Oyo guber: Quest for return and the jinx of second term -

vanguardngr.com

It is entrenched in Nigeria constitution that a governor or president could serve two terms in office.

Senator Abiola Ajimobi

For instance, former President Olusegun Obasanjo ruled the nation for two consecutive terms as a democratically elected president.

This scenario is, however, different in the political history of Oyo State as no governor has reigned twice. This report examines whether the jinx could be broken in tomorrow’s governorship election as three major contenders out of five have served the state once.

Since the creation of Oyo State 39 years ago, no governor has been able to secure a second term in office.

Past governors who had attempted it but couldn’t make it include late Chief Bola Ige who during the second republic lost his 2nd term bid to Dr. Omololu Olunloyo former governor, late Alhaji Lam Adeshina who ruled the state between 1999-2003 also attempted second term but lost to senator Rashidi Ladoja. Senator Ladoja could not bid for 2nd term as a result of impeachment saga which allowed his then deputy, Chief Adebayo Alao- Akala to clinch the PDP ticket before he was reinstated as the governor prior to 2011 election.

The situation has therefore become a slogan in the state that “Ibadan ki n sinyan lemeji” meaning that the Ibadan people do not serve a leader or king twice, the zone out of the six geo- political zones which usually accounts for about 60 percent of the total votes in Oyo state.

Interestingly, four out of the five governorship candidates racing for Agodi government house are from Ibadan indicating that larger percent of votes in contender Ibadan will be heard among these .

They are Senator Rashida Ladoja of accord, chief Adebayo Alao- Akala Labour party, senator Teslim Folarin PDP, Mr. Seyi Makinde of SDP and the incumbent governor, Abiola Ajimobi of APC.

However, Chief Alao- Akala lost to incumbent Governor, Mr. Abiola Ajimobi in a keenly contested election in 2011. Chief then could be said to be behind this yet to be broken fix.

Emeritus professor of political science, Bunmi Ayoade advanced the issue to south west which has to do within political sophistication inhesited by the people of the region. This time around, the incumbent governor, Mr. Abiola Ajimobi seemed determined to break the jinx in this Saturday’s governorship election. 

But can Mr. Ajimobi actually break the jinx having realized that his predecessors failed in this regard? Special Adviser on political matters, Dr. Gbade Ojo says Governor. Ajimobi’s performance as well as General Muhammadu Buhari  victory at the just concluded presidential election would play major role in the coming days. 

Labour party governorship candidate Chief Adebayo Alao- Akala and his Accord counterpart, Chief Rashidi Ladoja also believed they can return to government seat.

Director General Alao- Akala campaign organization, Dr. Kola Balogun maintained that the electorate would weigh achievement of Alao- Akala while in government to others and re- elect him.

To the publicity secretary of Accord Mr. Nureni Adeniran and Alhaji kehinde Salau said Senator Ladoja and Senator FOLARIN HAVE BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING THE April 11 governorship poll. But in his view, Director  General, Seyi Makinde campaign organization, Mr. Kehinde Ayoola pointed out that the traditions in Oyo politics favour Mr. Seyi Makinde due to philatrophic gesture and track records his private business adding that such world  eventually laid to rest the age long belief.

With few hours to the governorship and house of assembly election, many people who are interested in Oyo state politics are waiting to see who breaks the jinx or the tradition will be sustained. They equally hoped that the electorate will vote wisely.