Political notes
Bala: Runing from pillar to post His political career is now full of tension. He seems to face a perilious future, unless he acts fast. Gradually, Bala Mohammed, governor of
Bala: Runing from pillar to post
His political career is now full of tension. He seems to face a perilious future, unless he acts fast. Gradually, Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State, is becoming ‘partyless.”
His Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is ebbing away. He is trying to be strategic by deserting his colleague and looking for a platform. But the terms are herculean.
The senator is jittery. As PDP started crumbling, he entered discussion with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), only to find out that its leadership is battling some crisis. Then, he started turning his attention to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
But, he seems to be negotiating with the APC from a position of weakness. He copied the style of the god of Lagos, Ganiyu Dawodu, by proposing a 60:40 formula for sharing of elective slots.
APC is not able to agree, afterall, Bala is an outgoing governor who will not be on the ballot. APC wants one of its own to be the governor and state party leader.
Bala has sent emissaries to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). This PRP has no link with Aminu Kano. Its founders are only cunning by portraying it as an incarnation of Aminu’s talakawa legacy.
Where will Bala end? PDP, APC, ADC or PRP?
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Governor (Oba) Sharafadeen Alli
He is likely to eat his cake and have it. That Oyo State law that forbids an Ibadan high chief from becoming governor is illogical. It conflicts with the 1999 Constitution, which provides for freedom of association and assembly.
Many observers have argued that Ibadan only has one oba. He is the Olubadan. Their explanation is that these carton-crown obas, great apology to Alayeluwa Aje Ogungunuso, have no chiefs under them like obas of other towns. But, they have communities that acknowledge them as heads. All of them are chiefs under Olubadan.
That is why the argument that High Chief Aspirant Sharafadeen Alli cannot be governor is weak. The law should be reviewed in the nearest future to prevent premature political career ceiling.
Kabiyesi Adewolu seems to have the last say on this matter. The solution is not to crown Alli physically. The crowning in absential is fake.
In Egba, the great Ebora is the Balogun of Owu. Concurrently or automatically, he is the Ekerin Egba. But up to now, the old General has not shown up at Ake Palace for his Iwuye ceremony. Yet, life goes on.
So, Alli is home and dry.
Gang up against Amupitan
Opposition politicians are lazy. They lack the Awo spirit and BAT strategy. They see the removal of Umpire Ojo Amupitan as the key to victory in 2027. It is a wrong idea.
Some lawyers are joining forces with them to distract the chairman of the electoral agency. Among them are those who expected to be appointed ministers by the APC government.
It is sheer persecution of the SAN. Only political parties and candidates who take their cases to the people will win.
Is Amupitan responsible for the inability of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to put its house in order?
Let the lawyers answer this: Should Amupitan not obey the Court of Appeal ruling?
The best the lawyers can do is to advise their friends in the opposition to return to the court.
Where is Lanlehin?
Many people remember the old times and contributions of his illustrious father to Ibadan politics and the growth of Southwest.
But, where is Femi Lanlehin now? He is senior to those occupying the Oyo political space now. What went wrong? Politically, why is he off the radar?
The son of S.O. Lanlehin should have been the leader of progressives in Oyo. Why is he not?
He is a former House of Representatives member, a one-time Special Adviser to Governor BAT of Lagos and a senator.
Politically, may the good times return.
Odigie-Oyegun: ADC or APC?
Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun, forgot his new party last week.
He shouted the slogan of AAAPPPCCC instead of AADDCC. Was it due to loss of memory? No.
It was due to the fact that he is still undergoing an adjustment.
It is now new. In the Second Republic, when Akin Omoboriowo defected from the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), he was still raising his hands, with the symbolic two fingers.
At Akure, Adisa Akinloye had to whisper to the Ijero-Ekiti politician before he adjusted to raising just a finger, the symbol of NPN.
