This is the week of the Local Government Election in Oyo state. It is a week we have all been looking towards.
Some are looking towards Saturday, 27th April with hope of a new dawn, some with scepticism and many with fear and apprehension.
You can not blame anyone.
People’s attitudes are usually determined by the history or account of their past and in this regard, the Electoral umpire, the OYSIEC doesn’t smell like roses.
” Going back to Egypt” is a dreaded statement in Christiandom.
To a Christian, Egypt signifies slavery, hunger, deprivation, oppression and death.
Egypt represents a terrible past, better forgotten and no Christian prays to go back to Egypt.
For citizens of Oyo state, where they will never pray to go back to, whenever Local Government Election is discussed is Eruwa.
Why is it so?
Aare Isiaka Olaguju SAN, as chairman of OYSIEC conducted the 2021 Local Government Election in Oyo state.
Unfortunately, that election left behind tales of woes and bitterness in Ibarapa East Local Government, most especially, Eruwa town, the headquarters of the Local Government.
What was witnessed in that peace loving environment on the eve of election and on election day was nothing but a full blown war brought on the innocent and hapless people of the Local Government by PDP thugs led by the former Chairman of the Parks Management System, Mukaila Auxillary.
The Labor Party had braved the odds and presented candidates to challenge the PDP.
It was looking certain that the people of Ibarapa East, who felt they have benefitted nothing concrete from the Makinde Government were prepared to give their votes to anything but the PDP.
Obviously, the young guys who contested under the Labour Party would have benefitted from the rejection of the PDP.
The PDP was under similar threats in Ido in 2021.
The PDP, sensing imminent defeat, called for a reinforcement of thugs from Ibadan and Auxillary was dispatched ahead of an army of thugs.
The OYSIEC also did Its part in this tragic event.
The election in Ido was suspended by the Commission, acting on powers given to the chairman by virtue of section 46 of Its Law.
This was to enable the PDP to treat Ido and Ibarapa East in isolation.
Eruwa and Lanlate was besieged from the eve of election all through the early morning of election when the towns were turned to a theatre of war.
The election was violently and completely hijacked by Auxillary and his army of thugs.
By the time the dust settled, four innocent lives have been taken by the thugs.
Countless number of people were severely injured and the towns have become desolate as many who could, have left their homes and ran to the bushes.
The unfortunate aspect of this whole scenario is the fact that, yours truly was on the phone with the OYSIEC chairman and the then Commissioner of police, Mrs. Ngozi Nwosu, appraising them of the situation in Ibarapa East.
I remember asking the OYSIEC chairman to postpone the election in Ibarapa East to avoid loss of lives through WhatsApp chat.
Unfortunately, the election in Ido was suspended instead of Ibarapa East that was in imminent danger.
A script you say? I also thought so.
From the killing field of Ibarapa East, OYSIEC went ahead to announce the PDP as winners of an election that never held.
Ido was occupied a few days later and the people, having seen what happened in Ibarapa East remained indoors while PDP, Auxillary and OYSIEC did their did.
I have gone to this length to highlight the events of 2021 because just as the OYSIEC have been busy giving assurances now, It did the same in 2021.
Though, I must admit that the opposition in 2023 is a formidable one, compared to 2021 and this is without prejudice to both the Labor Party and the Zenith Labor Party which challenged PDP in 2021.
For OYSIEC, Ibarapa East, especially Eruwa will always remain a nemesis, the “Egypt” which the Commission must never take us back to.
History is on the sidelines, waiting to take further records.
What manner of record will OYSIEC make for History this time around?
The answer will be provided on Saturday, 27th April, 2023.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.