Osun: Issues in focus

Osun: Issues in focus

BY AYO OLUKOTUN

“My tenure in Osun by the Grace of God and the will of the people willend in 2018”

– Rauf Aregbesola, July 20, 2014

“If I meet Governor Rauf Aregbesola, I would greet him and tell him to be preparing his handover notes”

-Iyiola Omisore, July 20, 2014

The opening quotes sourced from the two leading candidates in the Osun governorship election indicate the keenness and intensity of the campaigns which will culminate in the August 9 election. There are, to be sure, 20 candidates jostling for the coveted seat but in reality the contest has been described aptly as a ‘three-tier horse race’ between the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, who is also the incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; that of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Iyiola Omisore; and that of the Labour Party, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade.

Before assessing the candidates and their platforms, a few statistics are in order. Depending on which source you are citing, the population of the state is put variously at anywhere between 3.4 million (NPC) and 4.4 million (UNFPA). The Independent National Electoral Commission put the population of the registered voters at 1.25 million and the voter card holders, as of the end of April, at 59.6 per cent of that number, which is roughly 736, 000. The number of polling units is also put at 3,010. What this means is that less than 25 per cent of the population of the state will on August 9 decide the fate of the candidates. As a corollary, and in the absence of opinion polls suggested by The PUNCH columnist, Prof. Niyi Akinnaso, several of the outspoken debaters and stargazers on the election will neither vote nor will their views loom large on the polling day.

The other background matter worth attending to connects the issue of militarisation of the state along the lines of what happened in Ekiti State.

While the PDP members such as the Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, argued that the presence of soldiers in Ekiti encouraged the voters to come out in the confidence that no harm would befall them, spokespersons for the APC insist that the soldiers and the security agencies generally were not neutral arbiters but partisanly held the ring against the opposition APC.

As a matter of fact, a human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, has stated the opinion that the deployment of soldiers for elections is illegal. In the same vein, the APC has gone to court to restrain the Federal Government from deploying soldiers for the election.

Considering that the role of the military in the Ekiti election and the involvement of Alhaji Musiliu Obanikoro, Minister of State for Defence , viewed as a PDP hawk, has become matters of controversy, it might be unwise to repeat the Ekiti scenario of militarisation in Osun. Obviously, international attention will be focused on the election given that the United States has argued that it would be bell weather of the wider election of 2015.

Now, to the major candidates. Omisore of the PDP is not a new comer to Osun and national politics. He has held the positions of deputy governor as well as senator. Well educated, Omisore stakes his claim to governorship on an alleged deal between him and Bisi Akande that the latter would back him for governorship after four years in office; he argues to the bargain that he was already coasting home to succeeding Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the governor before the judicial victory and consequent swearing-in of Aregbesola in 2010.

There are issues however about the candidate one of which is memory of his alleged controversial involvement in the assassination of the former justice minister, Chief Bola Ige. It is conceivable that in spite of the candidate’s heated denial of alleged role in that tragic event, he has not succeeded in entirely laying the matter to rest.

Substantively, Omisore and his campaign team have mounted a spirited campaign challenging the achievements and even personality of the incumbent forcing the latter to defend his record. For instance, Omisore has punched holes in the incumbent track record by alleging that he has handed over the state to “strangers” by which it is meant Osun indigenes resident in Lagos. He has raised issues about the cost of some of Aregbesola’s projects; spotted errors in Opon Imo, a flagship achievement of the governor and alluded to the controversy raised by the schools’ merger and wearing of hijab.

Unfortunately, Omisore has spent more time putting his opponent on the spot and berating him than enunciating his own programmes. Although he has hinted at an eight-point agenda, the electorate is barely familiar with the high points of this programme as they are crowded out by his politics of attack and threats of repeating Ayo Fayose’s miracle victory in Ekiti.

