By Ola Ajayi
THEbattle for the Oyo State Government House has in recent times never been a battle for the gentle. It is especially so given the fact that Ibadan, the state capital is dubbed the political headquarters of the South-West and has its own idiosyncrasies. One of such is captured in the saying: “Ibadan people don’t serve a governor twice”.

Even though this slogan has been variously dismissed to be a coinage of some Peoples Democratic Party, PDP chieftains in the state, residents in the sprawling city still hold tenaciously to it.

Ahead of the 2015 gubernatorial election and following the emergence of a crowd of aspirants, the recurring question on the lips of observers is on whether the second term jinx could be broken. A peep into the pedigree of the aspirants across the leading political parties indicates that a tough race is in the offing.

APC Governor Abiola Ajimobi

He is as at now the only governorship aspirant in the APC. Though, the influence of the incumbency cannot be under-estimated, there are some discordant tunes that indicate things may not be that rosy for the governor. Residents in the state see Governor Ajimobi from different perspectives. To the elites, he is the messiah; To street traders, he is a disaster to the state; to the civil servants he is a necessary evil.

Olaosebikan, Ajimobi and Akala

While few of them pray for his re-election, greater percentage are unhappy with him because he is yet to fulfil some of the promises he made to them; to the masses, he wears the toga of ‘touch me not.

To some party members, he remains an ‘ingrate’ who never pays for one’s sweat. In spite of all these, you cannot close your eyes to some sterling qualities that characterise his administration. An undisputable fact is the transformation he has brought to the state. Irrespective of what some traders say, an outsider now sees the state as one of the neatest in the country. The once-violent and dreaded drivers’ union, now displays some civility.

If these and other achievements mean much to the people, he may be re-elected. But, observers say the recent death of the business mogul, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao has cast sunset on his political fortune in the 2015 election.

PDP Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala

He first governed the state for about 11 months when his then boss, Senator Rashidi Ladoja was controversially impeached in 2006 and later ruled the state as a democratically-elected governor from 2007 to 2011.

Though, some elites, particularly from Ibadan who ensured his exit from the Government House in 2011 still have reservation about him, he remains a rallying point for the PDP in Oyo politics.

Many still want him back as the governor because they say there was cash flow during his administration. He understands that development is good and desirable but it is of no use if the people live in perpetual hunger that may not even allow them to enjoy the said development. Compared with the incumbent, Akala is far closer to the masses many of whom even if out of office, daily hang around his residences in Bodija and Ogbomoso.

Elder Wole Oyelese

Oyelese, a committed chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party can be best described as Methuselah in Oyo politics. He has gained considerable political experience under such charismatic leaders as Pa Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Bola Ige and the maestro of  grassroots politics, Chief  Lamidi Adedibu.

Before he was elected local government chairman in 1991, he was a political party chairman twice for Peoples Solidarity Party and defunct Social Democratic Party in 1989 and 1990 respectively. He was appointed Minister of Power and Steel and Special Duties in 1993 and 1995 respectively. He is one of the founding fathers of the PDP in the state. He stepped down as a governorship aspirant for Senator Rashidi Ladoja in 2003.

Senator Teslim Folarin

He was the Senate leader between 2007 and 2011. He was highly instrumental to the exit of Chief Alao-Akala’s due to strained relationship between them. He won elections when late Adedibu held sway. He is believed to have enjoyed the support of the national leadership of the party. He is seen by some as the beacon of hope by some while others seriously disagree.

Kehinde Olaosebikan

Mr. Kehinde Olaosebikan has remained a key player in the politics of the state since the first day of the Fourth Republic. His debut in Oyo politics was on May 29, 1999 when he was appointed the Chief Press Secretary to the then State Governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina after a glowing journalism practice in Abuja.

Journalism practice

Apart from his well established professional adroitness, he was accessible to all. In spite of his unsuccessful attempt to the House of Representatives as the Alliance for Democracy Candidate for Oluyole Federal Constituency in 2003, he stayed put making profound contributions to Oyo politics. Many party enthusiasts frustrated with the old order in the PDP are looking up to Olaosebikan to carve a new image for the party in the state.

Prof. Taoheed Adedoja

A former minister for Special Duties and Sports is another contestant on the platform of the PDP. He has mass followership in Ibadan, Ibarapa, Oyo, Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso zones of the state. Having tested political waters twice as governorship candidate in 1998 and 2007, he stands a very good chance. He was the governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria in 2007, but his late defection to the party took its toll on his election then. If experience in governance and public acceptability count in the state politics, he may spring surprises.

Azeem Gbolarumi

A former deputy governor in the controversial 11 months reign of Chief Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, he controls a sizeable followership. He is one of the students of late Lamidi Adedibu politics. He is a grassroots mobiliser. However, becoming the governor of the state may be difficult where his former boss, Akala and others hold sway. His acceptability as the flagbearer of the party in the 2015 election is seen as a tall dream. Nevertheless, in Ibadan politics is a different ball game.

Others

Others known to be involved in the contest in the PDP are former associate of Alao-Akala, Dr. Isaac Owolabi, Engineer Femi Babalola, Seye Makinde, Prof. Soji Adejumo, Dr. Adeduntan Azeez. The Labour Party also has Comrade Olu Abiala