ONE unique feature that shaped politics in Kwara State at the beginning of this year was the brazen desire of opposition elements to re-write the political history of the state.It was a gradual build up of what was clearly a political disagreement in the Saraki family, but which was initially denied.But the 'rift' eventually broke out when Olooyee, Olusola Saraki announced his declaration for a new political party, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN). The declaration made at his political Square Ile Loke, Ilorin few weeks to the Governorship polls to witness a major threat to the firm grip of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) on the state's political landscape.Olooyee, in the modern political history of the state was never noted for losing any electoral duel; hence it was difficult to conjecture the scenario where ACPN did not form the current government in the state.The outgoing governor, citing moral grounds had insisted that his biological sister, Gbemisola Saraki would never succeed him as governor of the 44 years old state. Besides, some Islamic clerics had seen the emergence of a female governor as sacrilegious to Islamic faith. The latter view however sharply divided the clerics' population in the ancient town as some of the religious leaders believed that a woman could effectively become a governor.The older Saraki however pitched his tent with his daughter, describing her as a better politician who would lead his people to the Promised Land. Besides, he said the lady would not betray him, having had some bitter experiences in the past with some of those he had supported to be governors.At the heat of this controversy was the popular statement made by Olooyee that, 'I am not asking my daughter to come and be your Imam or Ladani, this is a constitutional issue and under the constitution of Nigeria, nothing prevents a woman from becoming the governor of a state. You should not also forget that I am a Moslem too, so I know what I am saying.'Despite sporadic violent clashes between overzealous supporters, the PDP and the ACPN, some political analysts believed the outgoing Governor and his sister were playing political games.ACPN with the symbol of a squirrel had commenced rugged campaigns along the exterior parts of the state, conceding the interior to the ruling PDP. The candidate of the PDP in the election Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed was initially touted as 'a spoiler,' who would at the eleventh hour withdraw his candidature to give Gbemisola easier passage.Then the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) emerged as another major opposition in the state's politics. The slogan then was that the leader of the party Senator Bola Tinubu had listed Kwara among those to be captured by the ACN. The recent exploits of the party in such states as Edo, Ekiti, Lagos, and Osun did not make any political analyst to doubt the alleged intention of the former Governor of Lagos state.Indeed if the organisation of campaign rallies would serve as a veritable measure for the success of an election it would not have been out of place to have given the elections to the ACN governorship candidate in Kwara, Dele Belgore SAN. His campaigns were regarded as unprecedented in terms of the capacity crowd and the displays in the sky by an aircraft the slogan, E Dibo Yin Fun Dele Belgore (Cast Your Votes for Dele Belgore).The re emergence of Gbenga Olawepo on the scene as the governorship candidate of the Democratic People's Party (DPP) also gave voters a wider choice to make.The political landscape became so enlarged that it was possible for siblings to belong to different political parties, just as you could see a pastor or an Imam sharing different political views and ideologies from their followers, the development considered 'strange' to the political terrain dominated by Olooyee for over 30 years.But despite these build ups to the elections and in comparison with happenings in other states of the federation, Kwara State retained its peaceful nature, especially when Bukola ordered non-usage of invectives against the ACPN in all the campaigns of the PDP.At the polls, the prevailing peace pervaded and the rest is now history. The PDP won in 15 out of the existing 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs), conceding victory to ACN only in Offa LGA. Ahmed now newly elected Governor of the state had to commence prompt reconciliation moves just as Bukola was alleged to have traveled on many occasions with Ahmed overseas 'to beg for forgiveness' from Olooyee, for disagreeing with the politician during the elections.Olooyee later conceded his first modern day electoral defeat to his son, making a public declaration of his supports for Ahmed's administration. At the forum were dramatist personae such as, the incumbent Governor, his predecessors, Bukola and Shaaba Lafiagi, Dr. Femi Ogunsola, Kayode Towoju, Lola Ashiru and Amas Jida.Olooyee urged his ACPN members to put the party and its ideologies in abeyance. For him all the ACPN members should go back to the PDP, declaring in the process the no victor and no vanquished slogan. Even though, some PDP loyalists had initially disagreed with the realignment, the Secretary of the Party, Prince Yemi Afolayan assured all of adequate protection.The realignment seems good for the Sarakis and the PDP, but many political observers think it led to the seeming weakening of the opposition forces built pre April polls. This could be true, especially if one considers the series of decamping into the PDP since the April polls.The Governorship Candidate of the All Nigerian People's Party (ANPP), Alhaji Kahleel Bolaji had followed in the footsteps of the ACPN members. Besides, some members of the DPP, minus their governorship candidate (Olawepo) had equally become members of the PDP, thus leaving only the ACN as the only visible opposition party.In fact, the state's politics is at present gradually becoming a single party affair, save for ACN's resolute pursuit of its petition at the upper tribunal, against the PDP candidates.
Click here to read full news..
