Ogbeni Aregbesola: A Metaphor For Selfless Service
Ogbeni Aregbesola: A Metaphor For Selfless Service
By Igbotako Nowinta
‘‘Ogbeni Governor has exercised real power and achieved changes that
dwarf the moon. Propelled by the extraordinary and moving
determination of the people of Osun state who craved for change and
democratic prosperity, Mr Governor has shown that he is indeed loaded
with destiny,possibilities and purpose. For Mr Governor of the state
of Osun, the best is yet to come’’
Quoted in Nowinta's book: OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA(In the foot steps of
Obafemi Awolowo) page 107.
As a very close watcher of the activities of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,
Governor of the state of Osun, l had long concluded that he will
definitely come out triumphant from the Osun State Governorship
Election Petition Tribunal, where Senator Oyiola Omisore had dragged
him to shortly after he won the August 9th 2014 Osun State
Governorship Election convincingly.
As a veteran human rights and prodemocracy activist, who has written
profusely on political accountability and good governance in Nigeria
and elsewhere,i was cock sure that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola will rubbish
and disgrace Senator Iyiola Omisore, who contested the Osun State
Governorship Election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP).
As a university trained Peace and Conflict Resolution Practitioner, I
have read between the lines and was absolutely sure too, that the Osun
State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal will consign the
fraudulent prayers of Senator Iyiola Omisore and his dubious
abracadabra supporters to the trash can of history, because i knew
Ogbeni Aregbesola, as the undisputed tribune of the people of Osun
State was overwhelmingly popular given his stark pragmatic approach to
leadership and governance.
As a serial researcher and Executive Director of Nigerian Good
Governance Research Centre, where we try to spotlight those Governors
or public office holders, who are bringing positive democratic
dividends to the greatest number of the masses in their respective
states or constituencies,our choice has never been faulted. When we
decided to do a political biography on Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,we knew
he deserved it absolutely. Today, we have been vindicated!
In June 2014, during the thick and thin of the Osun State Governorship
Election campaigns, i visited Ogbeni Aregbesola in his office in
Oshogbo, where he subsequently invited me to attend his campaign
programme in Ede. What i saw in Ede perplexed and convinced me beyond
reasonable doubt that he was a candidate of the masses of Osun State.
After the visit i did a piece-‘A RIDE WITH AREGBESOLA’, in it i
predicted that it would be an upset of the century if Senator Omisore
won.
My prediction became a stunning reality as Ogbeni Aregbesola inflicted
a devastating and humiliating defeat on Senator Omisore and his PDP
desperadoes in Osun state on August 9th 2014.
During the proceedings of the Osun State Governorship Election
Petition Tribunal, i became disturbed and angered by the way Omisore
and his hirelings were carrying themselves; trying to preempt, distort
glaring facts and disturb the orderly sitting. So, i came out with a
piece-‘LEAVE AREGBESOLA ALONE’. In that article i declared that no
amount of black propaganda, browbeating or wicked malicious political
mudslinging against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state
and Ogbeni Aregbesola will make the Osun State Governorship Election
Petition Tribunal turn impeachable facts on the ground against Ogbeni,
because he indeed won the election without any iota of doubt.
I always wonder why most politicians in Nigeria will always try to get
victory through the back door or by hook or crook, even in the face
of mountainous evidence against them; that they are not popular in
their respective locality or state.
How could an Iyiola Omisore have dreamt of upstaging or dethroning a
formidable personality and character like Ogbeni in Osun state! Gone
are the days unlimited brazen rigging and reckless manipulation of
election results were permitted, when General Olusegun Obasanjo was at
the helm of affairs at Aso Rock Presidential Palace in Abuja. Then a
guy like Omisore was in prison in connection with the brutal murder of
late Chief Bola Ige (former minister of Justice & Attorney General of
the Federation); and yet citizen Omisore was declared winner of
senatorial election in Osun state?
On one of my recent visit to Osun state, i sampled public opinion, and
discovered that since the creation of Osun state, no one political
leader had embarked on the kind of gigantic projects spread all over
the senatorial districts like Ogbeni Aregbesola.
What does Iyiola Omisore really wants; governorship at all cost even
in the face of herculean odds? Few days ago his counsel said they
will still appeal the excellent verdict marvelously delivered by
Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, Chairman of the Osun state Governorship
Election Petition Tribunal.
