While the 2018 Osun governorship election subjects Nigeria's fledgling democracy to another critical test, its inherent lessons bound, as preparations for nomination of candidates gather momentum in the ranks of competing political parties. The lessons are indeed useful to states with transiting governors as well as opposition parties that are democratically disposed to grab power, relying on popular and acceptable candidates.

It is no longer news that the exiting governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbeshola, through his performance, offered a good example of how a leader and custodian of people's mandate can assume notoriety and attain to failure in governance and overall leadership. Known for his ill-temper, stubbornness and administrative highhandedness, Aregbeshola administered and pocketed Osun as his personal estate. He doesn't pretend as his loyalty is solely channeled to Jagaban Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the Asiwaju of Lagos, whom he believes made him a governor.

Unperturbed by the plight of the supposed owners of the mandate he exercises, Aregbeshola never paid salaries promptly nor embarked on people-oriented projects. It took an unjustified but corrupt act of President Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government, which recently and illegally released about N16 billion from the Paris Club Refund, in the guise of “a bailout”, to enable him offset months of unpaid salaries and emoluments owed Osun workers as a show of desperation to win the governorship election.

In apparent manifestation of greed and colonial mentality, Aregbeshola, in total disregard for caution willed the 2018 APC governorship ticket to Tinubu, as he insisted on his cousin, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, who doubles as his chief of staff. Good reasoning and entreaties to prevail on the governor fell on deaf ears. In Aregbeshola’s political calculation, Osun State belongs to him and his godfather. The collective interest of the party leaders and the electorate who had wished an end to Tinubu's colonialism in Osun never counted.

On the part of Osun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the lesson showcased is equally clear and inspiring. The party never pretended on its desire to wrestle power from Aregbeshola and his godfather. Majority of the party leaders and delegates deliberately rooted for Sen Ademola Adeleke in the keenly contested primary election. The choice of Adeleke, going by his popularity and acceptability, whittled down distractions orchestrated by political opponents ahead of the election. Every attempt made to ridicule and subject him to public opprobrium, as witnessed during the certificate saga, recorded a minimal effect as proven by his victory in the first ballot.

Adeleke's victory was obviously made possible by a combination of good factors, including his pedigree. He has neither political baggage nor populated political enemies. Instead, Adeleke rode on the collective goodwill of his family and personal ethos to change the tide. As a well grounded opposition party in the state, the PDP yearned for the Adelekes to politically dislodge Tinubu/Aregbeshola and APC in the state.

In view of the above, it is obvious that the lessons delivered to the political space through the Osun governorship election are two-fold. First, the exiting governors desperately seeking to enthrone their cronies, relatives and son-in-laws - as in the case of Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha - they have the last chance to make a rethink and informed decision. Aregboshola, Tinubu and APC leaders are sweating profusely to deliver Oyetola in the re-run, who obviously lacks sufficient popularity and acceptability to contend with Adeleke. In the midst of an alleged connivance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other electoral malpractices, the dancing senator is still leading with more votes.

The second lesson will be definitely for Imo PDP, if the party is contesting the 2019 governorship election to win. The party leaders and delegates already have Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Sen Samuel Anyanwu and Prof Jude Njoku as major aspirants to elect their governorship candidate.

Recalling how Ihedioha as the Imo PDP governorship candidate lost in 2015 contest - despite obvious advantages he manifested as the Acting Speaker of Federal House of Representatives dominated by the PDP which also controlled the Federal Government - one wonders the magic he intends to make in 2019, if given the governorship ticket again. Though Ihedioha parades the requisite credentials and legislative experience that may help him succeed if voted as governor, his obscure approach to partisanship and low-rated popularity in Imo remained his political albatross. This, seemingly, widens the vacuum between his governorship project and some major stakeholders in the PDP.

That is not all. It is also alleged that Ihedioha meddled in the budgeting, contracting and monetary kick-backs that stalled some failed and abandoned road projects in Imo State and the South-east, using his position as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. Accusing fingers, especially from Okorocha's camp, have been pointed at him severally. His inability to refute such charges tends to suggest or probably confirm his disdain for the people of Imo State. It is a general belief, though in some quarters, that Ihedioha attracted a heap of baggage and may be invited to answer questions by relevant anti-graft agencies, if he emerges winner of the PDP governorship ticket for 2019 contest. That, will no doubt, form destructive instruments of destabilisation, distractions and blackmail against Ihedioha as the PDP governorship candidate in Imo.

Unfortunately, it does appear that the Aboh-Mbaise-born politician has retrogressively made more enemies than friends in Imo political arena since he started pursuing his gubernatorial aspiration. A random survey suggests that many influential political heavyweights have deserted Ihedioha, largely because of his tricks and non-inclusive approach to politics. While some party leaders harbour the perception that if given the gubernatorial power, Ihedioha will be extremely difficult to tame, others see him as a bigot with the tendencies of cornering major developmental projects to his Mbaise clan, against other sections of the state. Those projecting this notion had always made reference to his days as deputy Speaker, when he allegedly diverted virtually all meaningful projects to Mbaise clan, using the instrumentality of the position meant for the entire South-east.

On the part of Prof Njoku, it is a known fact that while trying to achieve more as Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), the erudite scholar fell victim of the wrath of then president Olusegun Obasanjo. He was accused of corrupt practices alongside the minister of education, Prof Fabian Osuji and president of Senate, Chief Adolphus Wabara. He left FUTO dishonorably, with scare of injuries. That incident has hunted Njoku politically anytime he aspires for elective position. But, suffice to say that the professor showcases good qualities and charisma of a true leader.

In the case of Sen Anyanwu, the experienced lawmaker has everything good to his advantage. Rising with candour to the national political grid as an elected council chairman, state assembly legislator and, presently, a Senator of the Federal Republic representing Owerri zone (Imo East), Anyanwu - popularly called Sam-daddy - is relatively young, promising, intelligent, smart, colourful and the only socially-inclined aspirant in Imo PDP. As a matter of fact, Sam-daddy has no skeletons in his cupboard. Another advantage is his towering profile and popularity that clearly cut across the 27 local government areas of Imo State. This is as his gubernatorial aspiration garners multiple endorsements by party leaders and stakeholders who put so much confidence and trust in him. There is no gainsaying that Sam-daddy is loved and cherished by majority of Imo PDP leaders, whose support totally inspires his confidence.

It is, therefore, apt to posit that Anyanwu is synonymous to Adeleke of Osun State. The two senators share certain qualities in common: acceptability, popularity, political-purity and goodwill. With clear signals that some political parties in Imo State - such as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), already enmeshed in crisis - may adopt other party's governorship candidate, the PDP delegates should know that it is only the charismatic Sam-daddy that manifests the popularity and acceptability capable of attracting such adoption and votes across party lines for Imo PDP.

•Uzoukwa, a seasoned journalist and PR practitioner, is currently pursuing his Doctorate Degree on Mass Communication in Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri.

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