With less than two months to the 2023 general elections, the stakes are getting higher as desperate politicians are coming up with different antics, including blackmail and outright lies to discredit their opponents ahead of the election.
While the story may be the same across all political offices, it is howevwer taking a strange turn in Kosofe Local Government Area, where the election for the state house of assembly constituency 1 is getting hotter by the day with desperate politicians pulling all the tricks in their arsenal to upstage the incumbent, Hon Sanni Ganiu Babatunde Okanlawon.
A man of the people, Okalawon, better known among his people as OKLA, is adored by many, not for his handsomeness, but for the beautiful jobs he has done in the last three and half years in the assembly.
That he has a large followership was at play during the last primary election of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, when the opposition went to town with huge sacks of money in their desperate bids to woo the people. Sources who were privy to the election disclosed that a particular candidate offered N1 million per delegate. But the people chose to stand with OKLA, who in their estimation has given them unprecedented representation in the assmbly.
If you think the war is over with the primary election won and lost, you got it wrong as the opposition quickly regrouped and opted to fly the flag of another political party.
However, the most intriguing act of the opposition has been the continued claim of their membership of the APC, while at same time campaigning on the ticket of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
But because the people have refused to take the lies and the baits being offered, the opposition has resorted to blackmails and lies to discredit OKLA and his unparalleled achievements.
A reliable source who is also a member of the APC in Kosofe, who spoke with The Post on condition of anonymity, expressed surprise at the trick being played by the opposition.
He said: “These people are just cheap fraudsters. How can you claim to be a member of a party while at the same time contesting against the candidate of that party on the platform of another party. He thinks he fool the people, eat his cake and still have. No, that’s not possible. The good people of Kosofe know the truth and they have chosen to stand with the party, APC and it;s candidate, Hon Sanni Ganiu Babatunde Okanlawon.”
The latest was a write-up which made desperate attempt to twist the facts and put truth on its head. The writer, in his mischief-filled story twisted the story of the second Oworonsoki access road.
But reacting to the story, the media team of the OKLA campaign organisation wrote a rejoinder, which explained the true story of the access road and several other irrefutable achievements of Hon Sanni Ganiu Babatunde Okanlawon as a true representative of the people.
Read the rejoinder below:
Our attention has been drawn to a reckless comment filled with lies made by one Olusegun Apena in his wicked attempt to discredit the achievements of Hon Sanni Ganiu Babatunde Okanlawon, popularly known as OKLA, particularly the wonderful role he played in bringing to fruition the second Oworonsoki second access road and other numerous life-changing projects he attarcted to our Constituency.
It is on record that our immediate past Oba Oloworo, God bless his soul, personally gave OKLA the assignment to ensure that another access into Oworonsoki town delivered. He kept to his promise and diligently pursed the job until the second access road was delivered.
For the benefits of those who may not know and most importantly, the ignorants of the fact like Mr Apena, the assignment was given to OKLA when he was appointed as Special Adviser. As one who has the interest of the community at heart, he ensured the issue of the 2nd Oworo access road was placed on the front burner before the state executive council. It was well debated and he lobbied those in charge to ensure that the project scaled through.
We all can remember vividly that the then Governor Ambode once joked and asked if OKLA is an indigene of Oworonsoki. The joke was not lost on those with discerning minds. It was the result of OKLA’s troubles and persistence on the issue of the road. The contract for the construction of the road was thereafter approved and OKLA led the stakeholders, including Engineer Johnson to a meeting at the Oba Oloworo Palace.
Apena and his co-travellers never had such opportunity. And it is not a surprise that he is in the dark about the story and history of the second access road. He should wait for his time and stop disparaging a hardworking achiever like Honourable OKLA who has been adjudged as best honourable member Kosofe ever produced.
At this juncture, however, I wish to categorically appeal to the general public and most expecially, party faithful to ignore this wicked lie and as a matter of fact, see it as a lie from the pit of hell being peddled by a group of chop I chop people who have cloaked themselves as writers. their words are fake and their styles are like poisoned chalice. They are dangers both to themselves and others around them.
Like the old Yoruba adage, ‘Esin Ota Eni Kii Ga Loju Eni’. No matter what you do, your enemies will always be blind to your achievements and success. Dear Apena, let draw your attention and that of whoever sponsored your write-up to the story of the Fire Station in oworonsoki, the Pastor Ayorinde road, the Arowojobe vehicular bridge and severalnetwork of Drainages.
I would love to drop this piece of advice for you and others like you who dont know, or those who know and deliberately choose or pretend not to know, It is high time you had rethink before it is too late. Make a decision today and follow the person that knows the road. Gba f’oga e, as my people would say.
