Members of the Peoples Democratic Party have an exaggerated opinion of the chances of their party in the October 10 gubernatorial election in Ondo state. It is their belief that the standard bearer of the opposition party, Eyitayo Jegede, will win the poll and only rigging can prevent his victory. This is a dangerous illusion. The fear of watchers of political events in the state is that the false belief can spur them to cause sorrow, tears and blood, especially in Akure, where Jegede hails from, if he loses.
The major opposition party in the state has been deploying all kinds of innuendos and false accusations to push their rigging narrative and prepare the minds of their supporters for violence. Last week, there was a fire outbreak at the Akure office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The inferno destroyed no fewer than 5000 smart card readers to be used for the forthcoming poll. The PDP accused Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), of orchestrating the fire incident. It alleged that the inferno was part of the plan of the ruling party to rig the election. One wondered why the governor and his party that have everything to coast home to victory would want to burn down the INEC office.
But investigation has shown that the fire outbreak was not an act of sabotage. Rather, it was caused by faulty electrical connection according to the State Police Command. At a press briefing on the incident some days ago, the Police Commissioner, Salami Bolaji said: “The result of investigation into the incident is out. The fire was caused by faulty electrical connection and the smart card readers were burnt. They were kept in two containers on the premises of INEC and the air conditioners were kept on for 24 hours. This will put to rest speculations that the fire was caused by saboteurs.”
Stemming from the illusion of the is the beating of war drums and incessant invocation of 1983 by its members. This is why the importance of history should always be emphasised. 1983 is a sad memory. Those who are not yet born then or not old enough to appreciate the level of its tragedy should be told.
For many a victim, 1983 represents deaths, destruction, blood, tears and sorrow. Akure bore the greatest brunt of the conflagration that engulfed the old Ondo state on August 16 of that year. Some prominent Akure indigenes were killed. Houses were burned, many of which are yet to be rebuilt. This was because a politician who was not fated to be governor wanted to force himself on the people of the state.
The PDP goons must be reined in. They are already unleashing terror on the APC members and destroying Governor Akeredolu’s billboards, posters and banners in Akure. One prays against a repeat of what happened in 1983. If history repeats itself, it will be more devastating. People should vote and not fight if service is the motivation for participation in the electoral contest.
“Illusion is the first of all pleasures,” said Voltaire. The PDP members are currently indulging in this pleasure. But they must be guided by the words of Ernest Hemingway: “When you go to war as a boy, you have a great illusion of immortality. Other people get killed, not you. Then, when you are badly wounded the first time, you lose that illusion, and you know it can happen to you.”
As the gubernatorial election approaches, the PDP can hope for victory. There is nothing bad in it. But they should stop living in a world of comforting illusion. All indices point to their defeat. The party has been hemorrhaging after the conduct of its gubernatorial shadow poll.
When the whitlow in the APC joined them, they considered it a plus. They have now realised the danger of accommodating a treacherous fellow. Since the inmate of the prison of ambition dumped the PDP, all has not been well with the party, especially in the Southern Senatorial District, which they see as their stronghold. Several PDP leaders in the south have dumped the party, denying it a considerable amount of oxygen and eroding its strength.
While peace and unity have returned to the APC in the state, the opposition is divided against itself. One wonders how a divided opposition intends to dislodge a ruling party that is gaining strength day by day. The PDP have been building their hope on their performance in the last general elections. They gloss over the fact that the National Assembly seats they won were a function of the then crisis in the APC. They also forget that two weeks after, they could only win two seats in the State House of Assembly.
The sterling performance of the Akeredolu government in the last three and a half years has endeared him to the people of the state. The government has recorded notable feats in the areas of industrialisation; road construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation; health; education; agriculture; and security. Only the mischievous and those suffering from partisan blindness can deny these achievements.
The PDP may choose to live in the illusion of strength and capacity to win the coming election. But it is high time for them to realise that the odds are against them. They must not allow the illusion to lead them to violence when their candidate finally kisses the canvas on October 10.
*** Oyewamide is Senior Special Assistant to Governor Akeredolu on Media and Publicity
