Massive crowd storm Osun for Omisore

There are campaigns but one distinguishing feature of the kick-off of the quest for Osun governorship post of Osun State by a Peoples Democratic aspirant, Senator Christopher Iyiola Omisore was what many political observers referred to as unprecedented in the annals politics of the 22 year-old state.
As early as 8.00 am on Saturday, February 8, 2014, heavy vehicular movement into Osogbo, the Osun State capital from all the 332 wards across Osogbo in a carnival manner started. All these vehicles bringing supporters to Osogbo Freedom Park (Railway Station) venue of the flag-off had the posters and banners of Sen. Omisore glued on them. By 9.00 a.m., the crowd of supporters have filled almost every available space around the venue from Oke-fia junction to Alekunwodo, Ola-Iya, Old garrage areas. All the commercial activities suddenly picked up. There was hardly anything displayed for sales that were not sold up.
Most of the traders would wish for repeats of such rally as a beer parlour operator openly said that almost all her stock were bought by the people that came to attend the rally to the glory of God.
The security personnel were on hand throughout the event to control the crowd, maintain law and order which are part of the requirements for peaceful poll. The security personnel were all civil and showed friendliness in carrying out their duties. This accounts for why there was no stampede, among supporters, and any form of misunderstanding.
Daily Newswatch investigations among the political elite revealed that Omisore was able to pull out such a large crowd because of the fact that he has a solid political structure that cut across the state which is the oldest among all the political gladiators in the state now and which has survived over time, even in crisis situation.
Another is his constant contact with his structure more than his opponents. And whenever they have any cause to celebrate, he identifies with them, not only with his presence but financial resources.
A reliable source from among the party members told Daily Newswatch that during the last Muslim festival and Christmas, Omisore did not make them feel that they are in the opposition party and not in government as two trailer loads of rice were donated to all the members across the 332 wards in the state. PDP political heavy weight such as the former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, former National Deputy Chairmen (South West), Alhaji Shuaib Afolabi Oyedokun and Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, Senator Olu Alabbi, Senator Grace Folasade Brent (Adamawa South), former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, wife of the late strong man of Ibadan politics, Chief Mrs Bosed Adedibu, PDP Mobilization Committee Chairman for South West, Alhaji Khasamu Buruj former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Yeye Abosede Ogunleye, Minister designate from Osun state, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, former Osun State Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adejare Bello were just a few of the distinguished personalities that made the rally not only unique but unprecedented.
Addressing the crowd, Omisore pleaded with his supporters not to be involved in anything capable of breaking down law and order but tolerate the remaining months until they ensured that incumbent Governor Rauf Aregbesola is voted out of power.
Stating the reasons why Aregbesola has to be voted out of power, he said, “” Aregbesola has thrown the State into a huge debt running into N413billion, stolen so much from over inflated dualization of only federal roads while state roads are left untouched, destroyed the educational system to the level that masquerades take over assembly after students had appeared in choir uniforms, cassock, Hijab and so on, made health sector to be in shambles, which caused religious disharmony.”
Omisore therefore promised that his administration would rectify all these noticeable anomalies if voted into power. He said his resolve to rescue the state made him seek for the post of governor of Osun State.
Welcoming the array of supporters earlier, the former National Deputy Chairman of PDP in the South West, Alhaji Shuabu Oyedokun warned PDP members about the antics, plans and deception of the on-going membership registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the forthcoming 2014 and 2015 elections. One other unique feature of the rally was that in the course of Omisore addressing the audience, the popular Fuji artist, Abass Obesere and a group of students’ entered the scene with songs in praise and support of Omisore’s ambition that threw the crowd into momentary ecstasy This marked the beginning of musical interlude in the campaign.
Dignitaries present that mounted the podium to address the rally endorsed the candidature of Senator Omisore and called on the crowd at the rally to vote Aregbesola out of office by voting for Omisore when he becomes the PDP candidate. The State Chairman of the Party, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa in his address catalogued the various policies embarked upon by the incumbent Governor Aregbesola’s administrator including uniforms being sold to secondary students. He said that Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s administration sold uniforms at N300 to students but Aregbesola came and increased it to N2,500 and changed it to a single one to all the schools. This, he said would be revisited by a PDP administration if voted to power.
He berated the Osun Youth Employment Scheme (O”YES) of Aregbesola’s administration, saying, “ while Osun young graduates are given hoes and cutlasses to do menial jobs and paid N10,000 peanut monthly, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s son, Kabiru was awarded whopping N8.5Billion “opon imo” (tablet of knowledge) contract Olaoluwa promised school merger would be reversed in accordance with the desires of all the stakeholders if PDP is voted to power. He also promised that a PDP administration in the state would work hand in hand for financial assistance to those whose houses were demolished by the Aregbesol’s administration and the tenants displaced, most especially, traders. The rally would for a long time continue to linger in the memories of friends and foes of Omisore as some observers are asking if such a rally would ever take place again before the August 9 Governorship poll in Osun State.