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WHAT THE 2023 ELECTIONS TAUGHT US.

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By Opeoluwa Awodugba

The 2023 general elections has virtually become a thing of the past, but one can not but ruminate on some critical observations deduced from the election.

The election was marred with controversies and counter controversies, it gave us some moments of comic relief, as Nigerians are known to always make something funny out of every situation they find themselves, generally, it was filled with the good, the bad and the ugly sides.

Thugs brutally chasing voters away with arms and ammunition, Senator Dino Melaye acting as another God’swill Orubebe at the collation center et al.

Looking beyond all the brouhahas in the election, below are some notable takeaways:

*WHO OBASANJO ENDORSEMENT HELP*

While I’m not really someone who has regards for endorsement whatsoever because what I believe is that everyone has just one vote to offer, one can not overlook the fact that politicians always see endorsement as badge of honour, hence they wear it with pride.

And without any doubt one of the most sought after endorsement by Nigerian politicians is that of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the ebora owu.

Obasanjo, the man, according to histories who turned a national project (OFN, Operation Feed the Nation) to his won personal asset is definitely a force to reckon with in Nigeria’s political landscape, he is seen as an elder statesman, but in recent elections, his endorsement during election has become paperweight.

He endorsed Atiku Abubakar of PDP in 2019 but shifted ground ahead of the 2023 and opted to back Peter Obi of labour party but didn’t change anything.

Maybe he is deliberately backing rare candidates so he would absolve himself from any failure that the eventual winner portends, because some people are still blaming him for endorsing President Buhari in 2025.

Or maybe he’s becoming a narcissist, thinking he can singlehandedly decide where the pendulum would swing in the presidential election, and whatever reason he may have, someone needs to tell baba iyabo that is endorsement nowadays is as useless as the “p” in psychology.

He endorsed Atiku in 2019, and the latter came second, this time he endorsed Peter Obi who came third, if he endorses another candidate in 4 years time maybe 4th position for such candidate, so do we still need to tell our future Presidents to stop bothering him for endorsement and let him manage his farm peacefully in Ota.

*RELIGION AND ETHNICITY IS NOT ENOUGH*

The opposition were making noise about Muslim/Muslim candidacy of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but little that that doesn’t really matter at the polling booth, and on the ethnicity.

Peter Obi was relying on getting the Igbo and Christina bloc, he would win the contest, and Atiku also thought by getting the core North and Christian bloc, he would also be the winner, but alas, they were both wrong, even at that three people can not stand in pairs (eniyan meta o le duro ni meji meji).

*ONCE AGAIN, TINUBU SHOWS HIS CLASS*

AFTER TINUBU AND Atiku had clinch the presidential ticket of their respective political parties, people were comparing the two as equal, they were citing different reasons to buttress their points, in fact a columnist for the Punch newspaper, Abimbola Adelakun wrote on the two of them and titled it “Tinubu, Atiku: Two desperados running against Nigeria”.
She likened the two of them to each other, making them look like two sides of a coin, but what people don’t know is that while Atiku is a serial loser, Tinubu is a galatico, a strategies and a proven winner, who has never lost an election in his glittering political career.

This is not the first time Atiku would lose to Tinubu by the way, in 2015, the former contested against the preferred presidential candidate of the latter in the APC primaries, and it was Tinubu’s wish that prevailed in form of the then General Muhammodu Buhari and the rest they say is history.
Maybe this time around Atiku will go back to Dubai and rest finally, having lost so many elections in his inglorious political career.

*ELECTION IS DIFFERENT FROM POLL*

One of the things that was giving the obidients too much confidence is that Obi was always taking the lead in every poll conducted prior to the election, but what they fail to understand is that why numbers don’t lie, statistics can not be used to represent a situation from top to down, and that’s what played out in the election, as the result varied significantly to what online polls were projecting.

*BUILDING BRIDGES INSTEAD OF WALLS*

You cannot build bridge with people if you’re not humble, and Tinubu exemplified humility from beginning to till the end, while he was building bridges, the obidients were building walls against anybody who doesn’t support their movement.

We all know how Tinubu helped Buhari in 2015 and 2019, but it seemed Buhari didn’t want to support Tinubu, and inspite of that, Tinubu never said any bad thing to Buhari because he needed his help to win.

During one of his campaigns, Tinubu said the first person he told about his ambition was the President, he said ” I told him I want to step in his shoes without stepping on his toes”.

But the obidients didn’t see it this, way, they see anyone who is not obidient as an enemy.

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SOLUDO: TAKING BACK ANAMBRA’S CITIES AND SLUMS By Christian ABURIME 

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In his tireless march towards a beautiful and prosperous homeland, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, of Anambra State has continued to make a compelling impact of achievements within 23 months in office.

 

This period has borne witness to the indomitable spirit of progress and transformation that permeates the very essence of Anambra’s development under his stewardship.

 

At the nucleus of the administration’s endeavours lies a resolute commitment to the pillars of security, law, and order, infrastructure and economic rejuvenation, human capital development, governance reforms, and the fostering of a sustainable environment. This holistic approach paints a vivid picture of a leadership dedicated to not just the present, but to sculpting a future teeming with prosperity and well-being for the citizens of Anambra.

 

In the field of urban regeneration, a pivotal chapter unfolds with the establishment of the “Anambra Urban Regeneration Council” (AURC) in October 2022. A vanguard against the encroachment of ‘chaotic slums’ within our urban landscapes, the AURC stands as a tribute to the administration’s foresight and determination to reshape the very fabric of Anambra’s cities.

 

The canvas of urban regeneration is being skillfully painted across key locales, namely Okpoko, Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, and Ekwulobia. The visionary initiatives set to transpire within these urban havens are nothing short of transformative: A meticulous undertaking to reclaim proper setbacks by removing projections on streets.

