By Habib Aruna
Osun state has, predictably and understandably too, become a flash point in the past few weeks, because of the governorship election taking place in the rural state in the next 48 hours. An election that many see as a referendum on the performance of President Bola Tinubu and also a test case of what we should expect in next year’s general election.
But this piece was largely influenced by the unmeasured and unguarded utterances of some of the political leaders, particularly from the All Progressive Congress (APC), whose incendiary rhetoric and statements are increasingly disturbing and raising tension in a state that is begging for development. It’s baffling that 27 years in this democratic dispensation, our politicians have not learnt their lessons. They are so desperate that they still see politics as a do or die venture, where they must win by all means.
The outrage expressed by Nigerians over a viral video in which an Osun State Senator, Francis Fadausi was alleged to have directed his supporters to “kill” members of the Accord Party members was yet to die down, when another video surfaced yesterday, with another prominent APC leader in the state, Wole Oke, threatening Accord Party members not to come out to support Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Accord Party governorship candidate. I don’t know if Mr. Oke has been called to order by the security agencies, but Nigerians are still watching if Fadaunsi will be charged for making a statement that is grossly inimical to public peace and security few days to the governorship election.
Even so, it should be noted that the violence that has characterized the campaign for more than two months now had been committed by all the parties, mainly supporters of the Accord Party and that of the APC. We have seen live ammunition being used in the open against political opponents with fatalities on both sides. It is however debatable if the police and other law enforcement agencies have been unbiased in dealing with the situation of things and not acting against members of the ruling party in the state.
But what should be of utmost concern to lovers of democracy and the future of this country is that we have passed through this road before. And the experience was not palatable. We all saw what in Ekiti State when the then governor Kayode Fayemi was running for second term election. We saw how the Gooduck Jonathan’s administration deployed instrumentality of government to make sure that the outcome tilted in favour of PDP’s governorship candidate, Ayo Fayose. The same thing was replicated in Osun when the then governor, Rauf Aregbesola and his ACN members were harassed and intimidated days before the election. State Security Service agents in black attire were openly patrolling the streets of major cities in Osun few days before the election in what they described as a show of force. Of course, Osun voters refused to be intimidated, they came out in droves and voted for who they wanted at the Government House.
We are seeing the same thing manifesting before our very eyes. The federal might is being deployed to consummate an agenda that might not in the interest of the people. We are seeing what I have always described as the unholy trinity between the ruling party, electoral body, the police and the judiciary. This time around is the other way round: The APC, the ruling party at the national level is in opposition in the state and wants to use Osun as a spring board, to show that it has the capacity and popularity to win the general election next year.
Things have however changed since 12 years ago. The electorate is more conscious; the state governor has won the hearts of the people and he’s very popular; the social media has liberalized the political space, making fragrant abuse of the people more difficult to hide and the people are now more than ever yearning for good governance. It was based on this that I was expecting a robust campaign by all the parties, selling their messages that is on their manifesto to the electorate. I was indeed expecting three or more debates by the leading candidates to critique each other’s position or solutions on key challenges facing this agrarian state now commonly refers to as Civil Servants state.
In truth, it’s difficult to pinpoint any particular message to any of the candidates. What do they actually want to offer? What have the governor done so far despite the billions coming from Abuja every month? How far has he been able to take care of the basic things like education, healthcare, rural and connecting inner roads, are the people more secured since he came and is his scorecard commendable and deserves a second term? In the case of the main opposition candidate, Alhaji Bola Olabamiji what is he bringing to the table in terms of veritable alternative programmes, are the electorate convinced that they won’t again be shortchanged with half salaries and non-payment of pension and gratuities. What really does he want to do with power? Or does he just want to win by all means without justification?
Above should be what should play out in an ideal democratic environment. Sadly however, what we have is the exact opposite. We have seen how leaders and members of the ruling party in the state were arrested and whisked away to Abuja, ostensibly to be released after the election; we have witnessed how institutions of state are being used in support of a particular candidate and his party; we have seen how the police and security agencies have been taking side openly; we saw how the state account was frozen illegally; indeed, we saw how fear and harassment have been infused into the electoral process, thereby making it difficult for the electorate to freely make their choice.
And this is the danger. Fear, harassment, intimidation, incitement and other unenviable things should not be integral features of our election cycles. People should be free and allowed to freely make their choice in any electoral contest. It is only when they are free that those elected can be held accountable and responsible. When elections are held under an atmosphere that is not free and fair and transparent, the results will not be accepted nor will it be acceptable. Hence, it is in the interest of the elite not to make elections do or die thing. If they do, it will ultimately haunt them. History is always watching by the wing!
Therefore, as voters in Osun go out on Saturday, they SHOULD be the ones to decide who will be the next governor. No any other force is bigger than the will of the people. Voters should be able to move freely, protected by the police who are paid by taxpayers, to cast their vote for their preferred candidate. The minimum demand from INEC is to give Osun voters the opportunity to decide the winner. Nigerians are watching!