Senator Hosea Agboola
In the bid to revive the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Hosea Agboola, stands out as the rallying point, writes Ademola Babalola
The infighting that typified the PDP prior to the 2011 election tore its umbrella into shreds with factional leaders singing discordant tunes while altercations raged on over the roles played by everyone in trading the party away in the 2011 election. The defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) latched on to the PDP mistakes and eventually became the beneficiary of the crisis that debilitated the party.
But with just ten months to the 2015 general election, there appears a renewed love among the gladiators who were once sworn enemies. A fresh air of understanding among
A recent meeting of the PDP elders in the state had in attendance the likes of Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, factional state party Chairmen of PDP, Alhaji Yinka Taiwo and Alhaji Kunmi Mustafa, Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Elder Wole Oyelese, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, Hon. Muraina Ajibola, Alhaja Bose Adedibu, former Speakers: Moruf Atilola and Asimiyu Alarape as well as Alhaji Rasheed Olopoenia.
These were PDP leaders who had been up in arms against one another but may have resolved to sink their differences to forge a common front and return the party to its winning streak. But it may not be uhuru yet for the umbrella party as its former governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala has consistently absented himself from the meetings.
But one noticeable feat achieved so far by the party was the fusion of its parallel executives which have coalesced into one under the Taiwo-led chairmanship. With this development, Taiwo's leadership of the party is no more in doubt as recent activities under his leadership were said to be impressive on all fronts and to all concerned.
Sources in the party said aside from Taiwo's ingenuity which led his executive to inaugurate the elders’ forum, contact and mobilization committee and Finance committee among other internal reforms which have received wide applause of all members across divides, his open-mindedness and trustworthy leadership with unbiased disposition were seen largely as healthy even prior to the fusion of the state executives.
Particularly noteworthy is that the party has sustained his present unity through its Senate Deputy Whip, Hosea Ayoola Agboola, whom the majority of members see as their face and link between Abuja and the state.
Recently, Agboola, a member of the Federal House of Representatives, Saubana Muraina Ajibola and former Senate leader and gubernatorial hopeful, Chief Teslim Folarin, claimed to have received not less than five thousand defectors into its fold.
Curiously, majority of these defectors are from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Instructively too, the governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has been receiving defectors from the umbrella party and Accord. It was the same story for ex-governor Rashidi Ladoja's Accord party which has been leading serious onslaught against Ajimobi's staying in office beyond May 29, 2015.
The manner through which each of these parties including the latest entrant into the political firmament of the state, the Labour Party, is laying claim to receiving defectors leaves much to be desired and a pointer to the fact that 'politricks' is at play.
For instance, five days after Ladoja reportedly received hundreds of defectors from PDP and APC into Accord came the news of another 1,500 defectors from APC and Accord received by Senator Agboola into the PDP. These two separate rallies held same place (Ago Are) in Atibo local government area of Oke-Ogun.
A week earlier, Agboola, Folarin and Ajibola had reportedly received 3,000 defectors in Tapa, Igangan, Igbo-Ora into the PDP following Ajibola's perceived unprecedented attractions of federal government's projects to Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North federal constituency.
Ajibola, who like Agboola has been using the platform created by these fora to inspect federal government projects and individual projects they have both facilitated to the area as well as used the opportunity to sell the party not only at the state level but also at the federal level.
Muraina, the current Chairman of the House of Representatives committee on Petroleum while appealing to the federal government for a speedy completion of the projects in his constituency expressed his appreciation to the mass of the people of the area who gave him their mandate.
He recalled how many youths from the area have benefited from the dividends of democracy in terms of job opportunities provided by the federal platform, even as he appealed to the federal government to address the problem of poor electricity supply to the area through by completing the belectricity project that is ongoing in the zone.
The speedy completion of the project, he said, would address the problem of electricity at Igangan, Igbo Ora, Eruwa, Tapa, Ayete and other major towns in Ibarapa zone, adding that the projects have endeared the federal government to the hearts of his people.
Muraina said the project included 132 KV switching station in Igbo Ora and 132/33 KV sub-station at Igangan which on completion would apart from putting a permanent end to their problem of erratic electricity supply in the area but in addition serve part of Abeokuta in Ogun state and Omi Adio in Ido local government area of Oyo state.
