For judgemental sake, I am a devoted party man. And I am a card carrying member of APC since 2014.
I have been following political twisting of Ilero and of course Kajola LGA since 1999. The truth about it is that it has always being one sided politics until the emergence of Ajumobi as Oyo State governor in 2011.
The political divides were mainly between PDP and AD with majority of Christians and muslims as followers respectively. This led to political cum religion battle intertwined with Obaship legitimacy encountered in early 2000s. I witnessed how my fellow indigenes were brutalized. In fact, I was beside one Mojidi that narrowly escaped death by gunshot, the bullet hit his mouth and that was led to what was later popular known as (Mojidi robunmi)
The PDP leaders in Kajola have always settled for cash and other tangible benefits offered to them. But the progressive inclinations and persistence of Alhaji A.A Gbadamosi gave hopes to all incorruptible grassroot political followers- including my maternal grandfather.
They followed his truthful but unbeneficial leadership for a better tomorrow. As young as I was then, I tried to provide reasoning to why old men and women were following someone who is young enough to be their son. I can recall my grandfather told me the different between PDP and AD stemmed from Awolowo progressive ideology. And they were following A.A Gbadamosi because he is an enlightened and unrepentant Awoist.
In 2007 when the House of Representatives ticket was last zoned to Kajola, Olopoenia’s son became the candidate of PDP without regards for the party leadership position his father was holding as at that time.
The AD members never complained nor agitated about the choice of PDP. Fast forward to 2022, “table don turn” and people are agitating about a passive political domination by the people of Isale Ilero. But they failed to raise this question when the same Isale Ilero people supported Mr Olaleru to became the Member of Oyo State House of Assembly representing Kajola LGA. Another indigene of Ilero from Okiti Compound- Mr Akeem Mustapha is representing Kajola in Oyo State House of Assembly, yet there is no suspected political domination by Isale Ilero people.
A.A. Gbadamosi has been selflessly serving people of Ilero from the time immemorial with little or no benefit to show for it. The time has now come for a good person not to sink in the place of the bad and here comes a sudden outcry of marginalisation.
The truth is that he never imposed his son Badmos Soliu Adebare on anyone, he was subjected to contest the primary election as any other aspirants, and #Ire emerged victorious and God willing he will remain victorious comes February, 2023.
I therefore enjoin all other aspirants to join hands and work tirelessly for emergence of #IRE as HoR member representing out dear Federal Constitency in the general election.
Liadi Ridwan Olawale is a writer who writes to right, is not a flawless personality.
LIADI RIDWAN OLAWALE