The likes of Senator Omisore should be told to wait for another
opportunity to take a shot at the Government House Oshogbo, certainly
not when a giant like Ogbeni is still around. Perhaps, General Charles
Airhiavbere of the PDP in Edo state should take him on some tutorials
why he should abandon his race against time; his wild goose chase,
because General Airhiavbere who lost to Comrade Oshiomhole in the 2012
Edo state Governorship Election, tried every thing possible (despite
passionate pleas from the revered Bini monarch to drop his case at the
tribunal, he stubbornly refused) and still went on to lose
disgracefully, because Oshiomhole was the choice of the people.
In her well researched and balanced judgment on Friday 7th, 2015 in
Oshogbo, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime declared that the
petitioner(Senator Omisore) failed miserably to prove his allegations
against Ogbeni Aragbesola in his petitions. She went on to affirmed
that Ogbeni Aregbesola obtained 394,684 votes as duly declared by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while Iyiola Omisore
got 292,74.
Without sentiments attached, the Nigerian Good Governance Research
Centre, which yours sincerely is its Executive Director, sees Ogbeni
Rauf Aregbesola as a metaphor for selfless service. That is the single
reason he has been able to overshadow and overcome every known tricks
and unknown spirited efforts displayed by Senator Omisore, before,
during and after the Osun State Gubernatorial Election; and with the
recent tug of war during the sitting of the Osun State Governorship
Election Petition Tribunal in Oshogbo.
As Nigerians we must never forget where the activities of political
buccaneers, economic vampires and democratic bandits have placed the
Nigerian nation. Therefore, every and any polls at any point in time
in the Federal Republic affords every responsible citizen the greatest
opportunity to avert another session of catastrophic democratic rule.
I congratulate Ogbeni Aregbesola for his recent triumph at the
tribunal. This victory is a lesson to all public office holders to
always have it at the back of their minds that politics is nothing but
genuine accountability in governance.
All said and done. Ogbeni Aregbesola has captivated the masses of Osun
state with his charm, enthusiasm and passion for democratic dividends.
Indeed, Ogbeni Aregbesola is a metaphor for selfless service.
Nowinta wrote, OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA (In the foot steps of Obafemi Awolowo
By Igbotako Nowinta
‘‘Ogbeni Governor has exercised real power and achieved changes that
dwarf the moon. Propelled by the extraordinary and moving
determination of the people of Osun state who craved for change and
democratic prosperity, Mr Governor has shown that he is indeed loaded
with destiny,possibilities and purpose. For Mr Governor of the state
of Osun, the best is yet to come’’
Quoted in Nowinta's book: OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA(In the foot steps of
Obafemi Awolowo) page 107.
As a very close watcher of the activities of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,
Governor of the state of Osun, l had long concluded that he will
definitely come out triumphant from the Osun State Governorship
Election Petition Tribunal, where Senator Oyiola Omisore had dragged
him to shortly after he won the August 9th 2014 Osun State
Governorship Election convincingly.
As a veteran human rights and prodemocracy activist, who has written
profusely on political accountability and good governance in Nigeria
and elsewhere,i was cock sure that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola will rubbish
and disgrace Senator Iyiola Omisore, who contested the Osun State
Governorship Election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP).
As a university trained Peace and Conflict Resolution Practitioner, I
have read between the lines and was absolutely sure too, that the Osun
State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal will consign the
fraudulent prayers of Senator Iyiola Omisore and his dubious
abracadabra supporters to the trash can of history, because i knew
Ogbeni Aregbesola, as the undisputed tribune of the people of Osun
State was overwhelmingly popular given his stark pragmatic approach to
leadership and governance.
As a serial researcher and Executive Director of Nigerian Good
Governance Research Centre, where we try to spotlight those Governors
or public office holders, who are bringing positive democratic
dividends to the greatest number of the masses in their respective
states or constituencies,our choice has never been faulted. When we
decided to do a political biography on Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,we knew
he deserved it absolutely. Today, we have been vindicated!
In June 2014, during the thick and thin of the Osun State Governorship
Election campaigns, i visited Ogbeni Aregbesola in his office in
Oshogbo, where he subsequently invited me to attend his campaign
programme in Ede. What i saw in Ede perplexed and convinced me beyond
reasonable doubt that he was a candidate of the masses of Osun State.
