Welcome to Ondo State, where political loyalty shifts faster than a Lagos commercial bus changing lanes. If you want to understand the true meaning of the word “hypocrisy,” look no further than the just-concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly primary elections. It was a theatrical masterpiece of irony, political somersaults, and absolute comedy.
Act One: The Alagbaka Holy Pilgrimage
The drama commenced when Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, surveying the political terrain, proposed a straightforward yet peaceful solution: consensus arrangements. His vision was to select candidates through mutual agreement, fostering party unity. The narrative took a significant turn when President Bola Tinubu bolstered state governors’ authority, under the platform of the APC. The President advised federal lawmakers seeking automatic tickets to negotiate with their state governors. What transpired next could easily belong in a comedy script.
Act Two: The U-Turn Drama
Some chieftains of APC and lawmakers who used to look down on Aiyedatiwa’s leadership suddenly experienced a spiritual awakening. The Government House Chapel in Alagbaka instantly transformed into a tourist hotspot. Political heavyweights were suddenly seen aggressively lobbying the Governor’s aides, the very same aides they used to look down on. For weeks, the halls of power echoed with songs of “Hosanna in the highest!” as politicians fought to get their names on Aiyedatiwa’s consensus list.
Act Three: From Hailers to Wailers
Aiyedatiwa, known for his quiet, calculated leadership. When his consensus list finally dropped, it heavily favoured his core loyalists. Instantly, the atmosphere changed. His “hailers” became his “wailers.” The very politicians who were just singing the Governor’s praises got bitter and angry. They immediately formed an alliance with the opposition factions. They rushed to Abuja to buy forms, suddenly becoming the ultimate champions of democracy. Their new anthem? “We reject consensus! Give us direct primaries! Let the people decide!”
Act Four: The Abuja Ambush
In response to the growing discord, the APC national leadership intervened and mandated direct primaries. Demonstrating his loyalty to the party, Aiyedatiwa made a swift U-turn, embracing the direct primaries with open arms. However, the anti-consensus faction had a hidden agenda. On the morning of the House of Representatives primaries, a directive from Abuja disqualified seven leading aspirants, an apparent ambush aimed at undermining Aiyedatiwa’s leadership. Nevertheless, the Governor maintained his composure, ensuring the primaries proceeded smoothly, devoid of violence, and under the vigilant gaze of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials. Ultimately, candidates endorsed by Aiyedatiwa emerged victorious across several federal constituencies.
Act Five: The Ultimate Audacity
This saga reached its zenith with the ultimate display of audacity. The very politicians who had denounced consensus as undemocratic and clamoured for direct primaries found themselves on the losing side. Did they accept their defeat gracefully? Far from it. Instead, they hastily retreated to Abuja, lobbying the national leadership to impose their names over the legitimate winners of a free and fair election. Despite their losses being captured on camera, these politicians now claim victory.
A similar narrative unfolded during the Senatorial primaries, where prominent political figures faced defeat at the hands of Aiyedatiwa-backed candidates. Although incidents of violence and thuggery were reported, particularly in Ondo Central and some areas of Akoko in Ondo North Senatorial District, the elections were largely peaceful in many local governments. Now, those who were defeated, along with their supporters, are criticising the direct primaries they once championed, proclaiming, “The primary election is a joke. Abuja is final. Aiyedatiwa will hear from us when Abuja announces our names!”
The Moral of the Story
The logic of Ondo APC politicians is both simple and absurd: When the Governor advocates for consensus, they shout, “No, let the people vote!” Yet, when the Governor acquiesces to their demands for a popular vote and the consensus candidates prevail, they insist, “No, let Abuja impose us!”
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s calm, action-oriented approach has laid bare the comical double standards of Ondo’s political elite. They profess to champion democracy, but only when it serves their interests.
Leave a Reply