…..Condemns attacks on candidates
As the gubernatorial election in Osun State draws nearer, a civil society group “The Osun Masterminds” has advised the electorate to vote for candidates based on their track record.
They made this known at contained in a statement signed the group’s director, Dr. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli on Wednesday.
Speaking at a Press Conference in Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Wednesday, the group’s Executive Director, Dr Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli noted that the group’s advocacy is based on the need to ensure that the future of the state is safeguarded through all-encompassing political participation guided by respect for the rule of law and concern for the growth, development and posterity of the state.
“We have therefore consistently advised the people of Osun to pay close attention to the track record of each of the candidates presenting themselves for election. Osun is at a time in her history, when we cannot afford to gamble with leadership. We cannot afford to hand the State over to charlatans at this critical period.
“Citizens must therefore interrogate the plans and programmes of each of the candidates and decide the best person in whose hands they feel the State will be safest. It is not a time for irrelevant emotions; it is a time for deep reflection and rejection of any candidate that lacks the understanding of the issues at hand and the best way to manage them”, he added
The group also condemned an alleged attack on the home of Rt. Hon. Lasun Yussuff, the Labour Party Governorship candidate and a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in the state.
It, however, said it is “preposterous and rather unfortunate” that the Honourable Yussuff was quick to point accusing fingers at another candidate.
“Such hasty and still-baseless accusations make it easy to think the entire narrative was hatched by him to discredit and blackmail another candidate.
“We are concerned that a few days to the election, issues like this are cropping up in the polity, needlessly supercharging the atmosphere and making it unsafe for ordinary citizens of the State,” the statement read in part.
Osun Masterminds subsequently commended all relevant agencies involved in the planning and execution of the July 16 Governorship election in the state and pleaded with them to remain neutral and committed only to the true tenets of democracy.
See Full Statement Below
TEXT OF A STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE OSUN MASTERMINDS FOR JULY 2022
Gentlemen of the Press
Concerned Osun Citizens here present
Ladies and Gentlemen
Recall that The Osun Masterminds has been at the forefront of advocacy for proper actions from all stakeholders, going into the July 16 Governorship election in the State. We have in the past advocated for responsible politicking, issue-based campaigns and patriotic participation from citizens.
Our advocacy has been based on the need to ensure that the future of the State is safeguarded through all-encompassing political participation guided by respect for the rule of law and concern for the growth, development and posterity of our dear Osun State. We have in the light of this, delivered several State of the State addresses to address several issues that had been in the polity from time to time.
The July 16 Governorship election being nearer to us than ever, we are again compelled to address another State of the State address to advocate for proper behaviour from political gladiators and citizens alike, at this critical time in the journey of our State.
Accusations and Counter-Accusations
We have followed with keen attention, the ongoing spate of accusations and counter-accusations among the political class, particularly the camps of Governorship candidates.
Some days ago, the home of Rt. Hon. Lasun Yussuff, the Labour Party Governorship candidate, was reportedly besieged by unknown gunmen who were reported to have shot sporadically for a period. Almost immediately, the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives was quoted as saying he knew that the attack was orchestrated by Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola. The Governor’s camp, through the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ismail Omipidan, has since responded to the allegations, stating that while the Governor could never have been responsible for any attack on anyone, it doubts any event of that nature ever occurred, also charging security agencies to conduct thorough investigations into the cause of the unfortunate event, if it ever occurred.
We are concerned that a few days to the election, issues like this are cropping up in the polity, needlessly supercharging the atmosphere and making it unsafe for ordinary citizens of the State.
Firstly, we condemn in its entirety, any clandestine attempt by anyone to intimidate any of the candidates. We believe that our electoral process has matured beyond such barbaric approach to winning elections. We therefore condemn the act in its entirety and urge security agencies to immediately conduct detailed investigations into the unfortunate incidence and unravel the identities of the perpetrators and their sponsors.
Secondly, we find it preposterous and rather unfortunate that Rt. Hon. Lasun Yussuff had so quickly pointed accusing fingers at another candidate when there has still not been any sort of investigation into the matter by relevant security agencies. Such hasty and still-baseless accusations make it easy to think the entire narrative was hatched by him to discredit and blackmail another candidate.
