PCI Series: Public Campaign Promises: Myths or realities as Osun voters go to the polls on September 22

From mini to mega campaign rallies, jingles and billboards, parties and candidates have kept on promising the people of Osun State what they would do after the September 22 governorship election. The Positive Campaign Initiative has discovered that parties and candidates appeal to the fear, anger and other emotions of the Osun electorates, rallying the people’s  support for their policies or programmes that emphasize the uplift of every indigene in terms of socioeconomic development.

In the last two weeks, the electorates have been inundated with different development-oriented promises such as prioritization of labour welfare, adequate provision for sustainable agriculture, employment generation, infrastructure and industrial development at different campaign locations in the State by the political actors.  Personality-party issues such as competence, home based versus foreign-based politicians and continuity were equally echoed by the candidates and actors within and outside the state, pointing towards the need for a particular party or candidate to be rejected by the voters through the ballots.

Throughout the two weeks monitored by the PCI, the All Progressives Congress, the ruling party, only emphasized continuation of policies and programmes of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the incumbent governor. The virtues, character and competence of the party’s candidate, Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola were also eulogised by the party’s media handlers. The home based versus foreign based politicians issue which was one of the factors being used by the party’s opponents since the beginning of the campaign was vehemently defended by former Governor of Lagos State and Chieftain of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, describing the proponents of such ideas as a “bunch of dunce and nitwits.”

“We are indeed happy to give you deep intellectuals and astute administrators in both the governorship candidate and running mate. The youths should be rest assured that they will not be ostracised in the scheme of things, I can guarantee them employment and quality life. Oyetola is coming to liberate you”, Asiwaju Tinubu said.

Having Oyetola as the Governor of the State was seen as “Lagos Agenda” by Alhaji Moshood Olalekan Adeoti of the Action Democratic Party, saying if elected he would not take the state’s wealth to Lagos State. “If you vote for us, we will continue to live here. We will not take your money to Lagos. We don’t have where to go when we finish government. We will continue to live here. We will not dictate for the party. The party will tell us what they want and we are going to comply with the party’s dictate,” he pointed out.

Dr. Yemi Farounbi, a national leader of the Social Democratic Party, the party fielding Senator Iyiola Omisore as candidate also urged workers and pensioners to reject the APC government, saying SDP remains the only party that could promote their welfare.

Asiwaju Tinubu, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola countered SDP leader’s claims of his (Farounbi) party’s ability to govern the state better than others, saying APC candidate is a meticulous trustworthy administrator who is capable and ready to take the state to greater heights.

 “Oyetola is a reliable reformer, who has what it takes to govern the state; he has been an engine room of our group for a very long time, and has decided to showcase his mettle in governance this time around. We are happy that he offered himself to serve and improve on the developmental drive of the present administration in the state”, Asiwaju Tinubu said.

On his part, Alhaji Oyetola promised to prioritise the welfare of the people, road infrastructure, education development, skill, technical and vocational education, health sector advancement, agricultural development among others as the continuity of Aregbesola’s legacies.

Former Finance Minister and leader of the SDP, Chief Olu Falae also described Senator Iyiola Omisore as competent and the best among all other contestants for the governorship race. Following the same line of thought, the People’s Democratic Party National Chairman, Uche Secondus believed that his party’s candidate was the best for the state.

Apart from the APC candidate who promised to continue Aregbesola’s projects and programmes, candidates of the ADP and ADC assured the electorates of a review of the incumbent governor’s activities with a view to determining the programmes or policies that need continuation or total overhauling.

As voters go out to various polls in less than 2 days, are these promises sufficient enough to get the candidates the needed votes on September 22? Would the elected candidate be accountable to the pre-election promises?