Ondo Senate race: can apc afford to sideline core Yoruba voters?
As the election cycle draws closer , the guiderails of democracy that enable citizens to tell what is real and what is not real are under increasing attack. Truth, without
- By Kekemeke Gboloibai
As the election cycle draws closer , the guiderails of democracy that enable citizens to tell what is real and what is not real are under increasing attack. Truth, without qualms , is deliberately removed on the shelves of trade stores of mercenary political commentators, leaving the unsuspecting ones to settle for the lie
Like great salesmen , they valorize the aesthetics of politics- slogans, symbols and appearances- flaunted by their patrons ,while ignoring the hard choices in policy making , commitment and sacrifices that true progressive governance demands.
The recent hatchet piece by one Kayode Adebayo , published in the Nation Newspaper of April 12,2026, titled “ Ondo South Senate Race: Can APC Afford To Sideline Yoruba Çore Voters? that intended to maximise tribal differences and undercut existing social cohesion amongst the good people of Ondo South Senatorial District is one such example and it scarcely deserves the dignity of a rebuttal for its barefaced half truths.
However, because, falsehood – when left unanswered-can easily wear the garment of truth in the minds of unsuspecting ones, an unfeigned deconstruction of that piece is necessary.
The Author’s lack of depth and understanding of how progressive politics in Ondo State had evolved over the years was very apparent . And either by a sinister act of selective amnesia or ignorance, he clung to the weak reed of misinformation and contradictory polemics with which he intended to magnify what divide the people of Ondo South than what unites them from the prism of some fancied “demographic reality “that should, according to him , sustain an exclusivity of right of the Local Governments of Irele, Odigbo, Ilaje and Ile Iluji / Okeigbo to what he called “ natural mandate “ to present Senatorial candidates for the National Assembly , excepting Ese Odo which belongs to the Ijaws and Ijaw Apois.
Meanwhile , he maintained that Ese-Odo is a critical local government for” ethnic inclusive politics” in the State. The level of inconsistency of thoughts of the author is second to none.
The dishonesty in the hatchetman blinded him to wrongfully profile the indigenous people of Ese- Odo as non – indigenous given, by implication, the shameful parallel he drew between the non indigenous Igbos in Lagos and the Indigenous people of Ese Odo in Ondo State.
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As of old, right from the era of Action Group of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the kind of progressive ideals that shape the politics in Ondo state precludes that driven by tribal interests.
Etched on this progressive emblem is the enduring creed of the “ good for all”- a vision that transcends the divides of tribe , religion and culture. It was this unifying ethos that drove development in the old Western Region and also precipitated the emergence of the late Chief R.A. Jolowo from EseOdo as the Speaker of then Ondo State House of Assembly during the second Republic..
It this same enlightened philosophy of the supremacy of collective progress over narrow identities that has given meaning momentum and enduring relevance to the political journey of Hon. (Dr.) D.I Kekemeke, particularly, in his distinguished service as former Minority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, former Secretary to Ondo State Government and Commissioner for Works, Land and Housing, pioneer State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC , and National Vice Chairman, South West, APC.
The writer overlooked these historical insights to bellyache the lie that “ putting forward a candidate of Ijaw extraction rather than a Yoruba candidate will likely upset the fragile peace and the existing social contract within the Ondo State Senatorial District “ while he underplayed the guaranteed rights of the people of Ese Odo to fairness, equity and justice as constituent unit within Ondo South Senatorial District.
It’s rather ludicrous and insulting to suggest that the man- Hon. (Dr.) D.I Kekemeke – who had built public trust as a social licence to operate, granted not on the strength of a proclivity to identity politics or ethnic solidarity, but through service to the party , the people of Ondo State and Nigeria, should be denied the right to aspire to be in the Senate , particularly when the good people of Ondo South Senatorial District yearn for it.
It’s not too hard for the writer and his patrons to see that, Hon.(Dr) D. I.Kekemeke has wielded politics as an instrument of enlightened leadership for building bridges of solidarity and shared purpose across the fault lines of tribe, religion and culture to addressing the common challenges that often buried beneath the weight of identify politics- us versus them.
And demonstrably, this underpinned his decision in 2003 not slug it out in a run off election when he offered himself to represent Ondo South Senatorial District. He willingly ,without promptings or pressure from any where ,allowed the late Senator H.O Ehinlanwo to represent the PDP without further election.
Gladly enough, this truth could not be controverted even by the author himself , as he acknowledged that Hon.D.I Kekemeke has “paid his due” in the politics of Ondo State and Nigeria, even though Hon D.I Kekemeke ‘s concept of politics of leadership is beyond the simplistic politics of recognition of” paid due” but one that is tempered and enabled by a multi-ethnic and multi cultural coalition of conscience , forged by a shared commitment to make governance at the centre felt, accessible and truly responsive to the aspirations of the good people of Ondo South.
In a futile attempt to resurrect the ghost of the unfornate1998 communal crisis between Ijaws and Ilajes, Mr Adebayo sought to ground a phantom opposition to Hon. D I Kekemeke ‘ s candidacy in that crisis by peddling a rather simulated insinuation that “ there is a persistent political of thought suggesting that minority led representation may prioritise localised grievances over broad based advocacy.
Gleaned from Kekemeke’s political antecedents that is richly complimented by his biological roots as a scion of the revered Lisa, founder of Igoda community in Okitipupa local Government and Chief R.A Kekemeke of Arogbo Kingdom in Ese Odo Local government , his aversion to ethnic based agitations or nationalism that claim to challenge oppression or perceived injustice is not hidden, particularly if such agitations do not address the roots of the alleged oppression.
The question is not whether any perceived injustice to any group of individuals should be challenged or not. It is about how ? And good and people centred politics, to Hon. Kekemeke , offers the best platform to addressing all issues of development that often time roots of agitations.
Gboloibai is member of the Lekeleke Media Team and wrote in from Ibadan, Oyo State via kekemekegboloibai@gmail.com (08034906657)
