SOUTH WEST IS THE BATTLEGROUND FOR THE 2015 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION (OSUN)
Written by Suleiman A Gamawa.
No doubt Jonathan can boast a formidable support base in the South-South region, where he hails from, and the parts of the South-East, Buhari will surely enjoy a huge followership in the North. Getting majority votes in their respective comfort zones may not be a tough row to hoe for the two candidates though, but to win the race would require them winning majority of the votes in the South-West(Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo ) is generally seen as the main battleground for the 2015 presidential election.
The two powerful presidential contenders President Jonathan and former head of State Gen. Buhari would obviously save the best of their outing campaigns in the South-West,part of the country where the February election would be won and lost.
We need to looks at the constituents in South west region to determine how the votes would be cast in these states.
(2011 South-West data by INEC)
1. EKITI.............750,753. Voters
2. LAGOS..........6,247,845. Voters
3. OGUN...........1,869,326. Voters
4. ONDO...........1,558,975. Voters
5. OSUN............1,293,967. Voters
6. OYO..............2,577,490. Voters
TOTAL: .......... 14,298,356. Voters
5. OSUN STATE: Nickname (the state of living spring) is an inland state in south-western Nigeria. Created on 27 August 1991 split from part of Oyo State. The state name was derived from a Natural spring RIVER OSUN. Its has a population of about 4.1 million people mostly Yoruba, with 30 Local Government Area the capital of the state is Osogbo.
The state has a famous landmarks and important historical cities. include the ancient kingdom-capitals of Ijebu-Jesa, Ede, Iwo etc and also Ile-Ifẹ -Which is the origin of Yoruba culture. People around the world gather in Osun state to witness Yoruba cultural heritage. Is an Annual traditional festivities. Osun State has a large population of both Muslims and Christians and traditional faith (paganism).
The present Governor Engineer Rauf Aregbesola was formerly an activist. He was Lagos Commissioner for Works. He ran for Governorship election in 2007 under AC but INEC declare a PDP candidate Olagunsoye Oyinlola was the winner, then Aregbesola appealed the decision to court that the election was rigged and violence with full evidence and witnesses Engineer Rauf Aregbesola win the case on 26 November 2010 he was declared winner. And become the governor of Osun state.
According to the information gather by most of the Nigerian press on the political atmosphere for the 2015 general elections has gathered momentum in Osun State, especially as the February 14 presidential election dominates discussions at virtually every gathering.
While the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is vigorously campaigning for the presidential candidate of the party, General Muhammedu Buhari, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is not lagging behind in campaigning for President Goodluck Jonathan.
The APC remains very strong and the party has really gained grounds in the state in the last four years. The defection of many PDP chieftains to the APC has also added to its strength. The first civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, and former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a former national secretary of the PDP were among the PDP leaders who defected to the APC last year.
The defection of Adeleke significantly assisted Governor Rauf Aregbesola to garner sufficient votes in Osun West Senatorial District during the last August 9 governorship election in the state, as the areas were the strongholds of the PDP.
From indications, General Buhari clearly has an edge over President Jonathan in Osun, owing to the popularity of Governor Aregbesola and the widespread structure of the APC in the state, as well as the fact that majority of the people in the state seemed to prefer Buhari than Jonathan.
A trader at Ayetoro Market, Mrs Awoniyi Oluwadamilola told newsmen that she does not not belong to any political party, but would vote for Buhari in the forthcoming presidential election.
She said: “All these politicians are the same, but if I must choose between General Buhari and President Jonathan, of course, a blind man knows that Buhari is better. That does not mean that Jonathan is not okay. But he has tried and we should allow another person to also try. So, I will vote for Buhari. And may be that would stop Boko Haram.”
But Jonathan may be able to get appreciable votes in the Ife axis, owing to the popularity of the PDP candidate in the last governorship election in the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who hails from Ife.
A student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife who spoke with the journalist on condition of anonymity said nobody dare speak against Jonathan in the midst of Ife indigenes.
“Anytime we are discussing with indigenes of Ife, we dare not talk against Jonathan. Whoever does that would be dealt with by the Ife indigenes who are supporters of Senator Omisore”.
For the civil servants in the state, even though they are aggrieved over nonpayment of their salary by the state government, those who spoke with the press said that would not prevent them from voting for Buhari.
Question:
Do you think APC will get the Osun state 1,293,967 Voters. ?
Article by Suleiman A Gamawa
To read Part 4 click here: http://suleimanmd.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-battleground-for-hope-part-4-ondo.html?m=1
To read Part 3 click here: http://suleimanmd.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-battleground-for-hope-part-3-ogun.html?m=1
To read Part 2 click here: http://suleimanmd.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-battleground-for-hope-part-2-lagos.html?m=1
To read Part 1 click here: http://suleimanmd.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-battleground-for-hope-part-1-ekiti.html?m=1
Thank you........
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