The incumbent, Aregbesola rides on the wave of his governance record which centres on poverty reduction as illustrated by the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, the facelift and modernisation of Osogbo, the state capital, educational reforms whose initial hiccups Aregbesola insists are more than compensated for by the adjunct of a far-flung project in which tailors, food vendors, and sundry artisans are employed through the provision of uniforms and the school feeding system. Articulating a neo-welfarist ideology on the lines of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Ogbeni, as he insists on being called (shunning the use of ‘His Excellency’) has, by and large, implemented visionary social programmes that have sought to bring governance to the nook and cranny of the state.

The Labour Party candidate, Akinbade, a former Secretary of the Osun State Government, would in other circumstances, considering his mettle, have been a high profile contender. But as it is, the two titans, Aregbesola and Omisore, have reduced him to the status of a backbencher. In the event of a neck to neck election, however, he might, ironically, come into his own as a ‘beautiful bride’. This may explain why he is being courted by both the APC and the PDP. It is unlikely however, if a level playing field is provided that the PDP would be able to repeat the “Fayose miracle”. In a text message sent to this writer, in the aftermath of my comment on the Ekiti election,

Pastor Biodun Bakare, after doing a post-mortem of that election, went on to say, “It is not going to be easy for Omisore in Osun State over Aregbesola because the latter is closer to the people”. In other words, Osun is a different kettle of fish from Ekiti to the extent that Aregbesola, who has a thriving grassroots organisational culture, cultivated a pro-people orientation. Significantly, and contrary to the expectation that religion will be an issue, several Christian leaders such as Bishop David Oyedepo and Pastor Enoch Adeboye, have endorsed the incumbent based on performance.

Conceivably, Omisore’s battle cry would have been anchored on change.

It would seem however that in the circumstances of a state, arguably, in the throes of governance upgrade and verifiable deliverables, the message of ‘change’ is unlikely to be heeded. The election, considering the various uses to which the omnibus ‘federal might’ might be put, may be closely fought but there is little doubt that the incumbent stands a more than even chance of winning.