 

The strategic removal and demolition of dilapidated structures, breathing new life into urban spaces. An extensive effort in desilting drainages and the establishment of robust channels to fortify against the ravages of nature. The creation of pedestrian walkways and cycling routes, fostering not just connectivity but a sense of community.

 

A commitment to the verdant embrace of nature through tree planting, street gardens, and an overall city beautification agenda. And the meticulous placement of street markings, the establishment of bus stop laybys, the installation of benches, waste bins, and various amenities to enhance the urban experience.

 

In this concerto of urban revitalization, Governor Soludo’s administration is orchestrating a harmonious blend of functionality and aesthetics. The vision extends beyond mere infrastructure to encapsulate a lifestyle that embodies the essence of progress, harmony, and civic pride.

 

As the Anambra Urban Regeneration Council meticulously charts its course, the metamorphosis of these urban landscapes promises not just a visual spectacle but a palpable improvement in the quality of life for Anambra’s residents.

 

The measure of progress being recorded by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo poses as a tribute to the transformative power of visionary leadership, where the echoes of development resonate through the very streets and alleys of Anambra State.

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MAO: The Portrait of an Achiever, Taking Kosofe to Olympian height

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One thing that sets aside Hon. Barr. Moyosore Adedoyin Ogunlewe from others are his uncommon performances.

Like a warrior, he had opened up the frontier of local government Administration by touching all the areas of social development for the good people of Kosofe.

While others are still savouring the joy of their achievements in office for the past two years, Moyosore is still very busy on the battlefield of work, trying to tie and tidy up all loose ends so as not to leave unfinished assignments. For instance, he led the coterie of Council officials to embark on street-to-street Canals and drainage clearing known as desilting.

The environmental exercise was undertaken to act as a checkmate to flood disasters coming from rain.

The desilting of drainages and canals ran across the councils from Adebayo mokuolu, Ajike Faramobi, Miyaki, Gafar Balogun, Bush to other refuse-filled drainages in other Streets and communities in the council.

MAO had equally sand-filled Miyaki street, a sprawling riverine road at Oworonshoki.
The ebullient Chairman has also stretched his arm of good gestures to the education sector where he Pledged to redesign Basic Education via reconstruction of the Public Primary schools in dire need of modern facilities and infrastructures. Purchasing of School buses and provision of instructional materials for all the pupils.

Still, on Education, the Council’s boss had for two years running been bankrolling the free GCE and Jamb enrollment forms for the indigent students in Kosofe.

His performance in the Primary Health sector was obviously above par. He bought a state-of-the-art Ambulance tagged Kosofe Care, renovated all the primary health centers and attracted Access Bank to partner with it and the collaboration led to the Building of a beautiful hospital at Oworonshoki.

His efforts in the health sector brought in international agencies (UNICEF & WHO) to launch an operation to kick out polio in Kosofe, an health care programme designed for all babies within the age bracket of 0-5 years, in addition to HVP immunization vaccine for young ladies for the prevention of Cervical cancer.

He also engaged community leaders in consultation and constructive engagement to further develop other infrastructure facilities. Moyosore has within the short space of two years, written his name on the rock of achievements, no wonder he had garnered a deluge of awards from various organizations, These awards it was said were in recognition of his sterling performances, quality representation, and selfless service which in a summary, made Kosofe to be redesigned.

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When will Osun change voting pattern?

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By Opeoluwa Awodugba

Since the election cycle of governorship seat in Osun changed by the virtue of the judgement delivered by justice Isa Ayo Salami on November 26th, 2010, the people of the state are now known to vote for the party of the incumbent Governor from top to down, given little or no room for opposition party.

Such scenario was first experienced in the 2011 general elections when the people of the state voted for the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in virtually all the elective posts, as a matter of fact and as a matter of fact, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the candidate of the party did not win in any other state outside of Osun, not even in his own state.

One would have thought the 2011 polls was due to the popularity of the then governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, but subsequent elections have proven otherwise.

In the recently concluded Presidential election, out of the 6 states in the South West, Osun is the only one won by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and there’s no better explanation for that apart from maintaining the status quo of voting along incumbency line.

Also, in the national assembly, jt was a walkover as the PDP swept all the 3 senatorial and 9 house if representatives seats in the state.

While one should without prejudice acknowledge that PDP fielded some notable candidates whose victories were deservedly secured due to their track records, the likes of Ajagunla Olubiyi-Fadeyi, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, Honorable Busayo Oluwole One are very popular and their victories didn’t come as a surprise to many, however, hon. Lawrence Babatunde Ayeni, the lawmaker representing ijesha south, federal connstitincy has proven to be a true representative of the people, but his only sin is that he was contesting under the wrong party (APC) and his good works have been forgotten by his constituents,as he was also swept away by the incumbency syndrome and that is to tell us that not all the elections were won based on competency, but some were won just based on which political party one is contesting from.

The climax of this thought provoking incident is the just concluded house of assembly elections in which PDP won 25 out of 26 seats in the legislative chamber of the state, leaving the APC with only one.

Well, I don’t know much about politics but I don’t think a legislative house with only one opposition member is a good omen for our democracy.

While some may argue that the rulling party dominating the legislative arm of government will aid easy and swift passage of bills and everyone will be on the same page, but based on precedence, one can say the lawmakers will like be an extended arm of executive and acting just as rubber stamp, anyways I hope I’m wrong with the presumption.

Congratulations to all the winners, they should see their victories as temporal and a call to serve the people because 4 years is a very short period of time and before you know it we’re in another election period, also to the candidates that lost, let them take the defeat in good faith, learn their lessons maybe they can have a better luck next time, but as it seems for now, the electorates in Osun don’t believe in the popular saying that variety is the spice of life.

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