ONDO 2020: WHY IFEOLUWA OYEDELE IS THE RIGHT CHOICE – GROUP
A group, Alliance For Good Governance in Ondo state, under the leadership of Prof. Adeluyi has stated why Engineer Ife Oyedele deserves to be elected as the next Governor of Ondo state in a release made available to the press.
The release in full, is as reported below:
The next Governorship election in Ondo State has been scheduled for 10th Oct 2020 and the need for our party, the APC to choose its flagbearer for the election is fast approaching. Expectedly, we now have a large retinue of Aspirants in the political field, each of who wishes to be the partys Candidate.
As responsible party faithfuls who are in touch with the political realities in Ondo State today, we are compelled first by the yearnings of people across the state and also by the need to ensure that the opposition does not exploit the error of choice on the part of our Party to defeat us at the election, to make a firm recommendation on who out of the numerous Aspirants we sincerely consider to be the Partys best choice.
The recommendation made here is based on an objective assessment of all the Aspirants who have declared interest in the plum job and an in-depth consideration of subsisting political realities in the State.
In the course of assessing all the Aspirants, we took into serious consideration the following criteria which in our humble opinion are the core areas in which an Aspirant must excel in order to be a credible and formidable Candidate who can stand the challenge which opposition is naturally bound to pose and who can be outstanding in winning the confidence of the electorate in Ondo State. We also have taken into serious consideration the high level of political consciousness of the people of Ondo State and the critical qualities they look up to in a would-be Governor.
In making our recommendation, we wish to make it very clear that we recognise all the Aspirants as eminent citizens of our dear State, and that each of them is qualified in his or her own right to be the Governor of Ondo State.
The criteria are:
Integrity
Intellectual Capacity
Experience
Loyalty
Discipline
Courage
Tolerance and Broadmindedness
Acceptability.
INTEGRITY
Not minding whatever other qualities a leader may possess and possess in abundance, lack of integrity implies lack of credibility in absolute terms. It is indeed a universal reality that a leader who carries a moral burden of any kind stands a clear chance of losing the confidence and trust of his followers with serious rapidity. Should such a luggage-carrying leader be elected into office before his unenviable moral situation is discovered, the followers will come to the conclusion that he has secured his mandate by default, meaning a total loss of confidence in him.
With every sense of responsibility and with due respect to all other Aspirants who are eminent citizens of Ondo State, we wish to make it abundantly clear that Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele is a man of high integrity who carries no moral burden. Adopting an independent mechanism, we had put both the past and present activities of Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele to critical integrity test and his performance in this regard is admirably outstanding.
Obviously, the high level of integrity of Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele puts him in a comfortable position to key into the zero tolerance for corruption which the APC has remained consistent in observing.
INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY
The realities and challenges of Governance in a developing Nation in the 21st Century require that an individual who will occupy the exalted position of the Governor of a State must be capable of demonstrating high intellectual capacity. As a State where Education still remains the most thriving sector, the level of political consciousness of Ondo people is high since the level of their intellectual capacity is observably high. It is therefore obvious that an individual who will lead the people effectively must be intellectually competent. The people must see in such a leader, the capacity to bring into his leadership style and decision taking strategy, intellectual capacity that is far above average.
A cursory look at the profile of Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele readily convinces anybody that his level of Intellectual capacity is exceedingly high. Even his detractors regularly commend his high level of intellectual capacity.
Whoever cares to engage him on issues like Economy, Education, Healthcare Delivery, Good Governance, Regional Integration, True Federalism, Security, Job Creation and Party Discipline is certain to marvel at the deep knowledge he has of all of such issues and the difference he is capable of making as the Governor of Ondo State.
As a registered Engineer who has practiced in various professional capacities, Ondo Sate is bound to witness Digital Governance in a manner that is 21st Century compliant under Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele as Governor.
To the best of our knowledge, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele has already packaged a comprehensive Blue Print which defines in very clear terms his agenda for good governance. Of particular interest is the ease with which Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele pays attention to details in all that he does.
