“Despite coming from the military environment, Ohunyeye has set the pace for aspirants across political parties in embracing democratic principles ahead of the primaries.”
After the completion of party gubernatorial primaries in Edo State, one of the two states having off- cycle elections this year, attention will now shift to Ondo State for the elections of political parties’ candidates for the November gubernatorial election.
The primary election is one of the critical stages of leadership recruitment in a democracy because it is from this level that candidates are presented to the public while one of them will be elected to lead for a stipulated number of years, four years in the case of Nigeria.
Political parties, therefore, have the moral burden to put forward their best hands for contest which will deepen participation and ultimately engender socioeconomic and political development.
Presentation of quality candidates by political parties will promote a healthy contest and instil confidence in the electorate. Therefore, party members must shun inducement and let the love of the state and the people guide them in choosing their flag bearers at the polls.
One aspirant in the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the Ondo gubernatorial election, Dr Olamide Ohunyeye, rightly harped on this at almost every parley he has had with members of his political parties ahead of their primary in April. The ultimate goal of delegates or party members- for a direct primary-is to look out for ideas, integrity, competence, and capacity. When delegates choices are influenced by pecuniary gains, the destiny of the whole population has been put in serious danger because chances of electing a purposeful leader will thin out. Ohunyeye alluded to this while meeting with APC stakeholders in Idanre Local Government Area earlier this month.
“I cannot singlehandedly elect myself as the governor. It is you people that will vote for me. If I bring money today to start bribing party members and I emerge and you can no longer reach me, you wouldn’t blame me because what you should benefit following my emergence had been used to buy your conscience.
“If some politicians come here to start enticing anyone with huge kickbacks, please, take caution. This is because, they would want to recover all the money spent during their electioneering campaigns. And this action would affect all sundry. Specifically, our children, our great grand-children and indeed future generations will be affected,” he was quoted to have said while holding the parley.
Ohunyeye’s courage to tread a path different from the usual way of striving to emerge as the highest bidder to win parties’ tickets shows a man religiously submitted to democratic principles with the sole commitment to performance in governance for the benefit of his party and the generality of his state. Having declared to play by the rules, he painstakingly highlighted some of his programmes for the state to convince party members that he is the right man for the job after the completion of Akeredolu-Aiyedatiwa eight years in office.
Speaking about the highly essential need to rejig cocoa industry, which is traditional to the people of the state, particularly Idanre, is a master stroke and impressive display of persuasive skill; the appropriate approach which encourages internal democracy rather than throwing around money to compromise the integrity and conscience of party members.
“Beyond Idanre, there are so many things that we have to do for our state. When our fathers, Pa Adekunle Ajasin and Pa Adebayo Adefarati, were in government, they laid ample precedence for the development of Ondo state. That was when Oluwa Glass in Igbokoda was established; that was when Okitipupa Oil Palm Processing flourished. Cocoa processing was there before, but everything died. Once you elect me in, we will start all over. We have to start from the scratch,” he stressed.
Members of the party in the local council area must have been excited hearing about their immediate need from a man with genuine interest and commitment to invest in their community, rather than distributing a few naira notes that will be exhausted before the day runs out.
One of the qualities of a leader is the ability to persuade followers; this is where he or she displays charisma, understanding of issues, and human management. Political leaders who are rich in ideas need not buy loyalty but easily earn the trust of their followers within the party and beyond. Despite coming from the military environment, Ohunyeye has set the pace for aspirants across political parties in embracing democratic principles ahead of the primaries. The appropriate step other aspirants have to take is to follow this path for the deepening of democracy through contests of ideas in the primaries.
No doubt, Ohunyeye’s activities since he threw his hat in the ring have shown a man with total respect for the rule of law, party supremacy, and internal party democracy. These tenets are essential catalysts for the development of every society. If Ohunyeye emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of APC in the November election, it would not be a surprise because he is currently toiling by showcasing himself as an astute politician with class.
•Ajewole is an Abuja-based public affairs analyst.
