Ogun Election : Victory Against Demagogue; Gateway Of Courage, Determination

” Those who are saying on Saturday they will not let us come out, that they will do this and that, let me tell you that it will not happen. Let me tell you that the Federal Government is in charge of security, we will ensure that there is adequate security for everyone. This election will be peaceful, free and fair.

“Please note that we are going to use our index finger to vote. Let me urge us to vote APC at all levels. For the House of Assembly, let us vote APC.

“Just the way you voted President Buhari and me, your son, you should do the same for Dapo Abiodun because if we did not have votes from Lafenwa, we would not have been re-elected. Thank you so much for your support”.

The above statement was that of energetic and undaunted number two citizen of Nigeria, a professor of law, and a Redeemer by faith, his name is Yemi Osinbajo.

Osinbajo, on Thursday, March 7 stormed Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State like a colossus, and for over three hours, alongside amalgam of All Progressives Congress, APC’s members, he campaigned for the new sheriff in town, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for the Saturday gubernatorial election in the state.

The VP’s voice, body language, and connotation of his statement at Lafenwa, an epicentre of Abeokuta and an economic hub of the ancient city signalled utmost courage, tenacity, strength and robust confidence.

Like many great men of his size and frame, he exhibited a leadership spirit with potency capable of putting seeming political demagogue in check and in cold, it was indeed an assertion that devoid every phobia for failure nor desperation for success.

Osinbajo had spoken in tandem with the spirit of one of his comrades in physiognomy, the former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill,who has been described as one of the shortest world leaders ever reigned.

According to Churchill “, Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts”.

Going by the consensus of many analysts and public commentators on the underpinning factor of Osinbajo’s rare doggedness and clarity of purpose during Thursday rally in Abeokuta, the atmosphere of threats, murky political clime and repressive democratic environment created by the government in power in the state unavoidably elicited such position of firmness from the VP.

Obviously, Osinbajo has again displayed a feature of greatness , and like Churchill also posited “, The price of greatness is responsibility “.

As a matter of importance and responsibility , Osinbajo has the fundamental obligation to ensure that every political environment across the country is peaceful enough for democracy to thrive, and relentlessly guide against forces that tend to subvert people’s will by the virtue of his position as the Vice-president and a great leader of sort.

Yes, the political enclave of Ogun State, in the outgoing political dispensation is clearly instructive for any discerning Nigerian; it has convincingly taught two lessons of ‘ Humility in Power, and Courage in Struggle’.

While I will advise the outgoing governor, Ibikunle Amosun, to humbly go back to Higher School of Political Philosophy and Cognitive Thoughts, to learn intricacy of power the more, especially with regards to “Tactical Retreat” at the point of attrition , I heartily commend and congratulate Prince Dapo Abiodun and his party, the APC for exhibiting robust political will, undiluted courage and unflinching determination to create a narrative of political tutorial in Ogun State.

Sincerely, conscience remains the bedrock of every true courage, if a man wants to be celebrated, if a man wants to be applauded, if a man wants to be remembered by the power and passion of history and posterity, let him listen to his conscience “.

It is crystal clear that Prince Dapo Abiodun has receptively listened to his conscience to fight on and be resolute even in the face of suffocating civilian jackboot, repressive and autocratic forces. I hope that he will sustain the tempo of that zeal and purposefulness and walk his way into the heart of history and posterity, by standing on the side of the people always.

I have no doubt in my mind that it is a new dawn of even and speedy development for the Gateway State, and freedom for its people, as they used their ballots to oust continuity of oppression and misery, to entrench democratic ship of emancipation.

Olaniyi Ajibola

Journalist /Public Commentator