EXPERIENCE
The universal saying that Experience is not available for anyone to purchase in any market is quite instructive here. In this regard, for a Governor to do well in a State like Ondo where the need for economic turn-around through accelerated Industrialization has become too glaring to be ignored, the Governor must be highly experienced in facilitating Private Sector driven economic growth. We merely state the obvious here by affirming that Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele is heavily connected with players in the Private Sector. His experience and wide range of connection in the real Sector of the Economy stands out as a unique feature which the Ondo State electorate will not be in a hurry to ignore.
Interestingly, he is also an experienced Technocrat who has an enviable capacity to serve as a bridge between the Public Sector and the Private Sector.
LOYALTY
In the demonstrated opinion of Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, there is nothing like proportional loyalty. He makes it very clear that you are either loyal or disloyal to a course, a leader or constituted authority. As far as he is concerned 99.9% loyalty implies outright disloyalty and it is an act of indiscipline.
The unfortunate activities of a few leaders of the APC in the 2019 general election in Ondo State provided for Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele an opportunity to demonstrate his sense of absolute loyalty to the party. This he did very clearly and resolutely as a committed party member. But for the sustained loyalty and commitment of Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele and others like him, the APC would have suffered more devastation in that election.
DISCIPLINE
Discipline is one of the most strategic qualities of a leader who intends to lead in a manner that is 21st Century compliant. Indeed, an indisciplined leader is certain to demonstrate such unbecoming acts as disloyalty, exclusiveness, coat-turning, unbridled recklessness, back-stabbing, rebellion against constituted authority, and total disregard for extant procedures and practices.
The symptoms of indiscipline some of which are listed above very clearly underscore the incalculable damage which an indisciplined Politician can do to both his State and Political Party if elected into office as Governor.
Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele belongs to the School of thought which opines that the personality of a Politician elected into office on the platform of a Political Party most radiate very clearly, self discipline and Party discipline. This in his sincere opinion is the panacea for Intra-Party crisis which poses real threat to our fledgling Democracy.
Having served on both the Constitution Drafting Committee and the Constitution Amendment Committee of the APC, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele has utmost regard for and faith in the Constitution of the APC. It is thus clear that he cant possibly be a Party to even the slightest attempt made to violate or undermine any provision of the APC Constitution. Based on the fact that Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele can be loyal, humble and level-headed to a fault, it is absolutely not in his character to snub Constituted Authority. He is one of the Politicians in Nigeria today who hold the view that Party discipline which creates an enabling environment for Party supremacy is sine-qua-non for our Democracy to flourish.
An aspect of the personality of Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele which we find to be particularly interesting is that he is too disciplined to be disloyal. In the current circumstance in the APC, he is one of the Partys well- meaning members who take a strong exception to all the direct and tacit moves being made to embarrass the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshomole. He makes it very clear that he believes in the leadership style of our hardworking Comrade.
The situation which Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele considers to be most infuriating and repungnant both in the APC and in the entire Nigerian polity today is even the slightest attempt made to embarrass the National Leader of the Party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In the sincere opinion of Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, the leadership dexterity of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu is a colossus in itself and it should be allowed to keep flourishing for the benefit of all and sundry.
As allowed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the Governor of a State possess considerable executive powers. We sincerely see in Ifeoluwa Oyedele, sustainable capacity to resist every temptation to exercise such powers in a manner that reflects executive recklessness.
COURAGE
A leader who lacks courage is not a leader by any definition of the word. It is courage that propels a leader to do that which is right at all times, in all situations, and to all manners of people. The current situation in our Party in Ondo State and in the State at large requires the attention of a courageous and large-hearted leader like Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele. The exalted office of Governor is certain to throw up challenges which regularly call into question, the sense of courage of the Governor and how large-hearted he is. The man we recommend here is courageous and large-hearted enough to live up to such challenges.
TOLERANCE AND BROADMINDEDNESS
In a State like Ondo where there are people of diverse opinions in terms of religion and culture, a Governor should be tolerant and broadminded enough to accept the reality of unity in diversity. In this regard, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele interacts with people from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. It is evidently not in his character to discriminate against anybody on the basis of tribe, religion or for any reason whatsoever.
