The next governorship candidate of our party in Lagos State must be someone who has the capacity to lead and promote our general wellbeing. He must be a product of popular democratic process as required by the provisions of the Constitution of our party and the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and not someone imposed by subterfuges of one or few party leaders. When the latter is the case, we bear the brunt if the new governor dances not to the tune of the people but rather than that of the impostors and when he refuses to dance like a puppet, we are inundated with silly campaigns of disloyalty.

In Osun, Ogbeni Aregbesola promoted the right of all to religion and conscience. His unifying politics has rather united the people to the extent that the divisive politics of religious bigotry promoted by the enemies of progress and PDP leaders in Osun could not secure victory for them. While they charged Aregbesola with funny allegations of being an Islamic fanatic, they at the same time claimed he was an idolater for allowing traditional religionists to practise their religion. Definitely the two allegations cannot be correct as you are either one or the other.

Unfortunately for them, Aregbesola is neither of the two. His developmental policies are meant to benefit all without any form of discrimination. This has promoted the consciousness of the masses beyond the mundane subterfuge of religious or township prejudices. The outcome was the huge sense of unity displayed by the electorate before, during and after the election in which victory assured was finally delivered to the man of the people.

Too much for this self-acclaimed country that has failed to transit beyond the status of a mere “geographical expression”!

CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to prevent rigging the on-coming general elections if we apply most of the principles outlined above. In places where we are in government as a party, it behoves us to have ensured the implementation of beneficial policies before the election. The same way it behoves any leader in power on the platform of any party to have implemented popular policies to endear his party to the people. Where we are not yet in government, it is our duty to ensure that our candidates parade the best credentials in terms of ability to govern with better programmes and policies.

It is also the case that our nation can only move forward where we are able to ensure the implementation of the lessons above. Before anyone would criticise Ogbeni, he must visit the State of Osun just like anyone who would criticise Chief Awolowo ought to read his books. I once alluded to Nigeria as a classic case in drama studies. We have witnessed cases of violence in State and Federal parliaments on several occasions in which the minority has suspended the majority, impeached the Speaker or the Governor as the case may be. The case of Oyo under Ladoja/Alao-Akala/Adedibu still leaves a sour taste in the mouth. As if it was an ancient story that had lost effect on the people, the minority in the Ogun State House of Assembly once claimed to have suspended the majority and impeached the Speaker to the consternation of all.

A situation where the Commissioner of Police takes orders from the Federal Government and would rather take sides with persons opposed to the Governor is quite derogatory of the image of the police. The President maintained a complacent posture all through the situation but gave active support to those who would rather let anarchy loose in order to seize governance by way of state of emergency. Why is history repeating itself?

Corruption, which Ogbeni Aregbesola is battling to minimise in Osun and by which he has been able to achieve much, has taken the centre-stage of our politico-economic life as a nation and one wonders if Nigeria is not truly a huge joke or national tragi-comedy which exudes laughter in its gargantuan failure of purposes. It is actually a comedy of errors. In some corners of the country, criminals who ought to be languishing in jail are the ones running the affairs of State and are even running for governorship positions. At times, declarations by the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, could be quite rudely intriguing that one wonders if anyone is actually running the economy. At times, it seems the leaders are just there to loot the resources at all levels while the populace watches as if in a theatre of lavish entertainment.

The philosophy of Ogbeni transcends mere counterfeit. The application of the seven lessons above would change the destiny of this country. How I wish the likes of Aregbesola could be opportune to steer the affairs of this country, as I know, as the poet would say, there is still hope.
Thanks.

Muiz Adeyemi Banire (Ph.D). Banire is the chief legal adviser to the All Progressives Congress