Osun Election: One State, Many Languages By Rotimi Makinde

“The river that feeds one village may not feed the next.”

Every town in Osun has its own winning formula. You only need to know yours especially if you are a man of character, not a commercial politician.

What wins in Osogbo will not win in Ile-Ife. That’s where strategy begins.

OSOGBO.

A civil-servant dominated town.
It votes stability. It votes welfare. It votes dignity of labor and promises that pay salaries.

Yes, it’s cosmopolitan — but its heartbeat is the civil service. People register during working hours and listen to radio when elections approach.

ILE-IFE.
A traditional town.

Almost everyone here is a politician in one way or the other. If you’re not a teacher, or you don’t work in OAUTH or OAU, then you are a Loogun, Lorimode, Loodoko Sooko and a title holder with customised plate number. You expect respect and a visit that must honour you, you must have sympathy for a party and share in the pains of the community.

Ife people don’t leave their town for farming. They play host to those they can influence during elections.

They listen to heritage, to the throne, to elders, and to values that have stood for centuries.Ife people do not joke with their monarchs especially the throne of Oduduwa.
Here, respect is currency and history is the ballot.

“The drum for the market is not the drum for the palace.”

You don’t campaign in Osogbo the way you campaign in Ife. Door to door and one set up to the other is compulsory.

In Ife, you move from compound to compound and tell them what you have for their community, for their sons and daughters.
You don’t speak to a clerk the same way you speak to a chief.

Wisdom is knowing which door to knock, and with what voice.

Everything is not money. Intimidation works in some places. Persuasion and humility open doors in others.

If 51% is a pass mark somewhere, in Ife the final announcement crowns the victory.

This is why we must study the terrain. Town by town. Ward by ward. Whom they respect and love must be in the front and not those with bad pedigree.
Set strategies that fit, not strategies that shout.

Generosity alone does not turn to votes. Humility does.

And in Alh. Bola Oyebamiji, we have a man of clear difference.
A man who understands both ledger and legacy.

A man who can speak to the civil servant in Osogbo bow to Ataoja, convince him of his sound education, promise to complete all outstanding jobs and to continue to uplift the state capital, maintain good relationship with all respected elders and illustrious sons and daughters of Oroki and still bow with dignity in Ife.

“When you have a driver who knows every pothole on the road, you don’t fear the journey.”

Osun needs direction. Osun needs Bola Oyebamiji.

Let’s study. Let’s plan. Let’s win.

Disclaimer: This piece represents the opinion of the writer not that of CityMirrorNews