2027: Asejere Is No Disaster—Osun Central Deserves Facts, Not Facile Propaganda-Olaide Adigun
The attention of The Asejere Media Committee has been drawn to a publication by a group identifying itself as the Citizens Progressive Group (CPG), in which it described the Osun Central Accord Party senate candidate, Alhaji Ganiyu Ayobami Olaoluwa, who is popularly called Asejere, as a potential disaster and a compounded disgrace if elected a senator.
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Ordinarily, we would not dignify every political attack with a response. However, when a group attempts to discredit a candidate through sweeping condemnations and questionable generalizations under the guise of non-partisan civic engagement, it becomes necessary to set the record straight.
Our response is simple: Osun Central deserves constructive political engagement, not character assassination disguised as civic criticism.
THE QUESTION OF CREDIBILITY: WHO EXACTLY IS CPG?
The first issue demanding clarification is the identity, leadership and institutional credibility of the group behind this publication.
CPG claims to be speaking in the interest of citizens and advocating higher standards of political representation. That is a legitimate responsibility in a democracy. However, any organization that assumes the authority to pronounce a political candidate a disaster and a disgrace owes the public a duty to demonstrate its own transparency, credibility and consistency.
Who are its leaders? What are its structures? What are its records of civic engagement? What objective criteria does it apply in assessing political candidates? And has it subjected other contenders for the same senate seat to an equally rigorous examination?
These are reasonable questions, not an attempt to silence criticism.
An organization cannot convincingly demand accountability from a candidate while remaining unwilling to demonstrate accountability in its own public conduct.
If CPG is genuinely committed to issue-based politics, it should have no difficulty identifying its leadership, explaining its methodology and presenting verifiable evidence to support its conclusions.
The electorate deserves to know whether it is listening to a credible civic organisation or merely another political pressure group operating behind an obscure identity.
ASEJERE IS MORE THAN A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN
CPG’s attempt to reduce Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa’s candidacy to an alleged absence of legislative preparedness is, at best, an incomplete assessment of the man and his political journey.
Asejere is not an unknown figure suddenly appearing on the political scene in search of relevance. His political experience, grassroots connections, organizational capacity and previous public service are part of the considerations that have brought him to the forefront of the senate contest.
His experience as a former local government chairman,, Former Commissioner for Rural development and Community affairs, Former Federal Board member and party chairman, as referenced in public discussions surrounding his candidacy, deserves serious and objective examination.
Public service should be assessed through evidence of responsibility, performance, leadership, accessibility and the ability to understand the needs of the people.
The Senate requires individuals who can legislate, scrutinize budgets, exercise oversight and represent their constituents effectively. But it also requires representatives who understand the everyday realities of their communities, maintain contact with their constituents and can build the political relationships necessary to advance legitimate public interests.
These qualities are not mutually exclusive.
The proper assessment must consider the totality of a candidate’s experience, character, preparedness, public record and proposed programme of action.
Asejere deserves to be judged by the totality of his credentials and what he presents to the electorate—not condemned in advance by a group whose own credentials and assessment process remain unclear.
THE RAVE FM INTERVIEW IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
CPG reportedly anchored a substantial part of its criticism on Asejere’s appearance on Rave FM’s Oro Oselu programme on October 12, 2026.
Public interviews are legitimate platforms for testing candidates’ understanding of public issues. We welcome serious questions about legislative priorities, budgetary oversight, constituency development and accountability.
However, one radio appearance should not automatically become the sole yardstick for determining a candidate’s entire capacity for public office. Asejere dealt clearly with all questions on the said programme objectively .
A meaningful evaluation should consider the questions asked, the answers provided, the broader context of the discussion, the candidate’s existing record and the commitments made to constituents.
If CPG believes that particular answers were inadequate, it should identify those answers, explain precisely what was deficient and provide a reasoned assessment of what a satisfactory response would have contained.
General accusations without specific evidence do little to advance public understanding.
