PENNY DALE & VICTORIA UWONKUNDA, BBC Africa, write on the popularity of the Norwegian fish, better known as Stock fish, a unique ingredient in culinary among Nigerians
Popularity parties The popularity of the two major parties in the country remains a yardstick to determine the candidate to be voted for by the electorate, but the personalities that dominated the scene in Osun state have increased the number of political parties.
The personalities that are flagbearers of five major political parties, Gboyega Oyetola of All Progressives Congress, APC, Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Moshood Adeoti of the Action Democratic Party, ADP, Iyiola Omisore of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and Fatai Akinbade of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, are leaving no stone unturned to ensure victory of their party in the coming election.
Though, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, is also a personality to be reckoned with, the choice of party and his frequent defection from one political party to another has affected his popularity as many of his followers have refused to follow him to the new party.
He will definitely pull crowd because of the involvement of the former Governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and his deputy, Retired Justice Folahanmi, who was suspended because of the letter he wrote to expose Governor Rauf Aregbesola, while still serving as the state Judge.
Speculations According to speculations and analysis by political gladiators, of all the 48 candidates released by INEC, only APC, PDP, SDP, ADP, and ADC, may not negotiate for money or appointment like many unpopular candidates who have already showed intention to align with major political parties to get money or political appointment.
Therefore, the September 22 election may be a serious battle among the five parties as they are presently controlling high number of members and also have strong political influence with committed followers in the state.
Gboyega Oyetola (APC) The candidate of the APC is the Chief of Staff to the state government until his resignation recently to contest the governorship election.
He is no doubt intelligent and possesses all the requisite to be the governor of Osun state.
He has financial muscle to flesh being a very rich man that was said to have managed the company of Bola Tinubu before he was sent to Osun to become the Chief of Staff in the state.
The state government and Tinubu would also support his campaign financially, hence, making it easy for him to contest with rich candidates in the race.
The present Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, though, may not like the choice of Oyetola, the work he has done in the right years of his tenure would seriously be relied upon and would be the major campaign for Oyetola.
The personality of Aregbesola and many chieftains of APC would seriously determine the victory of APC.
However, the major problem that may hinder his free ride to the government house is the circumstances that led to his emergence as the party’s flagbearer through a direct primary which was rejected by many of his co-contestants in the primary election and some members of APC who alleged that he was imposed on the party.
Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP) The candidate of PDP is also a personality that would pull crowd because of the already built name and personality of his late brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke.
Ademola, emerged the Senator representing Osun West because of the sympathy votes he got shortly after the death of his brother, and thus replaced his late brother at the Senate.
Some people, especially the family of Adeleke believed that the state government was involved in the death of Isiaka because he has shown intention to contest the governorship election.
Another factor that may help PDP candidate is the financial muscle he has to flesh.
He is surely being supported by his rich brother who is the father of the popular musician, Davido, Deji Adeleke.
Ademola in a video trending on social media as hinted that he would be supported by the richest man in Africa, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who is a very close friend of his rich brother, Deji Adeleke.
But, his love for dancing which people have seen as “abnormal” is the major discussion and a major campaign against him by the ruling party.
His inability to address issues whenever asked to talk in public is another hindrance that may likely affect him.
The major problem is the certificate which is being challenged in court.
The certificate that surfaced online showed that the PDP candidate has F9 in one subject and pending in others.
This to many people, has showed that he does not qualify to govern the state.
Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (ADP) The candidate of Action Democratic Party, ADP, is the major problem for the ruling APC in the coming election.
He is likely to have sympathy vote because of his alleged marginalisation by the Governor when he was the SSG.
Most of his works were said to have been given to the Chief of Staff, Gboyega Oyetola, who is now the candidate of APC.
He was said to have suffered for the party, especially when he was remanded for many times in different prisons, among other party chieftains, during the time of Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Another factor that may favour him is the “West Agenda” being clamoured for by political leaders in the state.
Some of the leaders believed that the West Senatorial District should produce the next Governor in the state.
This clamour for West has led to the defection of many chieftains of the party from the ruling APC.
But, the newness of the party has been a major discussion as people continue to wonder how they would educate voters, especially, market women and traders who are the largest voters, to recognise their logo on the ballot paper.
Senator Iyiola Omisore (SDP) The candidate of SDP has been in the race for a very long time and has always been the major contenders, though under the platform platform of PDP.
An indigene of Ile-Ife in the East senatorial district of the state, Omisore was between 1999 and 2001 the Deputy Governor of the state.
He was the running mate of Chief AdebisI Akande in the 1999 election and it was on record that he sponsored the campaign of the then Alliance for Democracy (AD) that produced Akande.
He however parted ways with Akande following his alleged intention to take over from the former Governor, a situation which did not go down well with Akande who was also interested in a second term.
However, Omisore was impeached by the state House of Assembly in a controversial circumstance and he eventually pitched tent with the PDP leaders in the state.
He was detained for months following his alleged complicity in the killing of the late Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief James Ajibola Ige who was murdered in his Bodija, Ibada residence in December, 2001, but later discharged and acquitted.
Alhaji Fatai Akinbade (ADC) Alhaji Fatai Akinade Akinbade served as the Secretary to the state government throughout the seven and a half years tenure of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and he was a force to reckon with during the Oyinlola’s tenure as he awards contract to people generously withoutexpecting returns.
Akinbade, a political leader to thousands of people cut across various political parties in the state who hails from Ogbaagba in Iwo zone of Osun West senatorial district.
He was the state chairman of the PDP during the administration of Chief Adebisi Akande and it was during his time that the PDP took over from the Alliance for Democracy (AD).
He’s seen as a political strategist with supporters all over the state and influence across the country.
In 2011, he resigned from the government of Oyinlola to contest the governorship of the state, an ambition he pursued with vigour but ventually failed