Everytime I reflect and analyze the circumstances and the results of the 2023 gubernatorial election in Oyo State, I always come to one conclusion that Seyi Makinde who was declared winner of the polls did not actually win and Teslim Folarin, who was runner up in that election did not loose the election!
I know those reading this would be confused given the fact that the runner up, Senator Folarin of the APC did not even challenge the declaration at the Election Petition Tribunal.
Yes. He did not. I assume, just like I have seen, Folarin realized that there is nothing to challenge since he never lost in the first instance!
I have heard many spoken about the results declared being a landslide, how and why they thought such a ” landslide” was made possible by some factors ranging from Makinde’s performance, Folarin’s perceived “shortcomings”, sabotage, interference from outside Oyo State, effects of internal wranglings and many more.
Interestingly, all of the above reasons had their effects on the outcome of the election results. Yet, I maintain, Folarin did not loose!
I have critically dissected the results of the last Gubernatorial election. Terrible as the results looked on the surface, it yet proved that Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin is the strongest single force in Oyo State politics today.
I have said that all the reasons adduced by watchers and commentators of politics as being responsible for the results announced were correct.
I stand to be corrected, no politician today in Oyo State will go to an election in the manner Folarin went on 18th March, 2023 and will still be able to score about 250,000 votes.
To those who know. Folarin faced men and principalities!
He was face to face with the most lethal conspiracy in the history of politics in Oyo State.
For a man who had to face an incumbent, a highly compromised Media, orchestrated demonization, blackmail from within and outside his Party, a man, who on the eve of election have been rendered horse de combat by forces mighty and powerful, limited in resources and committed foot soldiers due to duress and blackmail to have pulled such a result, he obviously did not loose to Seyi Makinde.
The question here is, what is the worth of each Groups who came together to fight Teslim Folarin?
Good enough and thankfully to Makinde, he did confirmed that he enjoyed support from the APC and mentioned some names.
If you isolate this Groups and divide the votes scored by Makinde by the number of Groups, how would you not come to the conclusion that Folarin actually did not loose the election?
Undoubtedly, the numbers recorded for Makinde were not credited to his merits. They were products of conspiracies, sabotage and blackmail.
While it is easy to put a score of about 250,000 votes for Folarin, What exactly is Makinde’s worth?
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