We therefore challenge CPG to move beyond dramatic labels and publish a clear, evidence-based analysis of Asejere’s stated positions, identifying the specific legislative issues on which it believes he requires further clarification.
That would be a more credible contribution to democratic discourse than describing a candidate as a prospective disaster.
LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS NOT THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF A SELECT FEW
CPG’s argument appears to suggest that a candidate must demonstrate a fully developed legislative blueprint before being considered worthy of election to the Senate.
We agree that candidates should articulate their priorities and explain how they intend to serve their constituents. We also believe that legislative preparedness is an important consideration in any serious electoral contest.
However, the Senate is a constitutional institution in which elected representatives work through committees, debates, consultations, legislative procedures and collaboration with colleagues.
A senator’s effectiveness depends on a combination of preparation, research, judgment, consultation, negotiation, integrity and the willingness to learn and work diligently.
Prior legislative experience can be an advantage, but the absence of such experience does not automatically establish incompetence.
Likewise, previous occupation of a legislative office does not, by itself, guarantee superior representation.
The electorate must be allowed to assess the strengths and weaknesses of every contender without being instructed to accept the assumption that one political background automatically makes a candidate superior to another.
The Senate is an institution of public service, not an exclusive preserve for individuals with particular political titles or career histories.
Asejere’s candidacy should therefore be evaluated on its merits, just as every other candidate should be.
WHY THE SELECTIVE REFERENCE TO LASUN YUSUF?
The publication reportedly questioned Accord Party’s decision to nominate Asejere despite the availability of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Lasun Yusuf, whom CPG considers worthy of consideration.
We respect every qualified political figure and acknowledge that voters are entitled to compare the credentials of candidates.
Nevertheless, the preference of a pressure group cannot substitute for the decision-making process of a political party and its members.
Accord Party has its own political structures, internal consultations and considerations for selecting its candidates. Those decisions may be debated, but they should not be portrayed as illegitimate merely because a different individual would have been preferred by an outside group.
The pertinent question is not whether CPG would have preferred another candidate. It is whether Asejere can present a credible case for the confidence reposed in him and earn the mandate of the electorate.
That question belongs ultimately to the voters.
If CPG believes another contender is better prepared, it should demonstrate that position through a balanced comparison of verifiable records, proposed policies and relevant experience.
Simply invoking another politician’s previous position does not establish that the individual would necessarily deliver better outcomes for Osun Central.
Democracy allows competing opinions. It does not permit any group to turn its preference into an unquestionable verdict on behalf of the electorate.
OSUN CENTRAL NEEDS DEVELOPMENT, NOT POLITICAL THEATRE
The ten local governments in the Osun Central senatorial district deserve effective representation, responsive leadership and sustained attention to their developmental priorities.
The district needs serious conversations about employment opportunities for young people, economic empowerment for women, education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, security, access to federal programmes and the responsible use of public resources.
It also needs a senator who will engage relevant federal institutions, participate effectively in legislative processes, monitor constituency interventions and communicate honestly with the people.
These are legitimate expectations, and no serious candidate should evade them.
The Asejere media committee recognizes that electoral promises must ultimately be translated into practical and measurable outcomes. Our campaign must therefore be prepared to explain its priorities, establish realistic expectations and demonstrate how the candidate intends to pursue the interests of the district.
But the same standard must apply to every contender and every organisation seeking to influence public opinion.
If CPG is committed to the development of Osun Central, we invite it to participate in a constructive public conversation on these issues rather than relying on sensational descriptions of a candidate’s prospective tenure.
The district needs solutions, not political hostility. It needs informed debate, not predetermined verdicts.
GRASSROOTS CONNECTIONS ARE NOT A POLITICAL LIABILITY
One of the arguments attributed to CPG is that political popularity, grassroots connections and promises of constituency projects are insufficient qualifications for a senator.
On one point, we agree: popularity alone cannot guarantee effective legislative performance.
However, it would be equally misguided to dismiss grassroots engagement as though it is irrelevant to democratic representation.
