Ibadan Still Holds the Ace in Oyo
Though Oyo State's south senatorial zone still holds the aces in producing the governor in 2007, the minority areas of Oke Ogun and Ibarapa divisions are insisting that the governorship seat should shift to them this time around. Ademola Adeyemo reports
With the present political arrangement in Oyo State, the people of Oyo South senatorial district have not betrayed any sentiments indicating they will relinquish their traditional grip on the number one seat in 2007. The Oke Ogun people in the Oyo North senatorial district with major towns such as Saki, Iseyin, Okeho, Ago Are, Kisi and others have never produced a governor in the political history of the state. Likewise the people of Ibarapa division who are in the same senatorial district with Ibadan.
Instead the minorities have been restricted to occupying the number two seats in the state. Whereas since 1976 when Oyo State was created Ibadan the state capital has been able to produce four democratically elected governors namely Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, Chief Kolapo Isola, Alhaji Lam. Adesina and incumbent governor Senator Rasidi Ladoja. Apart from Olunloyo's deputy late Alhaji Olatunji Muhammed who came from Ogbomoso, other three deputies Hamid Gbedamosi, Iyiola Oladokun and the incumbent Adebayo Alao Akala are from the Oyo North senatorial district.
However, the insistence of the Oyo South senatorial district to continue to produce the state helmsmen is now causing political ripples across the state especially as the people of Oke Ogun area, Ogbomoso and Ibarapa division have started agitating for a power shift. The Oke-Ogun descendants Union which is the umbrella body of Oke-Ogun people occupying over ten local government areas have started political sensitization and campaigns in its bid to ensure that power shifts to their area in 2007.
However, their views was not shared by "The strong man of Oyo State politics" Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu who incidentally is a strong factor in determining where power will stay or shift to in 2007.
Adedibu had told journalist in a press briefing that "it is the people that determine who gets what and when, "remember politics is a game of number, as at present Ibadan has majority of voters because out of 33 local government Ibadan alone occupies eleven councils with large population".
According to him, "Power will continue to stay in Ibadan until otherwise decided by the people of the state, but there is no doubt that in the nearest future, there will be political maneuvering and shifting, the power will rotate every where".
Judging from the present political arrangement in Oyo State it is clear that the Ibadan will determine who produces the governor in 2007.
During the 2003 election the race for governorship was fought between three Ibadan men, Lam. Adesina, the former governor who recontested under the Alliance for Democracy, Alhaji Yekeen Adeojo and Senator Rashidi Ladoja who went through the primaries election within the PDP, eventually Ladoja who was picked by the party beat Lam. Adesina to become the governor. Other senatorial zones were just directed by the party to bring their choice for the post of the deputy governor.
However, in 2007, the race will be between the ruling PDP and AD as other parties are as good as dead in the state, they have fizzled out after the 2003 election. Feelers emanating from the PDP indicated that the incumbent governor senator Rashidi Ladoja will run for a second term in office, a situation which will pitch him against the Adedibu / Adeojo group.
It will be recalled that the crisis that befell the party had succeeded in polarizing members into Ladoja and Adedibu/Adeojo group. It is common knowledge that even with the so-called resolution of the crisis, it is doubtful if Adedibu group will support Ladoja for a second term. Infact feelers emanating from the group indicated that the strong man is already searching for a replacement for Ladoja.
Adedibu had during the crisis stated that "Ladoja can never come back after first term, the people will not vote for him you know "Ibadan ki sin eniyan le'meji (Ibadan people does not vote twice for a person)". Adedibu had accused Ladoja of dumping him and his supporters after he was elected as the governor. "We will be patient until 2007, we are now wiser, we will replace Ladoja "Adedibu had boasted. Ladoja's rival in the 2003 election, Yekeen Adeojo is now in Adedibu's camp and the former deputy Chairman of PDP still has his eyes on the Agodi seat.
Although, Adeojo had contested twice for governorship and had lost to Kolapo Isola and Lam Adesina, however, he has not dismantled his machinery and his present political hob-nobbing with Adedibu may be a ploy to get the strong man's support for 2007 election, but will Adedibu trust Adeojo with power? Time will tell.
However, political observers are saying that Ladoja may be a hard not to crack for Adedibu's group. The governor, it was said is not a stranger to Oyo State Politics having studied Adedibu's politics for a long time, in fact he contributed his quota to the building of Adedibu's political machinery. "You know the governor understands the political terrain very well know Baba (Adedibu) inside out, so he will have no problem in hailing the old man finally in 2007". Said one of the political aides to the governor.
Apart from this, Ladoja will have the advantage of the power of incumbency by deploying all government machineries for his use, coupled with the backing of the PDP controlled federal government, Ladoja may prove hard to shove aside by the opposition.
Also the only opposition party in the state i.e The Alliance for Democracy may find it difficult to beat PDP in 2007 unless it resolve its internal crisis. Presently there are two factions of the party, one is led by chief S.O Farinu while the other faction has Prince Dotun Oyelade as its chairman, the crisis affected the electoral fortune of the party during he last local government election where the party only won two seats out 33 because the factions worked against each other. If the same sceneario happens in 2007, it will be a smooth sail for PDP.
|
