becomes easier in Oyo under Seyi Makinde. Giant infrastructures, education, security, orderliness to mention just a few. Civil servants who get 13months salary and prompt payment on the 25th of every months would sermonize them better. Apparently, life has become easier for everyone in Oyo with Seyi’s Omituntun (new water spring). Osun State people are known “Omoluabis” and should allow “Imole” in the state, come next year’s Gubernatorial Election.

It’s high time Osun marched up with her partner (Oyo) in progress. Osun people who seem ready to exercise their franchise are however advised to bring on Adekeke – the only qualified hand to steer them back to greatness. Imole-Osun 2022 is certified and a sure bet to the progress of Osun. Only Adeleke is worth the task. Osun people shouldn’t settle for less.

Abdulsalam Mubarak Adio is a 500-Level Student of Animal Production and Health, Faculty of Agric, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
abdulsalammubarak06@gmail.com