Villa versus Bourdillon: Just before the people in Ondo decide! -By Sunday O. Oladepo

Sunday O. Oladepo

The political drama is becoming increasingly bewildering. Inside it are loads of unpredictable scenes that are devoid of expressible explanations. Kogi’s elections has come and gone. Edo had it and now gone, too. None of these is as complicated as the ongoing gubernatorial tussle in Ondo state. Any critical follower of the country’s politics will know that the governorship contest in Ondo is a fight of the titans. It isn’t just a battle of APC, AD and PDP.

I have listened and heard different viewpoints of innumerable persons. I have also read so many arm-chair analysis from the Internet. In all, I have come to a conclusion that the majority are frankly missing the lessons that are set to be taught in the Ondo governorship elections. APC mega rally itself has come to prove a lot to those that can read political shorthands. How do I mean?

The last governorship election in Ondo that produced Olusegun Mimiko isn’t too long to remember. PDP had Goodluck Jonathan in attendance, who came to support Olusola Oke and yet his party failed. ACN had Bola Tinubu in attendance to fly the flag for Rotimi Akeredolu and yet they weren’t even the first runner-up. The incumbent, Olusegun Mimiko of the then LP flogged them all with no small margins.

As I’m about to establish, the incoming Ondo election will really define the political strength and relevance of Bola Tinubu. I know some folks aren’t looking at it through this lens. However you decide to look it; the election is a test of political superiority or who actually owns the Southwest. Most Tinubu’s ardent followers still don’t realize that their boss was only used and dumped by the Northern folks to desperately give Nigeria a Northern president. They are always ready to argue this fact with you. Northerners are real gamers — whilst the Yorubas were genuinely chanting for Change, the northerners only desired a northern president. That was all the Change they wanted!

President Buhari and his political hirelings are attempting to uproot Bola Tibubu by diluting his political relevance. Raji Fashola and Kayode Fayemi are good tools in Buhari’s hands for this assignment. Buhari’s presence at the recently conducted APC mega rally was a proverbial way of telling Bola Tinubu that APC can still win elections even in the Southwest without the latter’s support. How did I know? Anybody with a sound discerning ability will do. President Buhari is doing everything within his ability to achieve this feat. He’s determined to bruise his ego and lacerate his influence. He’s set to uproot his relevance and break his political claws. Is this achievable?

Yes! This is very much achievable. In fact, Rotimi Akeredolu of the APC is likely to win that election against Olusola Oke of Tinubu’s AD. My readers should keenly take a notice of that prediction. I’m not saying that Rotimi Akeredolu is the best or the most popular in the ongoing contest, however, there is more to politics than number. Bola Tinubu and his candidate should be prepared for humiliation. Federal machinations cannot be matched with one man’s megalomaniac! May be after the Ondo elections, Bola Tinubu and his followers would then realize and admit  how cheaply they were used to install a northern president and now damned after the power-play.  In all, I like Buhari, he’s a dangerous power-user.

Sunday O. Oladepo is a journalist. He writes from Osogbo, Osun State. Twitter: @sundayooladepo