After the visit i did a piece-‘A RIDE WITH AREGBESOLA’, in it i
predicted that it would be an upset of the century if Senator Omisore
won.
My prediction became a stunning reality as Ogbeni Aregbesola inflicted
a devastating and humiliating defeat on Senator Omisore and his PDP
desperadoes in Osun state on August 9th 2014.
During the proceedings of the Osun State Governorship Election
Petition Tribunal, i became disturbed and angered by the way Omisore
and his hirelings were carrying themselves; trying to preempt, distort
glaring facts and disturb the orderly sitting. So, i came out with a
piece-‘LEAVE AREGBESOLA ALONE’. In that article i declared that no
amount of black propaganda, browbeating or wicked malicious political
mudslinging against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state
and Ogbeni Aregbesola will make the Osun State Governorship Election
Petition Tribunal turn impeachable facts on the ground against Ogbeni,
because he indeed won the election without any iota of doubt.
I always wonder why most politicians in Nigeria will always try to get
victory through the back door or by hook or crook, even in the face
of mountainous evidence against them; that they are not popular in
their respective locality or state.
How could an Iyiola Omisore have dreamt of upstaging or dethroning a
formidable personality and character like Ogbeni in Osun state! Gone
are the days unlimited brazen rigging and reckless manipulation of
election results were permitted, when General Olusegun Obasanjo was at
the helm of affairs at Aso Rock Presidential Palace in Abuja. Then a
guy like Omisore was in prison in connection with the brutal murder of
late Chief Bola Ige (former minister of Justice & Attorney General of
the Federation); and yet citizen Omisore was declared winner of
senatorial election in Osun state?
On one of my recent visit to Osun state, i sampled public opinion, and
discovered that since the creation of Osun state, no one political
leader had embarked on the kind of gigantic projects spread all over
the senatorial districts like Ogbeni Aregbesola.
What does Iyiola Omisore really wants; governorship at all cost even
in the face of herculean odds? Few days ago his counsel said they
will still appeal the excellent verdict marvelously delivered by
Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, Chairman of the Osun state Governorship
Election Petition Tribunal.
The likes of Senator Omisore should be told to wait for another
opportunity to take a shot at the Government House Oshogbo, certainly
not when a giant like Ogbeni is still around. Perhaps, General Charles
Airhiavbere of the PDP in Edo state should take him on some tutorials
why he should abandon his race against time; his wild goose chase,
because General Airhiavbere who lost to Comrade Oshiomhole in the 2012
Edo state Governorship Election, tried every thing possible (despite
passionate pleas from the revered Bini monarch to drop his case at the
tribunal, he stubbornly refused) and still went on to lose
disgracefully, because Oshiomhole was the choice of the people.
In her well researched and balanced judgment on Friday 7th, 2015 in
Oshogbo, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime declared that the
petitioner(Senator Omisore) failed miserably to prove his allegations
against Ogbeni Aragbesola in his petitions. She went on to affirmed
that Ogbeni Aregbesola obtained 394,684 votes as duly declared by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while Iyiola Omisore
got 292,74.
Without sentiments attached, the Nigerian Good Governance Research
Centre, which yours sincerely is its Executive Director, sees Ogbeni
Rauf Aregbesola as a metaphor for selfless service. That is the single
reason he has been able to overshadow and overcome every known tricks
and unknown spirited efforts displayed by Senator Omisore, before,
during and after the Osun State Gubernatorial Election; and with the
recent tug of war during the sitting of the Osun State Governorship
Election Petition Tribunal in Oshogbo.
As Nigerians we must never forget where the activities of political
buccaneers, economic vampires and democratic bandits have placed the
Nigerian nation. Therefore, every and any polls at any point in time
in the Federal Republic affords every responsible citizen the greatest
opportunity to avert another session of catastrophic democratic rule.
I congratulate Ogbeni Aregbesola for his recent triumph at the
tribunal. This victory is a lesson to all public office holders to
always have it at the back of their minds that politics is nothing but
genuine accountability in governance.
All said and done. Ogbeni Aregbesola has captivated the masses of Osun
state with his charm, enthusiasm and passion for democratic dividends.
Indeed, Ogbeni Aregbesola is a metaphor for selfless service.
Nowinta wrote, OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA (In the foot steps of Obafemi Awolowo
Comments