DR JOEL ADEMISOYE/United States
I recently read a critical piece written by an Owo indigene, Pastor Adetulab83 against the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa for imposing political two candidates from APC Party on the Owo people, a critique which is trending on the social media. As an interested and concerned indigene of Ogho, I write to express my serious concerns about the breach of political freedom of choice and loss of voice for the Owo people in selecting and electing the new chairman/deputy chairman of the Owo Local Government Council.
The bitter truth is, under the political leadership of Governor Aiyedatiwa, the political gravity and center for the Ondo State remains in the state capital, Akure, which means nothing has really changed. Therefore, all roads lead to Akure from the community level to making a political, government and budget decisions for the citizens of Ondo State. Moving forward, Governor Aiyedatiwa remains the ‘Alpha and Omega’ in the politics and governance of Ondo State.
Interestingly and coincidentally, I just read the interview given by Governor Aiyedatiwa’s imposed APC Party candidates, the duo of Omolayo and Hammed respectively, which is circulating on the social media. The interview was revealing about their aims, goals, objectives and plans for the economic development and their proposed efforts in improving the welfare of the Owo people.
Honestly speaking, I am not familiar with the candidates and no name recognition in Owo community. Who are Omolayo and Hammed, who are the chosen duo and anionated candidates for the chairmanship/deputy chairmanship of the Owo Local Government Council election on January 18, 2025?
In the views of many Owo indigenes, Governor Aiyedatiwa’s action has undermined and truncated the democratic system and process, which allows for the keen competition among the competing candidates for the position of the chairmanship of the Owo Local Government Council.
Now, with the single selection of Candidate Omolayo by Governor Aiyedatiwa, all other competing aspirants are forced to line up behind and support the governor’s choice for the council chairmanship in Owo. It seems no dissent and opposition from the Owo political establishment, leaders and the members. I think this governor’s action and pick, is dictatorial, abuse of his political power and it also has robbed the Owo people their voice in making the right choice for the chairmanship of the Owo Local Government Council election. Remember the popular saying that he who pays the Piper, calls the tune. In this case, Governor Aiyedatiwa sponsors and pays for the duo candidates of Omolayo/Hammed, in the post election period and governance, he would influence and make government decision /policies and programs which are outside the realm of the Owo people coming from Akure.
Surprisingly, there is no protests, resistance and opposition from the political leadership and people of Owo against this consipicous political hijacking by the Governor Aiyedatiwa’s decision to impose the APC Party candidate, Omolayo/Hammed on the Owo people during the democratic dispensation in Nigeria. What happened to the conduct of the primary election to elect the chairmanship candidate of the APC Party for the Owo Local Government Council election?
In conclusion, if Governor Aiyedatiwa’s political strategy and action of imposing the chairmanship candidate on the local people in Owo, is this the pattern and mode operandi in the remaining 17 LGAs of the Ondo State?
First and foremost, his action is arbitrary and has created an inertia and phobia among the aspirants, voters and unwillingness to participate in the elections, a ‘killer’ of the citizen’s interests to participate in the political and election processes and it is undermining the importance of democratic values, practice and nascent democracy in Ondo State.
As an indigene of Owo, I am surprised and baffled at Governor Aiyedatiwa’s single handling of the choice, selection and imposing candidates Omolayo/Hammed of the APC Party on the people of Owo, which betrayed the factors of fairness, transparency accountability.
In fact, it is a vivid reminder of authoritarianism and anti-thesis of democracy by the incumbent governor Aiyedatiwa in the conduct of the coming chairmanship of Owo Local Government election.