ACCEPTABILITY
Evidently, one factor that works in favour of Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele in a manner that readily makes him a right choice for the APC as its Flagbearer in the October 2020 Governorship Election in Ondo State is his acceptability which has a State-wide spread. His level of acceptability in all the Senatorial Districts of the State is so high and glaringly pronounced that he is undoubtedly the most preferred Aspirant in the APC. In our very humble opinion, it is clearly not plausible to ignore Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele who has become household name even in places outside his Senatorial District.
Even now that Party Primaries are still months away, a mere mention of the name Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele has continued to send jitters down the spines of people in the opposition Party!
Our findings have revealed that the main opposition Party (i.e. the PDP) in Ondo State has continued to pray that the APC takes either of the two decisions listed below in the build up to the October, 2020 Governorship election, noting that such decisions are serious political errors and they are listed in descending order of gravity:
Presentation of the incumbent Governor as the Candidate of the APC.
Presentation of any candidate aside Ifeoluwa Oyedele as the Candidate of the APC.
Already the main opposition Party see Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele as a candidate that will be practically impossible to beat by whoever emerges as its own Candidate.
Largely responsible for this unusually high degree of acceptability is the profile of Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele which is exceedingly intimidating. His profile reflects all the vital qualities which a leader needs for outstanding performance. The principle of fair play for which Ondo State people have a lot of regard also comes into effect here.
The leadership schedule of Ondo State with particular reference to elected Governors and their Senatorial Districts from 1999 to date clearly shows that it is naturally the turn of the Southern Senatorial District to produce the Governor of the State.
Today in Ondo State, all the who-is-who in APC see Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele as a rallying point who has remained consistent in carrying everyone along.
As far as the vast majority of our people are concerned in Ondo State, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele is as good as being sworn in as the next Governor of the State.
ANALYSIS OF ELECTED GOVERNORS IN ONDO STATE FROM SINCE THE CREATION OF THE STATE
The leadership schedule of Ondo State with particular reference to elected Governors and their Senatorial Districts since the creation of the State clearly shows that it is naturally the turn of the Southern Senatorial District to produce the Governor of the State. The Table given below attests to this claim.
S/N
NAME OF ELECTED GOVERNOR
PERIOD AND NUMBER OF YEARS
SENATORIAL DISTRICT
1.
Chief Micheal Adekunle Ajasin
1979 1983
(4 years)
Ondo North
2.
Chief Adebayo Adefarati
1999 2003
(4 years)
Ondo North
3.
Dr. Olusegun Kokumo Agagu
2003 2009
(6 years)
Ondo South
4.
Dr. Olusegun Rahman Mimiko
2009 2017
(8 years)
Ondo Central
5.
Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu
2017 2021
(4 years)
Ondo North
CONCLUSION
It is quite clear that the 2020 Governorship election in Ondo State is fast becoming a game of strategies and the question of which Political Party carries the day will depend largely on the capacity which the Political Party has for Strategic Thinking.
In our own little way, we have contributed to the strategic thinking required by our dear Party to up its game with the sole purpose of coasting home to victory. It is evident that our Party cannot afford the luxury of not getting it right in the choice of a Candidate who will fly the Partys flag in the 2020 Governorship election in Ondo State. We sincerely hope that our leaders will not play into the hands of opposition in this regard by allowing the effect of the action of those of our members who stabbed the Party in the back in 2019 to create an unexpected situation. As things stand today in the APC and as repeatedly clarified in this submission, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele is the most strategically positioned Aspirant to emerge as the Candidate of the Party if our Party is determined to win the confidence of the Ondo State electorate on a massive scale.
In conclusion, we wish to make it abundantly clear that our decision to make this submission is completely without the knowledge of Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, implying that the initiative is not at his prompting. Thus, we take full responsibility for our position as made clear in this submission.
Long live our great Party the APC.
Long live Ondo State
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