The lawmaker was on an assessment visit to the equipment and commended the positive disposition of the federal government to the needs of his constituents. He pledged the loyalty of his people to the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and was optimistic that the project would be completed in good time with advantages to the entire people of the area and environ.
Folarin kick-started the current flaunting of PDP's achievements in order to sell the party's capability to deliver on electoral promises with his recent on the spot assessment of projects he personally facilitated for Oyo Central senatorial zone while serving in the senate.
Folarin who is aspiring to govern the state in 2015 added his voice to the plea of his colleague (Muraina) to the federal government for the quick completion of the electricity project in the area.
An ardent supporter of Jonathan's continuity beyond 2015, Folarin has never minced words on why the people of South-west should put party inclinations apart and cast their votes for Jonathan in 2015 to enable him continue with his transformation agenda for the good of all Nigerians.
Also in the forefront of mobilising communities for the party is a 47-year-old philanthropist and another governorship hopeful, Seyi Makinde. Makinde like the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jumoke Akinjide have been distinguishing themselves as patriotic party members in order to make PDP record outstanding victories in the coming elections.
But the gist from the party has it that the quest for the gubernatorial ticket of the PDP is currently shifting the attention of leadership in the party to new quarters, as many of the aspirants now see Agboola as the new kingmaker in the State.
Rather than converge on the home of Alhaji Adeojo, the new crowned leader of the party in the state, movements of major political gladiators, particularly those jostling for the governorship ticket of the party are directed towards the homes and offices of the only PDP Senator from the South-west.
Sources close to the Senator revealed that aspirants for various political offices in the state are daily besieging Agboola for endorsement and support after realizing the pivotal roles the Oke Ogun born politician would play in the choice of the gubernatorial candidate for PDP in the state.
For instance, the position of Agboola as the highest political office holder in the state confers on him an authority on the party’s activities over others.
Second, the fact that Agboola is in control of the Oke Ogun zone where nobody has so far shown interest in the governorship race, places him on high dais in the choice of the PDP candidate. As at today, the major contenders for the ticket are from Ibadan land, Fiditi and Ogbomoso and they are Folarin, Olaosebikan, Makinde, Gbolarumi and Oyelese- all from Ibadan. Others are Babalola from Fiditi and Alao-Akala from Ogbomoso.
Sources close to the Senator confirmed that some youth aspirants and an elder have become regular faces at the home and office of the Deputy Whip of the Senate, who fell out with Alao-Akala after the 2011 election.
A watch on the Senator’s office sometime ago revealed that three of the leading contenders were at Sango, office of the oil magnate turned Senator for hours lobbying directly and indirectly for his support.
First was Folarin who came with mobile policemen and horde of political associates.
Folarin, who many believed had all the structures of the party in his kitty was said to have frantically urged Agboola to do his bidding in all the build-up to the PDP primaries including a recommendation by the Deputy Whip to the presidency on his acceptability by the party leaders and the people of Oyo State in general.
Folarin was said to be unusually generous during the visit which lasted over four hours. He also enjoys a close relationship with Agboola and the duo is believed to have come a long way.
Shortly after Folarin left, Olaosebikan quietly drove in and was ushered into the swimming pool area where he stayed with the Senator for over two hours. Olaosebikan, a journalist and a grassroots politician was a former local government chairman in Oluyole. He is said to be a long standing friend of Agboola too, having both graduated from The Polytechnic, Ibadan in 1987.
Another aspirant, who sources said was a regular caller at the Senator’s place, Oyelese also showed up. Oyelese, according to a source, was banking on a prominent member of the Senator’s inner caucus simply identified as Arewa to secure the Senator’s endorsement.
Close associates of Agboola confided in THISDAY that the Senator being a practical politician would back only the aspirant with the greatest chances of winning for the party and not anybody with heavy encumbrances.
“It is true that a number of aspirants have been thronging both here and the hotel, lobbying the Senator to support their gubernatorial ambition, you too have just seen two of them. But, I can tell you with all the confidence that our Oga will go for only the person that can conveniently win the race for the party.
“It is not about big man or money. Our Oga believes more in antecedents and local politics and I am sure he will support any of them with grassroots background and without any encumbrance both socially and in politics,” said an aide of the senator.
Agboola is seen today in the PDP as a leader with deep purse and commands wide following across the state because of his antecedents as a two-term Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state and his love for lifting the down-trodden
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