REAPING THE FRUITS OF CONSISTENCY: A REFLECTION ON ADELABU's NOMINATION... TEMITOPE

Ogeni Azeez Temitope.

It is no longer news that the announcement of the Oyo State Accord governorship candidate in the last general elections, Chief Abdulwaheed Adebayo Adelabu, as the Ministerial nominee from the state sparked mixed feelings, especially among members of Oyo APC.

 To some, it was a well deserved nomination, while some others take it as a big jab below the belly. 

Some even came up with different narrations and criticisms in protestations of what some see as an aeroplane that had already departed from the runway. 

All these reactions are understandable especially within the political circle, though what happened, in this respect, is not new. 

In 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Chief Bola Ige of blessed memory, a leader of the opposition Alliance for Democracy, AD, as Minister. 

Like Bola Ige, who many said benefited from his age-long relationship with the President Olusegun Obasanjo back then, Adelabu is also believed to be reaping from his strong tie and loyalty to Asiwaju's leadership.

At his official presentation to the public as the Oyo State Accord governorship candidate at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, in the presence of the National Chairman and other members of the Accord National Working Committee, Adelabu publicly endorsed Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as his presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, despite the fact that Accord, as a political party had a candidate for the same position.

That is adequate to explain the depth of the loyalty of Adelabu to Asiwaju. Their relationship can best be likened to that between a son and his dad.

In the build up to the last APC presidential primary, President Tinubu initiated a consultation move through which traditional rulers and major stakeholders across the country were engaged, it is on record that Adelabu was always at the frontline, preparing grounds and tirelessly working for the overall success of such engagements in Oyo State. At some point he became the major face of Asiwaju in Oyo State and when the politics of presidential primary of APC was heating up and some aspirants took over some state structures of the party with the calculation of getting the highest number of delegates and their votes, many political observers and watchers in Oyo State could not but conclude that it was part of Asiwaju's persecution in the scheme of things that affected Adelabu and few others, which later led to his frustration out of the party. 

Despite being forced out of the APC, Adelabu never allowed the political differences of that moment to affect his relationship with Asiwaju. He maintained the father and son relationship and did all within his capacity to support Asiwaju's presidential ambition. In fact political analysts accused Adelabu of preventing the Accord presidential candidate from campaigning at the flagoff campaign of the Accord in Ogbomosho, despite his availability. 

Adelabu might be benefiting from his commitment today, among the many lessons one should learn from his emergence, is consistency.

 In terms of competence and capacity, Adelabu has all it takes and his administrative experience in public and private sector is second to none. As a party man, he has played a very significant role in the growth and development of progressive politics in Oyo State.

 

So far, without an iota of equivocation, President Bola Tinubu has displayed strong commitment to his resolve on inclusive government, going by Adelabu's nomination. Oyo APC should, therefore, align with the decision of Mr President and earnestly rally round Adelabu, with a view to strengthening the party ahead of 2027.

This is not the time to fight but the time to unite. A time to heal old wounds and forgive one another. A time to realigned, associate, renewed the hope and prospect of the party against the task ahead. Thank God the President is not picking from the main opposition (PDP) as we are seeing in Rivers state with the nomination Nyesom Wike. Adelabu is not a stranger to in the progressive family and politics of the state.

On the other hand, Adelabu too should pick some lessons from the experience of the past and forge a new dawn. His return to APC should be seen by all as the plus that will strengthen the party and reposition it for a better future. 

Finally, I commend Asiwaju for rewarding loyalty, to affirm the thoughts of Veronica Ruth in her quotation below.

"I belong to the people I love, and they belong to me - they, and the love and loyalty I gave them form my identity far more than any word or group ever could."