I drove through the newly dualized Akoda – Oke Gada road in Ede some days ago, on my visit home. The colourful finishing, alongside the streetlights that line the road, first gave an impression of a quality project that motorists would enjoy driving on. To be very honest, I got on the road because I was flabbergasted myself.
Less than an hour after I drove on the Akoda road, I also drove on the LAMECO – Old Garage newly dualized road. It is also very colourful, with streetlights adorning the middle of the road.
The sweet driving experience that I hoped to have on those roads was soon replaced by a deep feeling of concern about the current mediocrity in Osun State. The two dualized roads, including most other newly constructed roads that I plied, are products of not just poor thinking, but a reflection of low standards that characterize the current administration.
This is not the only problem with Osun currently. The Governor’s obvious mental incapacity is one problem that a lot of us had feared will put Osun on the map for negative reasons, even before he became Governor. He has so far not disappointed us, as he is regularly spotted singing and dancing in places where he should deliver rousing speeches.
Osun needs saving from its current handlers who run on poor ideas and worse implementation. The question that comes to mind however, is whether the main opposition party in the State, the All Progressives Congress, is ready to rescue the State.
I have been closely following activities in Osun’s political landscape over the past couple of years, and I have many reasons to worry about the readiness of the APC to wrestle Osun from the current visionless managers. Two things disturb me the most and they are questions that the APC leaders and stakeholders should ponder on.
The first questions is, IS THE APC FINALLY READY TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE A CHANCE? The APC indeed addresses itself as a progressive party, but the party postures as an ultra-conservative political party. There is never chance for open contest for tickets and younger political elements (and new entrants into their party) are often forced to join a long waiting line, whether the people ahead of them on the line are popular or not. Speaking very frankly, I think this was one of the things that cost them success at the polls in 2022/2023.
Very recently, I followed the widely reported declaration of one Tele Michael Oyegoke (TMO) for the APC and the question that sprang to my mind was whether the APC is now truly ready to allow younger elements thrive within the party. A young, completely green politician pulling off such well-attended political event like Tele did, is proof of the huge capacity that he, and many other young politicians like him have. The question would then be, is the APC ready to allow them blossom?
Before Tele, there was Ibrahim Taofeek Kayode (ITK) in Osogbo, among many others like that, who were eventually pushed to the back of a very long line. These are socially relevant young people with human and material resources to win elections, yet are forced to wait long turns, while weak old progressives with depleted bases are given tickets.
Will Osun APC truly be progressive now and give young people (and new entrants) the chance to step forward and prove their mettle or it will be business as usual? Will the party rise out of its impractical conservation of old political structures to allow new ideas succeed? Will Osun APC ride on the new wave of the current social acceptability that these new/young entrants are mobilizing for the party as a launchpad for electoral success?
Without sounding immodest, Tele Michael Oyegoke (TMO), and many others like him, deserve a lot of applause and ongoing recognition in a manner that will maximize their obvious potentials for political leadership. More young people like them also need to be encouraged across the thirty (30) Local Governments of the State to openly prove their capacity as Tele did. This will serve, first as a launchpad for the APC to commence its 2026 mobilization, and second as a way of making it clear to the youths that the APC is now open to them.
The second question is, ARE CURRENT OSUN APC LEADERS READY TO WIN ELECTIONS OR THEY PREFER TO CONTINUE THEIR CLANNISH BEHAVIOUR? It is obvious to anyone paying attention, that there are people within Osun APC today that will rather maintain a choke-hold on the party through clannish behaviour, instead of work for a collective victory that will protect all interests. Instead of sitting together to plan efficient political strategies against 2026, those people are busy starting arguments that have no value.
Whether it will be the turn of Osun West to pick the APC ticket, or it it will be Osogbo, or Ife, the calculations must be thorough on paper, be all-encompassing, and protect all interests within the party as of today. Anything short of this, and the APC will be going on a wild goose chase in 2026. Caucuses within the party need to bow to the common good and realize that only after elections are won, can any positions of government be available, let alone shared.
As it is highly likely that all tickets for elective positions (in the 2027 general elections) would have been decided before the 2026 Governorship Election, it becomes increasingly important for the APC to ensure that all tendencies within the party are adequately catered for in any calculations. If those who were in the party before now could win elections on their own, the party would be in power today; therefore, new entrants and disenchanted old members must be carefully managed to build a strong front that can rescue Osun in 2026.
Osun is in desperate need for change from the current directionless managers to real visionaries who understand the development needs of our small State. That change will demand that the APC becomes truly progressive and play all-inclusive politics that leverages on the strength of the old, but more importantly the new.
God bless Osun State.
