In the aftermath of the highly controversial Edo Gubernatorial election which took place and got the internet buzzing with the cacophony of tunes on the 21st September, 2024, Nigerians, politicians are forced to make out of the figment of their imaginations, predictions on the anticipated winner of the November 16th Ondo gubernatorial election. While these predictions are at best speculative, they have been based on very porous foundation of warped, unfounded thoughts. These thoughts have been dismissed as subsets of the propaganda machinery capable of being wielded by the powers that be in the All Progressives Congress . The APC’s media muscle and celebrated accomplishment in the concluded Edo elections is being wielded as a smokescreen. It is however a truism that Ondo is not Edo.
There are various factors that define the powerplay and political outcomes in Ondo State and that are absent in Edo. This is beyond the name collocation. Ondo’s politics also has a distinct history, language. Ogbane and Ofone are not recognised in the lingua and linguistic genealogy of Ondo State. Ogbane, an Edo language for “Let Him Continue,” is a direct contrast of “ofone.” Ofone in Edo dialect means, “It is finished.” Ofone was the linguistic coinage that put paid to Governor Godwin Obaseki’s political struggles in Edo and via the failed ambition of his godson, Asue Ighodalo.
The parties of reckon or that are in the spotlight of Ondo’s politics as we approach the governorship election on the 16th of November are three. The first is the ruling All Progressives Congress whose flagbearer is the incumbent governor of the State, Lucky Ayedatiwa. Ayedatiwa, a businessman and fated product of the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu political dynasty is contending against a former deputy to his departed boss, Agboola Ajayi. Ajayi, a lawyer, consummate businessman and the face of the opposition, the People’s Democratic Party in the race has remained unbowed and unbroken in the propagation of his agendas for the state. This is despite the massive exodus of some PDP party faithfuls to the ruling APC recently. He is being deputised by the only Ondo PDP Member in the House of Representatives, Hon. Festus Akingbaso.
The third party in this race, Zenith Labour Party, is being floated by a junior brother to the former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Abbas Mimiko. Even though the elder brother and the founding leader of the Zenith Labour Party in the State, former Governor Olusegun Mimiko has joined the moving train to the APC, there are tendencies that he still wishes his resolute brother well.
Abbas Mimiko, a practising American professional psychiatrist for no fewer than 35 years, an Islamic cleric and widely travelled agriculturist appears to have put himself up there as a leading candidate in terms of his public service experience, political background, oratorical skills and the tremendous role he played in the medical revolution brought to bear by the administration of his brother. He is rallying individuals and mobilising against the unconstitutional zoning arrangement as the election approaches as well, particularly with his seven keys for Liberation—they are Karije, Karimu, Karina, Karika and so forth.
While it is not a lie that Governor Ayedatiwa is getting the endorsements of the movers and shakers in Ondo’s politics everyday, it cannot be clearly proven that he also doesn’t have moles and elements capable of sabotaging his moves towards bringing him back to office among them. While some of his opponents in the primaries have chosen to support him, some of their followers have crossed carpeted to the PDP. They have sworn not to support Ayedatiwa.
Strategically positioned to cause a ruckus in his campaign is the remaining structure of the late Akeredolu. Information garnered on good authority revealed that core loyalists of Akeredolu are not in love with the governor’s choice of deputy, as the said Olajide Adelami was reportedly recruited on the basis of his hatred for Akeredolu. Another concern being bolstered by the opposition is the limitation of Ayedatiwa to spend just four years as governor if he wins at the forthcoming poll, pursuant to the newly amended Electoral Act.
Taking a critical analysis of Ayedatiwa’s performance since the inception of his administration, it cannot be proven that the governor has fulfilled mandate and exceeded the expectations of Ondo people. He is in the news for humble achievements like removing the walls of Jericho erected by his predecessor, doling out stipends to students of tertiary institutions in the state as bursary or scholarships, and facilitating designation less appointments to bolster his political movement ahead of the election. He has also embarked a recruitment process for teachers in the State and has give N200 million loan to artisans.
Despite the billions deposited into the coffers of the State, Governor Ayedatiwa is barely concerned about fixing roads as well as other basic amenities. It is not unexpected that the overzealous security aides attached to him will resort to intimidating students with volleys of bullets and tear gas canisters in the stead of allow him give a listening ear to students who only wanted to remind him that the much touted approval of the dualisation of the alternative road to the university has not been commenced weeks after his approval. That, to me, attests to the fact that he isn’t in control.
Workers in the Ondo premier institution, Adekunle Ajasin University, have cried foul over the refusal of the government to fund education and the university. His government has done this by stripping the institution of the expected subvention. If it is true that Akure is gradually regressing to a ghetto considering the inability of the government to manage waste which has littered the streets, then something must be wrong.
Something is wrong if the students who participated in this year’s WASSCE needed to wait for months to access their results. This is despite the vow of the State to offset payments for this crucial examination amidst the excruciating pains of Nigerian economy.
Interestingly, I read in the news recently, an opinion piece written by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communications, Allen Sowore, on the controversial Edo election. Sowore, in his theory and exposition, revealed under-performance as the reason for the defeat of Mr Asue Ighodalo of the ruling PDP. This is owing to the overbearing influence of underperforming Governor Godwin Obaseki on him. With fairness to Sowore, Obaseki’s hubris might not have been unconnected with underperformance but it must have also been a product of his inability to tolerate seeming political enemies or to even compromise.
While many communities in the Southern Senatorial District are being washed away by the overwhelming flood besieging that part of the state, Governor Ayedatiwa is busy doing charity, donating the people’s money to a state affected by a similar situation. It is sheer misplacement of priority. It also remains a sad reality that the rural dwellers in the State are still suffering from poor health facilities.
My question is that do we need go as far as Edo State to discover underperformance. Why not reflect upon the realities under our nose in Ondo State, where the governor’s performance has been below par. This is compounded by the disappointing policies proceeding from the leadership of the APC at the national level.
Will INEC, the electoral umpire who conducted a controversial election tainted by overvoting, voter intimidation, vote-buying, falsification of results ever change? Will Ondo election ever be different?
Maybe Governor Ayedatiwa should look into issues raised about his administration before the election in November. If he doesn’t, the people must take their destinies in their hands. The only formidable opposition to a less performing government is the unity of the oppressed and not political parties.
Which is which in Ondo State? Ogbane or ofone!
