Heroines of Osun Gubernatorial Election and the Youth Challenge
Nseobong Okon-Ekong, writes on how the 2018 Osun State governorship election mirrors the increasing participation of women and youths in the political process
Adebisi Mujidat Rufai, Hannah Taiwo Jegede, Rasheedat Adedayo and Mary Tosin Ayodele have a few things on common. They are all from Osun State. They are women. They are politicians and they desire to govern their home state. Among the 48 candidates jostling for an opportunity to lead Osun, these four ladies took a chance to stand shoulder-to-shoulder to present their sterling qualities before the voting public.
Whereas only four of the governorship candidates were women, other political parties that did not hand their flag over to women eagerly handed the opportunity for running mate to the assumed weaker sex. For instance, 37 year-old Tosin Agbonmagbe played this role in the APA.
The teeming number of female and youth candidates for public offices may not be unconnected with the outright removal of nomination and expression of interest fees for this category of members of the society. The United People’s Party (UPP) and the RP among other political parties have adopted this strategy to woo women and youths not only to embrace it’s membership but to participate actively in the electoral process by contesting for offices.
Another interesting feature of the 2018 Osun State governorship election is the enthusiastic participation by youths across partisan lines.
The increasing participationof women and youths lends credence and integrity to the political process.
Mercy beat other contenders to emerge flagbearer for Restoration Party (RP). Flying the flag of the Nigeria Elements Progressive Party (NEPP) is Hannah. Rasheedat represents Peoples Alliance National Development and Liberty (PANDEL). Adebisi who is 37 years is the strong woman of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) in Osun.
Mercy described the Restoration Party as a political party that is friendly to women and physically challenged. She said, “It is a very good platform for us to vie for any position.” Apart from the administration fee, the nomination fee for every female aspirant to presidency level is free in RP. “it’s a party for the youths .They use the wisdom of the elders and the strength of the youth. So that’s why I decided to pitch my tent in Restoration Party.”
The governorship candidate of the RP in Osun State believes, “that women are the most endangered specie in politics. So, I felt it’s time we women stood up and stop being in the other room and come out . We have the potentials and we have what it takes. A woman is always like five-in-one; we are the home managers, we are always into career, we take care of the children, we take care of our husbands. If we can do that ,we can as well manage a nation.”
At 72 years, Mr. Albert Adeogun, running mate to the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke is the oldest candidate in race. But he has other formidable compatriots in the elders club, including the governorship candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore who is 60 , Mr. Adegboyega Adeyemi of PT, 63 uear-old, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Julius Okunola of Accord Party, who is 60 years. Others are Fatai Akinbade of African Democratic Congress (ADC) at 63 years. His counterpart of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Alhaji Moshood Adeoti is 65 years.
Omisore, however, balanced his ageing profile with the choice of 36 year-old, Yemi Lawal as his running mate, a Social Sciences graduaue from the Obafemi Awolowo University. He served in the family business, Olorun-Esan Petroleum (an Independent Oil Marketing firm) and a Major Distributor to Nigeria Breweries Plc, International Breweries Plc , Nigeria Bottling Company among many others after graduation. By 2009, he established his haulage business which grew to a fleet of about eight 33,000litres trucks in 2010. Having exceled in his haulage business, fearless Azeez took a giant stride by venturing into the Tourism and Entertainment Industry. This birthed a redefining of the lounge business especially in Ibadan and it’s environs with the launching of GQ lounge, a subsidiary of Gentlemen’s Quarters Global Services Limited in November 2012. GQ Global services limited is currently contributing more than 2000 direct and indirect jobs to the economy of SouthWestern Nigeria and part of the North Central.
He is the Osun state youth leader of the Social Democratic Party. Lawal is an inspiration to the youths .