Omisore's Brilliant Show on Channels
By Olawale Rasheed
For almost an hour, Senator Iyiola Omisore answered questions on Channels's Politics Today programme, dissecting Osun politics from multi dimensional perspectives which mesmerized Seun Okinbaloye, the anchor of the programme. From performance of incubent to his role in the state politics, Omisore demonstrated a strong mastery of issues which he backed up with facts and figures.
His depicting of incumbency factor as an albatross was quite apt. His puncturing of incumbent's claim to grassroots politics was punchy as he proved that the Governor came from Alimosho to engage in politics in Osun from 2006, and was therefore foreign. He contrasted that record to his own work and political experience, a participation spanning over a decade long before 2006.
His defence of his ward to ward rally was also quite impressive. He asserted that the votes are in the wards, and his strategy was to go out to meet the people, experience the reality of their challenges and make an assessment of the depth of the issues. This, he affirmed, was most important thing to do. A mega rally he said was just a stage show which does not actually reach the masses, except of course for the purpose of entertainment with lead singers and actors in Nigeria. Many of the crowd at mega rally he said are imported, while others had come to listen to musicians and enjoyed themselves.
His rendering of his experience on the campaign train was also revealing. He stated his coming face to face with stark disconnect between the people and the incumbent Governor. The people he said were practically appealing to him to come and rescue them from the tyranny of Aregbesola. He said the house to house campaign afforded him opportunity to meet the people and listen to their needs.
The incumbent he said could not try that model because he had failed to deliver on his electoral promises. If the incumbent had tried it, the people he said would have mobbed him.On his confidence about winning the election,he said his experience in the last two months has without doubt proven his acceptability to the electorate in Osun state.
On Ekiti elections, Omisore made the point that elections are lost not in a day but over a period . He said APC lost Ekiti election over two years ago. Osun election he said was won and lost over a year ago . The people he said had rejected the APC after seeing through the party deceit. The outcome Of Ekiti election he said was just a manifestation of decisions already taken by the people.
He countered the myth that military presence constitutes intimidation of voters. Omisore supplied statistics that showed that turn out in the last election was higher than that of 2011when tight Security was not provided. He noted that 2011 poll was about 34 Per cent turnout While that of 2014 was about 74 percent.He welcomed a replication of Ekiti model during the Osun state elections as has been promised by INEC.
And back to Osun politics, Omisore identified grinding poverty as the fallout of Aregbesola policies. He affirmed that the school reclassification was a bad policy which his administration will reverse. APC policies he said were motivated by profit giving examples of the single uniform policy which he said had pauperised the tailoring sector. He cited Opon Imo on which 8.4 billion naira was wasted and which he said contained 87 percent errors.
He explained how capital fight engineer poverty, how rural roads were neglected and how his eight point agenda will reverse the situation for the better.
Overall,Omisore was clearly at his best. He sounds very convincing on all counts
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