WHO DOES THE CROWN FIT? Written by Olajide Hameed Opeyemi

*WHO DOES THE CROWN FIT, AS OSUN DECIDES?*

   The governorship election in the State of Osun is fast approaching. The election is to be keenly contested among three major political parties -- the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the rising Social Democratic Party (SDP). The flag-bearers of each of these political parties are: Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola (APC), Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke (PDP), and Senator Christopher Iyiola Omisore (SDP).

  Interestingly, these three major contenders were once members of the same party. Christopher was once a deputy governor to Chief Adebisi Akande,  under the platform of the defunct Alliance for Democracy {AD} now All Progressives Congress {APC}. He {Christopher} was later impeached however, after which he defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, where he became a senator. Demola was 24 hours before the senatorial bye-election that produced him as a senator, still an active member of the All Progressives Congress. His defection was as a result of the alleged irregularities that marked the conduct of the choice of a former Senator Mudashir Oyetunde Hussein as the flag-bearer of APC in the Osun West senatorial bye-election. Hence, the Osun West senatorial bye-election became a necessity as a result of the demise of Demola's brother, Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, who, before his death, was the senator representing Osun West in the Senate. Gboyega (Ileri Oluwa) is presently the Chief of Staff to the governor of the State of Osun.

   The Osun West senatorial bye- election could be said to have been majorly contested between Demola and Rauf with his anointed candidate, Mudashir, who was a commissioner in Rauf's cabinet and also a former senator. Alas, Demola defeated the duo. The reason for the defeat is not farfetched, for the election could be viewed as a sympathy to commiserate over the death of Demola's brother, Tunji.

  Even while in prison, *Christopher* was elected the senator representing Osun East in the Senate. An election which many criticised as full of irregularities and violence. Christopher could be said to be best of all the candidates, if we're to go by his experience in politics. However, his reputation may speak against him. After his first term as a senator, he recontested, but was disgracefully disgraced by an uncommon Senator Christopher Babajide Omoworare, who at present represents Ife/Ijesha senatorial district (Osun East). In furtherance to his political pursuit, Christopher contested in the governorship election in 2014 against the incumbent governor, under the platform of PDP. Unfortunately for him, he was rejected by the electorates, for the governor secured a landslide victory and returned elected. Christopher, whom Aregbesola believes cannot win an election in a free, credible and fair atmosphere would be trying his luck again this time under the platform of SDP. Can his political dream be realized through his new party? The electorates shall speak.

  *Gboyega* is the present Chief of Staff to governor Aregbesola. A position which he has been holding since the inception of Rauf's administration {2011 to be precised}. It's believed that Gboyega is the engine room of the present government. He hails from Iragbiji, Osun central. He's also believed to be the major factor behind the modulated salaries in the state, where some categories of workers in the state are being paid half and quarter of their salaries since 2015. However, some people do believe that, in order to commemorate and complement the achievements of the present administration, Gboyega should be allowed to control the affairs of the state. Going by the present government's achievements, one may say that Gboyega has a upper edge and would eventually emerge winner, come September 22. But wouldn't certain issues like that of the backlog of salaries being owed the workers inhibit his clear chance of winning? Our PVCs shall tell.

   The dancing Senator *Demola* is endowed with dancing skills. Hails from Ede, Osun West senatorial district, which many people say, is the best district to produce the next governor in the wake of fairness, justice and equity among the three senatorial districts in the state. Demola became a senator after the demise of his late brother, who was also once a senator and the first civilian governor of the state. The controversial lawmaker {Demola} was a member of APC, but dumped the party a day before the senatorial bye election. He joined the PDP, the platform where he contested and won the senatorial seat. The Osun West senatorial bye- election was a battle between Demola and Rauf & Mudashir Hussein {APC flag-bearer then}, but Demola won - part 1. This coming governorship election  could be viewed as the second part of the battle, now between Demola and Rauf & Gboyega {APC flag-bearer now} - part 2. While some people opine that Demola lacks the political experience to run the affairs of a state like Osun, which has a very unreliable small resources with an enormous work force. Others believe that his little experience as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would work out for good for him. Would Demola defeat Rauf and his man in this second battle? Would his lack of/experience speak for/against him this time? Can his dancing skill help him? Let's wait and see, September 22 is the day.

   Engineer *Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola* became the governor of the State of Osun on the  26th of November, 2010, when his stolen mandate was returned by the tribunal judgement in Ibadan. Before the expiration of his tenure, after which he would have served as governor for a solid eight years, the Osun electorates would on the 22nd of September, 2018 elect a new governor that would succeed Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola in the next four years. The election, according to INEC is to be contested among 48 political parties.

```OnlyTheElectoratesCanDecide.```

Written by Olajide Hameed Opeyemi (omoluabi).