By Sola Olatunji
The birds are singing at every nook and cranny of the State. And the climate is fascinatingly showing signs of good omen. There is a collective hope that very soon there will be light after the darkest political tension that has enveloped the socio -political space of this beautiful and alluring State, tagged, the Sunshine State in the last 10 months.
This is official! Ondo State is on the march again and barring any last-minute changes, the political behemoth, a lion and global juggernaut, Chief Alexander Olusola Oke, will appreciate God for surviving a ghastly motor accident on August 26th, 2023 along Ondo-Ore Road.
It could only have been someone whose entire soul is filled with God’s Grace that can survive such fatal accident. I also share in this spiritual philosophy that once you are on a mission ordained by God, no amount of evil machinations can deter you from fulfilling your divine assignment before you depart this world.
Periscoping the political landscape of Ondo in 2024, the crystal ball is fantastically pointing in the direction of Chief Alexander Olusola Oke ,a trail blazer, grassroots politician extraordinaire. Oke is one politician who knows the names of all the communities in Ondo State at his finger tips. He is one visionary leader who has a date with history as the next occupant of Alagbaka House as the successor to Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu SAN when his tenure expires.
Although, 19th December, has been slated for jnter-denominational thanksgiving services at the Dome, Igbatoro Road, Akure, the fact remains that if everything works as planned, the event may snowball into a full blown declaration of interest for 2024 gubernatorial election in Ondo State by Chief Oke, if his friends and associates are able to prevail on him that day.
No doubt, the entry of this Ilaje-born Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) with incredible credential will ultimately change the political temperature of Ondo State, ahead of the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary election, early in 2024.
This political enigma of our time is an amiable personality whose philosophy in politics is defined by his consistency and social networking pedigree across the state with unmatchable legendary.
I know that a lot of my kinsmen and women are also in the race, but let me use this opportunity to apologise to them if they find my current disposition offensive.
The reality is that politics is about popularity contests and not ethnic jingoism. It’s about social networking across the 18 local governments and 33 LCDA areas. It’s about the grassroots appeal, which shouldn’t be mistaken for any emergency exercise. It’s beyond any social media propaganda as real voters are not on social media. It’s a game of numbers, and if by today we are set for the primary election contest, Chief Oke looks good to coast home to victory. The man already has the numbers. He is loved across party lines in Ondo State.
It’s a serious project. I have shared close affinity with this man over the years and I have no hesitation in my mind that he is the best for the job at the moment.
The policy of his government will be organically generated, which would undoubtedly manifest social chemistry between the government and the citizens. And that will ultimately guarantee good governance
He is a man with great vision to convert the large expanse of arable land across the state into the Agro-economy to enable us to attain food sufficiency level and also export our cash crops for financial gains. This would also make our unemployed youths productive and ultimately address social menaces associated with our youth population.
This man of appealing personality will certainly explore the limitless opportunities available in the blue economy within our domain for the collective benefits of our people. He will remodel the economy of the state that has continued to be civil service oriented for ages and recalibrate it on the trajectory of entrepreneurship.
He will move the state from where the current governor stops and take it to the next level where good governance in terms of physical infrastructure and welfare of the citizens will be uppermost.
Egbon, as I fondly call him, is a man of social standing yet an embodiment of culture. He is blessed with many chieftaincy titles across the state and parades a high sense of humour, capacity, credibility and humility.
Born in Ilowo, a coastal town in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oke has paid his dues in the political calculation of Nigeria. He is an extreme case of from grass to grace having engaged in subsistence high sea fishing, between 1963 and 1973..
Yet, his quest for knowledge compelled him to abandon fishing to the amazement of his fishermen colleagues and returned to school and eventually became a celebrated lawyer as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.He was later elected into the House of Representatives in 1992 to represent Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency. Before this, he was appointed a member, Ondo State Internal Revenue Board. In 2000, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria appointed and inaugurated him as a commissioner representing Ondo State on the Governing Board of NDDC where he served meritoriously for four years.
In 2005, he was appointed by the President as member of the National Political Reform Conference. While there, the Ondo State Government appointed him as the Chairman and CEO of Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) a position he held until he voluntarily resigned in October, 2006 to run for PDP ticket for Ondo South Senatorial District.
My passionate appeal to the good people of Ondo State is that this amiable personality who is loved across party lines, should be encouraged in all ramifications.
He is the best man for the job this time around. Let’s support him.
Otunba Sola Olatunji, Chairman, Ikale Heritage Development Association, IHDA, writes from Lagos
