By Femi Adesola
The Osun state Governorship election has been won and lost, irrespective of what transpired, winners have emerged and the losing side already strategizing on way forward as politics is not for the faint hearted and power is not served A lacarté.
To the political gladiators, either from the losing or winning side, it’s never Uhuru, as there are still hurdles to cross, the winner will need a majority in the house to run a successful administration and the scheming and permutations is already ongoing as the primary beckons to put loyal and popular hands on the ballot.
The February 2019 general election will birth another set of State house of assembly, Federal House of Representative and Senate members, known as the second arm of the Government.
Likewise the race to get the political parties ticket for Honourable men and women that will represent each constituency and Senatorial district at the state nd at national level is getting hotter and fierce day by day with the quality and antecedents of the aspirants showing interest.
The battle for the Osun East Senatorial district (Ife/Ijesha) on the platform of the People’s Democratic party (PDP) will be a straight duel between two experienced gladiators.
Chief Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi popularly called “Fada’ is the current holder of the ticket. He lost narrowly and controversially to Senator Babajide Omoworare in 2015 general election with Omoworare polling 101,352 against Fadahunsi who polled 99,166 votes.
The retired Assistant Comptroller General of Customs has paid his dues in the party, He is a political gadfly and a force to reckon with as far as Ife/Ijesha district is concerned.
Since the Ilase born man has joined the PDP, record has it that any other political party has never won any competitive election in his polling unit and his ward, One of the quality of a good politician. He has also been courted by the current Governor Ogbeni Aregbesola to join the APC.
Some of his kinsmen in that region has attributed that singular act to his ability to identify with his people, give back to his people in his capacity. In Ilase-Ijesha ‘Fada’ is more popular than anyone in that agrarian community.
Traditionally, in politics the holder of a ticket in political party either he/she won or lost is the first in line to be considered to be returned as the candidate, but as it stand recently politics is now a lucrative business. The Nigerian Senate is also seen by Governor and high profile politician as their retirement home.
However, the People’s Democratic party will still adopt indirect primary (Delegate system). It is not certain that those delegates that voted or adopted Fada as their candidate were not kept as the political ambient has been altered, Senator Iyiola Omisore was the leader of the party and a major decider of what happens and who get what as at then.
But as it stands, Omisore has been purged out of the party, new set of delegates have emerged, and the Adelekes hold the ace as far as PDP is concerned in Osun. Fada’s chances to retain the ticket depends on the role he played in the July 21st PDP primary election that Adeleke won as many Legislative aspirants had pledged support for Adeleke or Ogunbiyi in exchange and assurance for party ticket.
Erelu Olushola Obada the erstwhile Deputy Governor is another PDP stalwart looking to represent the good people of Osun East Senatorial DIstrict in the hallowed chambers.
The former defence minister is a force to reckon with as far as PDP is concerned in Osun and in Nigeria. In fact many have said if loyalty is rewarded Erelu should have the ticket, despite been sacked as the minister of defence by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, she still stay put in the party, even when her former boss, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola defected to the APC, many had expected she will follow her boss to the APC.
Power is not served on a platter of gold, she will need to fight for the ticket, if she emerge she will be the first female Senator from Osun State.
The Ibodi born politician from the Atakumosa west local government is very popular in that area, record has it that she delivered her local government in the last week Governorship election in Osun state.
Although her albatross in nicking the ticket might be because of the open support she showed to Akin Ogunbiyi against Ademola Adeleke who is believed to be a major decider in who gets what.
However there was alignment and realignment before the election, but in politics is either you are for me or against me as she will need delegates not only from Atakumosa West where she hails from. She will need delegates from the two local governments in Ilesha, Oriade and another four local government in Ife region where Adeleke’s major delegates domiciled as politics is a game of number.
Erelu is vastly experienced in this political game, she actually knows where to get the votes, she also has financial resources to induce delegates to vote for her.
The fight for the ticket will be keenly contested as the major contenders are forces to be reckoned with as far as Osun PDP is concerned, but the question now is will it be ‘Fada’ Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi or our ‘Mother’ Erelu Olusola Obada?
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