Kwara 2024 LG Elections: My Kobo Advice For Baba Okanla- Mashood Lanrey Osho

Fellow Kwarans, let me  say that exciting times are here in our state again, you may ask what is so exciting about this hard time despite our myriads of problems?

Hard times have befallen many  Kwarans and Nigerian citizens in particular since last year May 29th ,2023, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu removed petrol subsidy, the hard time is really biting harder while the economic reality has made it a daily struggle to meet basic needs.

For several individuals and families, having three square meals a day has become a luxury that they can no longer afford. The soaring cost of living, coupled with stagnant incomes and widespread unemployment, has pushed many to the brink of desperation. The once-simple act of putting food on the table has become a daunting task, leaving many to wonder how they will cope with the harsh economic conditions.

Kwarans are now selling their properties to feed their family and the situation is very pathetic. let me leave that for another day please just allow me to put it this way that interesting times are here again.

Politicians  are like students. We all know how politicians often deceive people to gain power and abandon their followers once they achieve their goals. They make promises that they don’t intend to keep, manipulate public opinion, and use rhetoric to sway emotions. Once in office, they prioritize personal interests over the welfare of their constituents, leaving those who trusted them feeling betrayed and neglected. This cycle of deception and abandonment erodes trust in the political system and undermines democracy, thus, voters are their teachers every now and then the chicken are come home to roost and politicians are forced to test their popularity and performance.

The examiners are the voters who have waited patiently for this time to come in Kwara state so that they can pass or fail incompetent or  mediocre among those vying for political offices .sometimes the electorate get things right oftentimes they get it wrong like last election in Kwara state where all candidates of ruling political party emerged victorious,  what a miracle? What is important is that it is a payback time for good or bad, are Kwarans ready for this upcoming local government elections? Times shall tell.

Baba-okanla please sorry for my preamble, that has been my style of writing, let me confess to you that am an ‘extrovert’ I hardly see things happen in Kwara either good or otherwise without reacting or writing  about them, nothing is happening or has happened that I have not written about them in my first book titled ‘FRANTIC VIEWS OF AN ACCIDENTAL VENDOR’   which was a compilation of my seven years articles as a regular columnist with national moonlight newspaper, just let me go straight to the business of the day Sir and leave all these stories for another day (laughs).

As the  Chairman of Kwara state Independent electoral commission (KWASIEC) , you have a unique opportunity to write your name in the good books of history. I urge you to prioritize the integrity of the electoral process,  and ensure a free and fair election. Remember, your tenure will eventually come to an end, but your legacy will live on. Choose to be celebrated for your courage and commitment to democracy never allow yourself to be used to manipulate  the results of local government  elections remember there is life after office may Allah spare our lives together.

Furthermore, I will urge you to believe in the power of  peaceful transition from three years illegal tenure of TIC Chairmen that was appointed by the governor, an action that portrayed us as one of the states in Nigeria promoting illegality and disobeyed court rulings despite the fact that the attorney general of the federation  is from Kwara state and a state that  also produced the chairman of Nigeria governors’ forum, it is pathetic and embarrassing that Governor Abdulrahamon Abdulrasaq couldn’t conduct LG elections for five years . Let the will of the people prevail, and let your name become synonymous with integrity, fairness, and statesmanship. Your legacy is in your hands, and the world is watching. Make it count, Baba-Okanla!

An election is a way of making the will of the people known, and it is essential to allow the will of the people to prevail. In developed countries, free and fair elections are the cornerstones of democracy, and those who conduct and participate in them are indeed heroes celebrated by the world. It is crucial to prioritize transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in the electoral process, ensuring that every voice is heard and that every vote counts. By doing so, we can strengthen democracy and build a more just and equitable society for all.

Baba-okanla remember, that the power of democracy lies in the people’s voices and choices. Let’s continue to promote and protect the integrity of elections, celebrating the heroes who make democracy thrive and  uphold the highest standards of integrity and impartiality. The people of Kwara state are eager to exercise their democratic rights and choose their leaders in a peaceful and credible manner. It is  your sacred responsibility to ensure a free, fair, and transparent electoral process.

This moment is crucial for democracy in Kwara state , and your actions will have a lasting impact on the people of Kwara. We must learn from the lessons of the 2017 local government elections, where the then-chairman, Ajidagba, failed to ensure a fair and transparent process. This led to widespread protests, erosion of trust, and a loss of faith in the state electoral system. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past please take note of this sir.

 Baba Okanla ,you must ensure that the electoral process is not manipulated or compromised in any way. This includes guaranteeing the accuracy and security of the voter register, the impartiality of electoral officials, and the transparency of the voting and counting processes, you must also address the concerns of all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organizations, and the general public, in a timely and fair manner.

The success of the local government elections in Kwara state is crucial not only for the state’s democracy but also for the overall development and progress of the people. I urge you  to rise to the challenge and demonstrate  commitment to integrity, transparency, and accountability. The people of Kwara state are counting on you to ensure a free, fair, and credible electoral process that reflects the will of the people.

You need to be careful with those in power today as nobody holds on to power forever those saying ‘we are in power nothing will happen do what we want’ will swiftly disappear before you can blink an eye.

I  venture to say that most of them do not personally like you, they live in fear of you and not in awe of you remember Godwin Emefiele former CBN governor facing trial presently those who had  used him have disappeared. Yoruba have suitable adage for every event that unfolds ‘Bo ba ko waju si o ko ta .Bo ba koyin si o kota .Bo ba ku’wo nikan, ko tun-ero arare pa.Alatise ni nmatise ara re’.

I believe you understand me better and  I wish you all the best.

I remain your dear younger one who will not shrink from telling you the plain truth!–Comrade Mashood Lanrey Osho , a Human Right Activist, and an anti-corruption crusader, who is the  Deputy Coordinator of  ENetSuD, writes from Ilorin, Kwara state.