Before Ekiti and Osun guber polls

Since after the 2011 General Elections and the subsequent Governorship elections in 2012, the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the conduct of election has improved  remarkably. The leadership of the Commission has consistently assured the nation that the bar in the conduct of election in Nigeria, which was raised in 2011 will be sustained. Although there were few problems and challenges the Commission had to contend with, the election was adjudged far better than previous elections conducted by the Commission.
Learning from experience of the general elections and factoring those lessons into preparations for the governorship elections in other States, namely: Kogi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Sokoto, Edo and Ondo, the Commission has strived to make its performance in the conduct of election in one State better than the previous exercises.
At sundry public engagements with stakeholders, the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega maintained that, though there was a remarkable improvement in the conduct of elections in the country, as attested to by local and International observers, a lot needs to be done to sanitize the electoral system in Nigeria. He was quick to state that it was not a perfect election, not because INEC planned it to be so but because the Commission is operating in an imperfect system where extraneous factors interfere with its plans.
Basically, election is not an event but a process with series of activities and programmes involving other stakeholders and agencies with INEC as a major stakeholder striving for perfection in the conduct of elections. The Commission tries to inject new techniques and measures in any election based on the lessons learnt in the previous elections.
Way ahead of Anambra State Governorship Election in November 2013, the Commission started planning to ensure its performance would be better than that of Ondo as the Chairman assured the nation. But as political tension started mounting in Anambra state, Nigerians expressed fears about the nature the election would take and if INEC would be able to get it right. It was even seen as a litmus test for INEC as its performance would be an indication of what 2015 would look like.
Realizing the challenge posed by Anambra election, the Commission, diligently planned for the conduct of the election with the intention of disappointing those prophets of doom who were insinuating that there would be crisis and blood shed in the election.
In fact, INEC had a comprehensive plan for the election. Consequently, the Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega assured Nigerians that the Anambra governorship election would be far better than other previous governorship elections.
His assurances and confidence were based on several measures put in place by the Commission to ensure that Anambra election was not just free, fair, credible and peaceful, but that the result would be acceptable by all parties and indeed all Nigerians.
Three months prior to Anambra Poll in November, precisely in August, the Commission embarked on Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the state. The exercise was an opportunity for those whose names were on the Addendum Register to be re-captured so as to have their details on the Electronic Register.
It was also meant to register those who just turned 18 years of age, those with incomplete data and those with few fingerprints so as to have comprehensive information on the Commission’s database.
Unfortunately, many people did not take advantage of this opportunity provided by the Commission. As a result, their names were not on the e-register used for the election.
The reason for the missing names in the Anambra register has been explained several times by the Chairman of the Commission following accusations that the Commission deliberately disenfranchised so many voters in the State.
One wonders what the Commission stands to gain by disenfranchising people as it is being accused by critics of the process. It is equally difficult to comprehend the rationals for blaming the Election Management Body for negligence on the part of the electorate who failed to utilize an opportunity offered by the Commission to participate in the electoral process.
It is necessary to state clearly that the intention of this piece is not to continue to sermonize on the mistakes of Anambra election which the Commission had the most comprehensive preparation and plans for, or apportion blame or even defend INEC but to avert a repeat of such incidents in Ekiti, Osun and even the general elections in 2015.
This is why the Chairman, at every opportunity pleads with Nigerians especially eligible voters to ensure that their data are captured in e-register which it will be using in future elections in the country. He repeated at a recent event that the era of Addendum and Manual Register is gone and urged all those who want to vote in future elections to come out during the nation wide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) scheduled for this year to get registered.
Prof. Jega, while making a passionate appeal to Nigerians in a radio programme on Road to 2015: preparations INEC is making said, “Please if you are not on the register, use the opportunity of the CVR to get your details captured in electronic register.’’
While emphasising the need for Nigerians to do their part by coming out to be registered, Prof. Jega urged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other critical stakeholders in the electoral process to cooperate with the Commission to ensure the success of Ekiti and Osun States’ Governorship elections and the general elections in 2015.
The Commission is presently making elaborate preparations for the elections, one of which is to carry out CVR in the two states for the elections. Indigenes of Ekiti and Osun States who desire to vote in the election should avail themselves of this opportunity when the CVR commences to avoid a situation of missing names in the e-register, or accusing INEC of disenfranchising people in the two states.
While appealing for support and assistance of the electorate and indeed all Nigerians, the Commission urged them to participate in the electoral process because it is the responsibility of all to participate in the process of deepening democracy in Nigeria.
Whatever INEC is doing will be complemented by what other critical stakeholders including the electorate do. Though INEC is the driver of the electoral process, but it must work with other stakeholders. Electorate should play their part, by participating in the CVR before Ekiti and Osun governorship elections for those from the two states.
For all Nigerians, when the Commission begins the nation wide CVR, we plead that you come out and get registered. The essence of the CVR is to ensure that the Commission has a very credible, and near perfect register of voters come 2015.
The Commission is determined to make Ekiti and Osun a lot better than Anambra by correcting the mistakes and shortcomings of that election and is appealing to Nigerians not to judge the Commission’s ability to deliver a credible election in 2015 based on the Anambra experience.

•Ogbuka is Chief Information Officer, INEC Headquarters, Abuja.

The fear of February 8...

                      The fear of February 8...

