March 17, (THEWILL)- The governorship ambition of Olusola Oke may just be dead on arrival, if the rants of some disgruntled fellows in the state is anything to go by. The tall lanky Senior Advocate of Nigeria who wants to actualise his ambition to govern Ondo State on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, is hoping to re-enact the magic of former President Muhammadu Buhari who contested the presidential election thrice, lost at all times before providence smiled on him a fourth time.
Oke, a former commissioner, who represented Ondo State on the Governing Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has also contested for the number one position in the state thrice and he is upbeat about beating the incumbent, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, at the primary and emerging victorious at the polls. He is emphatic that, like President Bola Tinubu, it is his turn to become governor. He hinges his anticipated victory at the polls to his political trajectory, which he says his experience in various positions of governance makes him the man for the job – a former lawmaker, a party administrator and having occupied an executive position – all of which spans 35 years in politics.
Not a few have had to align with Oke, with a former aspirant, Ayodeji Oritedi, shelving his ambition to step down for Oke, a leading contender for the party’s ticket. Despite his sterling qualities, some disgruntled voices have sworn not to see Oke’s dream come true. Their grouse is that he is married to a woman from Southeastern Nigeria, Mrs Nkem Oke.
According to them, having had a hellish eight years under Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, their former first lady and widow to the late governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, they do not want another Igbo woman who will end up becoming a tyrant as a first lady. Their slogan is ‘The great people of Ondo State say no to Mr Olusola Oke and his wife Mrs Nkem Oke. They are of the opinion that they have had enough and if Oke is hell bent on running with his ambition, he should simply relocate to his wife’s state to realize his ambition.
Yes there was friction and power tussle, particularly in the twilight of late Akeredolu’s administration but how does that translate to categorizing all potential first ladies who are Igbos married to Yoruba men, particularly Ondo men as them being tyrants in the waiting? If this is not bigotry, tribalism at its lowest ebb and disgusting stereotype, then I do not know what to call it.
About the Author
