Last Friday, a political comedy played out in Ibadan during what was billed as a declaration of Senator Sharafadeen Alli governorship ambition. The cast for this peculiar drama included the Senator representing Oyo South, Barr. Sharafadeen Alli, a troupe of Fuji musicians led by Saheed Osupa, and select chieftains of the APC. While this event was stage-managed to mimic a grand entry into the race, the farce inadvertently cast a long shadow over the presidency of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Challenging the Narrative in Oyo APC Politics
Did anyone notice that the event, purportedly a grand reception for a political messiah, saw surprisingly few people in attendance? Of that small number, how many are genuinely registered APC members? The Presidency must launch an independent investigation into this gathering. To the objective observer, the spectacle was nothing short of a political embarrassment.
To heighten the absurdity, Fuji star Saheed Osupa was drafted to anchor the crowd. He delivered a scripted line, claiming that Senator Alli represents the soul of Ibadan and that any “illegitimate son of Ibadan” would dare oppose him. “Omo Ale Ibadan ni o nii lo si ibi ti Olubadan nlo!” the musician declared.
It is a deeply nonsensical statement. One would hope our highly revered monarch, Oba Senator Rashidi Ladoja, would task his media handlers to disclaim any such involvement with political partisanship. The monarch has long maintained that he is the father of all. Can we truly say that the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, spoke for the entire Olubadan-in-Council on Friday when he suggested the council would distance itself from these political games?
The Saheed Osupa Controversy and Ibadan Traditional Leadership
The issue is not merely that Osupa’s comments were undemocratic, or that he attempted to leverage the Oba’s name to justify his performance fee. The true silliness lies in the suggestion that any Ibadan indigene who disagrees with a candidate is somehow illegitimate.
Has the Olubadan told us where he is going? It is neither lawful nor appropriate for a traditional ruler to show public bias when many Ibadan sons and daughters will appear on the ballot. The Olubadan would never send an unserious element like Osupa—an apostle of double-speak who insults Governor Seyi Makinde with one breath and sings his praises with the next—to be his emissary. Who can trust a performer who prioritises a meal ticket over the dignity of the throne?
I am certain that Baba Olubadan, a veteran politician before his ascension, knows the delicacy of our times. He will never heat up the polity by siding with one aspirant while many others are in the race. So, we ask: who is the real Omo Ale here? Saheed Osupa, take your sub!
Sharafadeen Alli Governorship Bid: The Desperation Behind the Agenda
Everyone has observed the desperation defining the pro-Alli narrative over the last few weeks. Powerful politicians in Abuja have attempted to package a Senator who has shown little of substance during his time in the Senate. They have made him look like the best prospect for Oyo State, deceiving the President into backing someone who struggles to justify a return ticket due to his lack of performance.
In another bizarre twist, the Abuja cabal also orchestrated an award for Alli via the Daily Independent Newspaper. That ‘agbelero’—or what the locals call ‘sakamanje’—award claimed Alli was the best legislator. We must ask: what metrics were used to determine this?
Alli is indeed a champion at erecting billboards to greet constituents for Sallah, but his time in the Senate has been largely unremarkable. We know House of Representatives members from Ibadan who have significantly outperformed him. Hon. Abass Adigun Agboworin facilitated the Nigeria Air Force base in Ajia, and Hon. Remi Oseni has made a tangible impact on party members.
We have watched this theatre. We have seen how desperate those trying to force Senator Alli on the APC are, and we can state clearly: this charade will not succeed. President Tinubu must open his eyes and stop this circus before it seals the APC’s fate in Oyo State. There are better individuals in the party capable of giving Governor Makinde a real challenge.
*Muritala, a member of the APC, writes from Orogun, Ibadan.