Attempts at blackmailing other candidates are as devilish as attempts to intimidate other candidates. We say with all sense of responsibility, that Rt. Hon. Yussuff’s hasty accusations are as faulty and undemocratic as the attempts by anyone to intimidate him. His rights under the law guarantee him access to security agencies in situations like this, instead of making inciting statements that may have further heightened tensions in the State. We can have a successful election without such resorts to unlawful methods.
We again urge security agencies to as a matter of urgency, investigate the reported event with the aim of unraveling the identity of the perpetrators. We also urge Rt. Hon. Lasun Yussuff to work with security agencies in this regard, instead of making such reckless accusations that will set the State on the path of anarchy.
Voter Apathy
While advocating for patriotic behaviour from political gladiators, we have also conducted several social researches to find out the readiness of the people of Osun to participate in the upcoming election.
We have however discovered, quite unfortunately, that a lot of Osun people are either afraid to participate in the election due to the tension in the atmosphere or are unwilling to participate, thinking their votes will not count anyway. We have tried our best to discourage this thinking and we use this opportunity to again call on voters in Osun to troop out and take part in the election on Saturday.
We are well aware of the deployment of over 20,000 Police personnel to secure the process. We are also aware that men of the Nigerian army will be on ground, alongside several other security agencies, to provide security for all participants in the election. Citizens therefore have a guarantee of security and can freely go and exercise their franchise.
We are also well aware of the positive advancements in the country’s electoral laws, giving birth to several innovations that will make votes count. We are convinced that INEC’s new procedures guarantee transparency of the electoral process. Citizens therefore can trust the process to reflect their true desires.
We urge all citizens of the State with valid Permanent Voters Cards to participate in the election on Saturday as it is their opportunity to influence the governance of our dear State.
The Governor Osun needs
In recent times, we have also been involved in voter education, guiding citizens of the State towards patriotic voting decisions. We believe that the current State of the affairs of Osun State imposes a certain quality of leadership on the State. A leader who will lead Osun at this sort of time, must be one with strong mental alertness, high capacity for fiscal management and a strong capacity to deliver success despite serious limitations of resources.
We have therefore consistently advised the people of Osun to pay close attention to the track record of each of the candidates presenting themselves for election. Osun is at a time in her history, when we cannot afford to gamble with leadership. We cannot afford to hand the State over to charlatans at this critical period.
Citizens must therefore interrogate the plans and programmes of each of the candidates and decide the best person in whose hands they feel the State will be safest. It is not a time for irrelevant emotions; it is a time for deep reflection and rejection of any candidate that lacks the understanding of the issues at hand and the best way to manage them.
We are aware of the narratives by supporters of some of the candidates participating in the election. Understanding the incompetence of their candidates, these supporters are spinning the narrative that if they win, they will ensure that they constitute cabinets made of accomplished individuals to run government. This is not only dangerous for our State presently as leadership demands a top-bottom approach, it is also dangerous for the future of the State as it sets a bad precedence for quality of leadership.
We must vote for candidates with proven capacity first who can provide visionary leadership and then ensure they bring on board equally capable members of cabinet when they eventually get into office. We cannot afford to vacate the need for high mental capacity in the person who would head government.
We encourage Osun people to go to the polls with this in mind – Osun requires a leader with high mental capacity and enviable track record; we handing the collective destinies of our dear State to this person and must ensure they understand the enormity of this task.
Vote Buying
It is unfortunate that at this time in the history of our State and country, a lot of citizens are still considering selling their votes. This is dangerous and we condemn it in its entirety.
We plead with citizens of Osun to kindly make the best voting decisions for their future. Taking money for votes is equal to selling our collective destinies to hawks who have nothing to offer our dear State. We all must reject the pittance they will be offering to buy our votes and decide with our clean consciences, whom we prefer to direct the affairs of our State for the next four years.
If we continue to choose right, we will all eventually get out of the poverty ravaging our society. It is impossible to get our governance right if we continue selling our votes.
Conclusion
We commend all relevant agencies involved in the planning and execution of the July 16 Governorship election in our dear State and we plead with them to remain neutral and committed only to the true tenets of democracy.
We, as a group, will continue to advocate for a better Osun on all facets.
God bless Osun State.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dr. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli
Executive Director, TOM.