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THE whole state is gripped in frenzy, forcing caucuses of various factions and parties to conduct nocturnal meetings. The apprehension is not just within other guber camps but more within the inner caucus of the incumbent. Why are so many politicians afraid of February 8th? Inside the heartland of Ijesaland penultimate weekend, the date was a subject of discourse.
It was like an American state preparing for an impending tsunami. The anxiety in Abere and far away Bourdillon is clearly palpable. Still not sure why the fears and trepidations, questions were raised and it was then I realised the political significance of the date in the impending battle for the soul of Osun state.
   Back in Abere, I noticed sleepless nights. One rushed to Ondo State and jumped back to Osogbo to tackle an impending wildfire. Then came the armtwisting tactics deployed to frustrate the organisers. Venues paid for were cancelled or denied and  state officials were warned against granting any concessions. I was asking why the fears and anxiety. Should a supposedly performing governor fear peoples’ verdict?
  Outside Abere, the incumbent’s foot soilders are moving round the local governments, trying to sensitise their supporters who are bitter over grinding poverty, domination by the Lagos elite and non completion of any significant project. When they reached Osun West, the unfulfilled promise of reconstruction of Osogbo -Ibadan Road was an issue from leaders from Ejigbo, Ede, Egbedore,Olaoluwa and others. Their own members were asking for guidance on how to respond to questions on education, health, infrastructure and the debt profile of the state.
 And within the Peoples Democratic Party, other governorship camps appear overwhelmed. A loyalist of another hopeful jokingly accepted that he would indeed attend the Februaru 8th event. More top leaders from other camps are plegding the same directly or through leaders from their areas.the Council of elders is having to expand itself to accommodate more leaders.
The Youth carnival is spreading across the thirty local governments and many PDP members are accepting that victory can indeed only come through this February 8th man.
  The date is enigmatic just  as the man at the centre of it all. The date is historical and remarkable because this is the first time the man is making it to the ballot as a guber contender. The date is a starting point of victory on August 9th because it it an idea whose time has come.
  But is the man at the center of that date an alternative to the incumbent? The tension being generated by that date
confirmed that the incumbent has authenticated the potency of the man. If there is nothing serious about the man, the whole state apparatus would not be on egde. But five reasons appear to position the challenger of the incumbent as an alternative.
First is that all concorted blackmail designed to tarnish the man’s image hasfailed. The Osun grassroots now know the real man as truly victimised, harrassed and unfairly treated by those desperate to stop him from reaching Abere.
  Two, the incumbent governor has failed across the sectors to deliver on his electoral promises. I read a piece recently titled
“What Gov Aregbe Hides from British Lords,” cataloguing the rot in the education sector. It was pathetic. Three, the new man has pedigree with eight years in the Senate and great accomplishments in the field of engineering. Hence he is bringing his wealth of experience on a rescue mission in the state. Four, the man has a validated action plan to clear inherited mess and put the state on sustainable path of development. And lastly, the man’s passion is to redeem the state from its present  disorientation and transform it into peaceful,developed and collectively prosperous  state in the federation.
  In one of his  recent interviews,the man stated his passion as follows: “God has blessed me in all ways. My God has given me money and good things of life. What I am passionate about is to give back to the society. My aspiration for governorship is to rescue my people from extortion poverty,joblessness, under-development and capital flight. Our people deserves the best and I know with my experience, I have been groomed by God to serve my people.”
  But who is this February 8th man? Even when I have not seen his billboards,even when the incumbent runs a government by billboards, I was told at Ila Orangun that the man is Iyiola Christopher Omisore, a member of the Governing Council of Nigeria Society of Engineers, member of more than seven engineering professional associations at home and abroad, a doctorate degree holder in infrastructure financing, a two-term  senator and a former deputy governor of Osun State.
  
 Adeyanju send this piece from Abeokuta

Aregbesola and the political economy of religion

I use the concept of political economy specifically with reference to Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola’s political, economic, and educational policies, their interrelations, and their influence on social institutions in the state. One such social institution, which his policies have impacted significantly, is the complex of worship centres we have come to label as religious institution.

Osun State happens to have an interesting religious identity. Much more than many other states in the federation, it provides an interesting confluence of Muslim, Christian, and Traditional religion, each with a deep history and core followers. Just as there are age-old mosques and churches in the state, so are there traditional religious centres, especially at Ile-Ife and Osogbo.

