How Iragbiji/Boripe Defection Spoilt Oyetola's Dining with Mr President
Marine Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola was yesterday gleefully introducing his gubernatorial candidate, Bola Oyebamiji to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the presidential villa. The event was designed to prove that Bola is the right man for the job.
Imagine the conversation like : Mr President, our candidate, Bola is set for victory. We have Osun votes in the bag. We cannot wait for the August 15th date. So Bola is here for your blessings. Don't mind that Ademola. He is not on the ground. The home front is solid for our candidate, Mr President.
And think of Mr President nodding his head and expressing wonderful happiness. The number one citizen has security reports of happenings all over the country. He knows who is who and who controls what across each state of the Federation. So he listens to his cousin, marketing his candidate whom the president knows from security reports to be very weak on ground.
As the deceptive drama was playing out, like a supersonic missile, a major news break came out of Boripe local government, the home front of the minister. Methinks, Mr Oyetola and Mr Oyebamiji were still at the state house, Abuja when the terrible news struck like a thunderbolt.
Key caucus leaders of the APC and trusted backbone of the minister numbering about 11 were at the Government House Banquet hall,Osogbo, defecting to the Accord and announcing support for the governor's re-election. The coincidence was devastating to say the least.
Hon Kareem Afolabi is not a small political fish in Osun state. Worst still, he hails from Iragbiji, the home town of the minister. He was the chair of Iragbiji APC elders’ caucus. On such an important day, the Minister's political structure collapsed spectacularly.
The timing must have made the minister a huge joke at the Presidency. Many top presidency leaders will be amazed that this is happening on the day Oyebamiji was being showcased to the President.
What a dramatic way to confirm security reports that the minister and his candidate are not at all popular politicians in Osun state?
Political pundits previously believed Boripe local government is a no go area for the Accord and Governor Adeleke. The events of yesterday put paid to that postulation. Even Iragbiji is turning its back against Mr Oyetola and Oyebamiji.
Hear the reasons adduced by the decampees: “Adeleke has done well. He deserves a second term. His good work is all over the state. We decamped because we want to be part of the good things happening to the people of Osun state under Adeleke”
The presidency knows the truth about Adeleke's tight political grip on Osun state. The presidency is aware that Mr Oyebamiji may not even be able to deliver Irewole, his local government. Now, Boripe is largely shaken.
The defection on the day of the presidential visit is an open, undeniable confirmation that Osun is yellow and Accord in content and orientation.
Mr President got a re-confirmation of what he already knew-that his cousin,Oyetola cannot deliver the votes in Osun state and that Adeleke is convincingly the awaiting re-elected governor of Osun state.
@Public Media Interest.