Osun election has taught us that the era of incumbency is gone - Idahosa

Charles Idahosa

A former Political Adviser to immediate past Governor of Edo State (Adams Oshiomhole), Charles Idahosa on Sunday said that the outcome of the Osun State governorship election has taught the All Progressives Congress, APC, a big lesson.

According to Idahosa, the outcome of the election showed that Osun residents were tired of Aregbesola, whom he said took people for granted.

He therefore advised APC leaders to restrategise and mend broken ties ahead of forthcoming elections.

He said: “Governor Aregbesola must have taken the people for granted because during his reelection in 2014, the state was completely paralysed. The civil servants were on strike. In fact, the election took place while they were on strike and he won.

“So, there is a tendency for him to think that whether the workers are paid or not, he will be home and dry; that it is business as usual. But times have changed.

“We must face the reality on ground. I think the Osun election has taught us a big lesson, which is the era of incumbency is gone. That an incumbent governor is contesting or wants to install a successor doesn’t really matter again.

“We have to call on the national chairman of our party, who coincidentally is from Edo State that we should put our heads together and look at all the problems within the party with a view to resolve them as quickly as we can. We have enough time to look at the 36 state chapters of the party, including the FCT, address the challenges so that we can settle down because what happened in Osun state at the weekend doesn’t look good to me.

“ We really need to set up a proper reconciliation committee because in Osun I was told that the APC governorship candidate, Gboyega Oyetola is from the same Senatorial district with Aregbesola. I don’t know how far that is true but I think he didn’t really listen to the sensibilities of our people there who felt that there should be respect for the principles of zoning in the state. If that is correct, that is definitely a time bomb.

“So, I think we have a lot of work to do. We should not just assume that all is well because this is the last election before the general election next year. We really need to go back to the drawing board. Nobody should assume that he can do it alone.”