The Osun Sacred Grove in Osogbo is a site of traditional worship, hosting up to 40 shrines. The site is now a vestige of the traditional sacred groves which once dotted Yoruba forests around settlement centres. Today, the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove has become a major tourist centre, attracting tourists from all over the world. What is more, it has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in recognition of the significance of its cultural content. A former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, himself a Yoruba Prince, capitalised on the cultural contribution of Osun State to the Yoruba nation by hosting annual Yoruba conferences. Aregbesola even went further last year by hosting a global pan-Yoruba conference aimed at forging Yoruba integration across the globe.

But, perhaps the most unique modern religious feature of Osun State today is the impressive list of leading evangelists of the Christian faith, who hail or hailed from the state. They include Pastor Enoch Adeboye (the Redeemed Christian Church of God); Pastor William Kumuyi (Deeper Life); Pastor D.K. Olukoya (Mountain of Fire and Miracles); Prophet Ayo Babalola (Founder, Christ Apostolic Church; Prophet Kayode Abiara (CAC); Prophet Timothy Obadare (CAC); Prophet Gabriel Fakeye, Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement; Prophet Abiodun Bada (Celestial Church of Christ); and Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo (Kingsway Bible Church). What is remarkable about these church leaders is that most of them were born or raised within 50 kilometres of Ilesa in Osun State.

Fully aware of this fact, Aregbesola began to approach these church leaders to bring their evangelism back home. For example, in December 2010, at the launching of a N50m endowment fund for Ilesha Grammar School, my alma mater, Aregbesola openly appealed for Adeboye’s patronage of a 200,000 worshipers’ Christian Convention Centre to be built in Osun State.The bottom line here is that the gestation period of the project predates recent religious controversies in the state.

For nearly three years, Aregbesola has also been looking for appropriate land space large enough to house such a centre. He eventually found a large expanse of land in Odo Iju and Ibodi in the Atakumosa West Local Government Area of the state, willingly donated by the community leaders in honour of the church leaders who hailed from the environs of the land and in anticipation of the project’s economic benefits. Aregbesola, however, still went ahead to compensate the land owners to avert future ownership claims.

It is quite clear that Aregbesola was driven largely by the economic advantage of bringing thousands of worshippers to his state for mass Christian worship as happens in Ogun State every week. There’s no denying the fact that religion in Nigeria is also an economic activity. This is particularly true of evangelical churches, whose activities contribute significantly to the economic development of adjoining communities, even as their pastors live large.

Similarly, the intersection between politics and religion cannot be overlooked in this country. Religion is one of the key identities used in selecting candidates for office, especially at the Federal level. Besides, the Federal Government has built churches and mosques, and, like state governments, it continues to fund pilgrimages to Mecca and Jerusalem. The separation of state and religion may be the law of the land but it has never been so in practice.

These developments notwithstanding, Aregbesola should have avoided yet another controversy by going about the church project differently. Having provided an enabling environment for the project, namely, an appropriate land space and the cooperation of leading church leaders, he should have sought interested developers or private partners for the project, in order to minimise the capital outlay from state coffers.

The problem with Aregbesola, though, is that he does not do things in half measures. As a result, he sometimes allows his ideas to run ahead of himself. Or, how does one explain his involvement in yet another perceived controversial venture six months or so to an election? The paradox of such an involvement, though, is that it may well be an indication of genuineness of purpose: It is a good economic venture; let me pursue it, no matter whose ox is gored.

There are two serious problems with such a position. First, it accentuates the readiness with which critics read religion into otherwise well-intentioned political, economic, and educational policies. Second, it is not always politically expedient to be involved in controversial ventures, even if they are ultimately for the public good. Politics is not only about doing the right thing. It is also about doing what is perceived to be right.

These observations are further complicated by Aregbesola’s Muslim identity, which has often been read into his policies, including school reclassification and mergers. So much mileage was covered on the school merger controversy that the intended advantages of the new educational policy were submerged. This puts a major burden on reporters to always look beyond the controversies surrounding well-intended projects and not allow their reports to merge with those of the opposition.