A senator represents the people, not merely legislative documents. Understanding the concerns of market women, farmers, artisans, traders, teachers, students, traditional institutions and vulnerable communities is an essential foundation for meaningful representation.
The capacity to listen, consult and maintain relationships with constituents can help a senator identify pressing needs and pursue appropriate legislative and policy responses.
The real question is whether a candidate can combine that understanding with the discipline, competence and integrity required for legislative service.
That is the standard against which Asejere should be assessed.
His campaign should be challenged to demonstrate how his grassroots experience will translate into effective representation. It should not be condemned merely because grassroots connections form part of his political appeal.
OUR CHALLENGE TO CPG: LET THE FACTS SPEAK
The Asejere Media Committee hereby invites CPG to demonstrate its commitment to objective political scrutiny by taking the following steps:
1. Establish its credibility: Make its leadership, organizational identity and basis for issuing public assessments sufficiently transparent.
2. Present verifiable evidence: Identify the specific statements or positions attributed to Asejere that justify its conclusions, rather than relying on sweeping and damaging descriptions.
3. Apply equal standards: Subject all candidates contesting for the Osun Central senate seat to the same criteria, including those whom the group considers preferable.
4. Promote substantive debate: Organise or support an issue-based public engagement where candidates can explain their legislative priorities, constituency-development plans and accountability commitments.
5. Distinguish criticism from condemnation: Assess proposals and records objectively without presenting an untested prediction of future failure as an established fact.
These are reasonable demands for any organisation claiming to speak in the public interest.
We have no objection to scrutiny. Indeed, public scrutiny is essential to democratic accountability. What we reject is the attempt to convert criticism into a predetermined political verdict without sufficiently demonstrating the evidence behind it.
ASEJERE’S AMBITION IS SUBJECT TO THE PEOPLE’S VERDICT
Ultimately, the right to choose a senator belongs to the electorate.
Neither a campaign council nor a faceless pressure group possesses the authority to dictate the political future of Osun Central. Each has the right to make its case, but the people must be allowed to examine the evidence, compare the candidates and make an informed decision.
Asejere must earn public confidence through credible proposals, responsible engagement and a demonstrable commitment to the district. His supporters must also remain open to legitimate questions and constructive criticism.
That is the essence of democratic competition.
However, the electorate should not mistake the confidence of a critic for the correctness of its conclusions, nor should it accept the use of provocative labels as a substitute for a balanced examination of the facts.
If CPG has substantive concerns, let it present them clearly. If it has evidence, let it publish that evidence. If it believes another candidate is better qualified, let it demonstrate that claim through objective comparison.
The political future of Osun Central must not be determined by anonymous pronouncements, dramatic headlines or the preferences of self-appointed arbiters of political competence.
It must be determined by informed citizens making decisions on the basis of credible records, practical programmes, character, competence and the capacity to serve.
CONCLUSION: ASEJERE MUST BE JUDGED BY HIS RECORD AND HIS VISION, NOT BY HIS DETRACTORS’ LABELS
The Asejere Campaign Council remains committed to a campaign that places the interests of Osun Central at the forefront.
We welcome robust scrutiny, substantive debate and legitimate demands for accountability. We believe that every candidate should explain what he intends to do, how he intends to pursue his commitments and how the electorate will assess his performance.
But we will not accept the proposition that a candidate should be branded a disaster before the electorate has had a fair opportunity to assess his credentials, proposals and capacity for public service.
The question before Osun Central is not which group can produce the most alarming headline. It is which candidate can make a credible case for effective representation and earn the people’s mandate.
Let the debate be about evidence. Let the contest be about ideas. Let the assessment be fair. And let the people decide.
ASEJERE IS READY TO MAKE HIS CASE TO THE PEOPLE. OSUN CENTRAL DESERVES A FAIR HEARING, NOT A PREMATURE VERDICT-Mr Olaide Adigun writes from Osogbo, Osun State
