BY MATLORD*

As the 2019 gubernatorial race gathers momentum in Oyo State, Southwest of Nigeria, it is necessary to enlighten the electorate in particular and observers on the relative chances of each of the major candidates vying for the Agodi Government House in Ibadan, capital of the State. While it is not the aim or intention of this writer to speak for or write in favour of any candidate, it is for analysts to prepare the minds of the people for what they should look for in each of the competitors.So far five major contenders are locking horns in a bid to seek the mandate of the people and these are: a former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Senator Olufemi Lanlehìn of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and an oil magnate, Engr. Seyi Makinde of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).Others are a former deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Chief Bayo Adelabu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Barrister Sharafadeen Alli, a former Secretary to the State Government of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).Four of the five candidates are of Ibadan origin while the fifth hails from Ogbomoso – predicting an exciting and interesting scenario for the forthcoming election, since Ibadanland appears to provide the major battlefield for all of them.Let’s start from Senator Olufemi Lanlehìn of the ADC. Femi is a well- known political figure in Oyo State whose father, late Chief Samuel Lanlehìn was a staunch Awolowo loyalist. He has made several attempts to clinch the gubernatorial laurel but has always been plagued by wrong choice of political associations. Same thing is happening to him now and his present greatest undoing is falling out with his political overlord, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, a former Governor of the State and an ever visible person on the political landscape of this country.Only recently, Barrister Sharafadeen Alli of the ZLP was anointed by the party’s leader in Oyo State, Ladoja. He may succeed in defeating Lanlehìn who has already fallen out of favour with his former political god-father even though he does not stand the chance of making it to the Agodi Government House. Next is Engr Seyi Makinde of the PDP who is reported to have expended billions of Naira on his unrelenting desire to wear the gubernatorial crown of Oyo State. He has quite a sizable number of supporters in Ibadanland who will be too eager to repay his philanthropy with their votes.However the larger members of the electorate see Makinde as an over ambitious young man who wants to jump to the top without climbing the ladder. They believe that the vast resources which he has invested in his gubernatorial project would be what he is most likely to recoup quickly if he gets into office. The people therefore appear skeptical about his genuine intention or full preparedness to serve then.As for Bayo Adelabu, this young APC candidate is seen by some as a wrong man in a wrong party. Also people wonder why a young man holding such an enviable position in an apex financial institution like the Central Bank of Nigeria should resign from such office and throw himself into the murky waters of politics. He is relying on the illusory fame and glory of his late grandfather, Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu who exploited the ignorance of his Ibadan people to attract unmerited popularity to himself as some people would say. Alhaji Adelabu though a famous politician during his time made very little or no contribution to the social or economic development of his Ibadan people but thrived only on the crude and primitive opposition to the Action Group government of Obafemi Awolowo. If after sixty years (March 25, 1958) of his grandpa’s death Bayo Adelabu thinks he can still use the late politician’s name to coast home to victory then he’s not being realistic. Last but by no means the least is Adebayo Alao Akala who though not an indigene of Ibadan has continued to increase his popularity rating in Ibadanland. Public opinion samples in market places, taxes and buses, mechanic workshops and among Okada riders indicate that the Ogbomoso – born political icon will be very hard to beat in Ibadanland. Apart from the large number of voters of Ibadan origin who want him back, Otunba Akala would also capture the votes of 70 percent of non-Ibadan traders, artisans motor transporters and students who are averse to the idea of an Ibadan man governing Oyo State so soon after Ajimobi’s tenure. The Oyo State gubernatorial race will be interesting to watch early next year. *MATLORD is a Media/Public Affairs Outfit based in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital.