OYO — It is becoming increasingly clear that the stakeholders pushing for the governorship candidacy of Senator Sharafadeen Alli under APC in Oyo State are not being strategic enough, and their approach to the ongoing internal wrangling within the party appears outdated and, as a matter of fact, disastrous.
The crisis rocking the party after the controversial primaries across the local governments, federal constituencies, senatorial districts, and even the state constituencies requires careful and deliberate political management. While one must give credit to them for consistently having audiences with President Bola Tinubu, their inability to take full advantage of those golden opportunities before the President becomes much busier, and perhaps tired of the repeated visits, is becoming a serious concern.
Why are they engaging in these repeated visitations with little or no strategic value, especially when the recent Sallah visit could have been enough to settle many scores between Mr. President and the aggrieved top aspirants, and also strengthen the party in Oyo State?
OYO: Reps Candidate, Olaoniye Hails Alli’s Emergence as APC Guber Candidate
Are they aware that repeating the same faces with no meaningful difference in agenda before the President may soon begin to look suspicious and inappropriate? As a matter of fact, it does not even appeal to ordinary common sense. Tinubu may soon ask the obvious question: are they the only leaders capable of delivering for the party in the state?
The last visit, in particular, raised serious concerns. Why were Senator Teslim Folarin, the Renewed Hope Ambassador of the state; Senator AbdulFatai Buhari, a third-term senator and governorship aspirant; Barr. Akeem Agbaje, party stalwart and governorship aspirant; and several others—with the exception of the immediate past Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu—sidelined from such an important engagement with the President? With direct appeals from all sides by President Bola Tinubu and an opportunity for genuine conversations, the party could have been more united, stronger, and much more hopeful of victory than this open sidelining and the continued treatment of important stakeholders as though they are irrelevant or inconsequential.
I honestly do not know what political standing the state party chairman will be relying on during any reconciliation process that may eventually be constituted. And what exactly will Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle and Senator Hamzat Adeseun be saying to the key stakeholders they continue to sideline?
Truthfully, the collective strength of those constantly showing faces around the President from Oyo State cannot match the political weight and grassroots influence of those assumed to be aggrieved. That is the reality. Why not focus on strengthening the party instead of allowing actions that continue to diminish it?
I am sure the President and his caucus are paying attention to the current state of APC in Oyo and the attitudes of those playing the political game.
Same faces. Same agenda. Same rhetoric.
But where exactly is the move for reconciliation in Oyo APC on the table of Mr. President?
The stakeholders involved should stop wasting these visitation privileges before it becomes too late.
Oyo APC needs reconciliation, inclusion, and strategic political engagement—not repeated visits without meaningful results.
Akintunde Yusuf writes from Ibadan.
