The choice of Lagos legislator, Honorable James Aboidun Faleke as running mate to former governor Abubakar Audu, the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate has been generating divergent views from across the state.
We know Abiodun Faleke so well, he is from Ekinrin-Adde in Ijumu local government area of Kogi State. We are fully aware that his mentor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been grooming him for awhile to become Kogi state governor one day. Asiwaju, Omo Alhaja, God bless you plenty. We remember that Faleke was deployed to Kogi state to work for Audu’s emergence in 2011 but Faleke could not operate beyond Ekinrin-Adde, Ijumu politics was too complex for him. He could not engineer his local government talk-less Okunland.
Sending him back to Kogi as Audu’s running mate looks strategic with promising advantages that must have been well considered by his mentor. Audu has just four years to ‘reign’ as governor and will be compelled to support power shift come 2019 which Faleke will hopefully be the beneficiary.
Faleke’s Strategic Advantage
For those who fear Audu and having nightmares over his coming back to power, the choice of Faleke offers a relief. Faleke has a god-father who is bigger than Audu so Audu cannot push him around like he would love to do. Audu cannot SLAP Faleke same way he allegedly did to Patrick Adaba during his first term as governor. I am very sure, Faleke will not sit on the rug while Audu calls the shot from a majestic throne.
For the power-shift agitators, Faleke is a ray of hope. Faleke is coming specifically to understudy Kogi state political terrain, build solid structures with active support of Jagaban and eventually take over Lugard House come 2019! Halleluyah!
Faleke’s as Ruining Mate
First, we must tell ourselves the truth that Audu has a heavy political baggage that he carries around. Audu is an asset as well as liability to any political party. Audu has mortal enemies across the 21 local governments in Kogi state who will do everything they can to stop him from returning to Lugard House. Same Audu is seen as the messiah that can trun Kogi around by many, especially the youth. With or without a running mate, Audu can take on any politician in Kogi state all alone. He has single-handedly sustained opposition politics in Kogi state from 2003 till date.
It is an open-secret that Audu’s candidature cannot guarantee electoral victory and as a result, many party faithful were expecting him to pick a strong politician from Kogi Central or West as his running mate in order to bury peoples Democratic Party in the coming election. The selection of Faleke is largely seen as a BIG error by the party.
First, Faleke is an unknown entity in Kogi politics. Faleke himself is aware that the people he can rely upon even in Ekinrin Adde for support are largely in PDP as we speak. While he was growing and marching forward in Lagos, Faleke failed to carry his people along. This weak link will be exposed very soon. Aside his relatives who travel to Lagos to seek favours from him from time to time, who else have been influenced positively by Faleke? Though, he can overcome this when ‘pepper’ starts to flow. Cruel truth.
Faleke’s choice is faulty even within Okun political space. Faleke is from Ijumu, same local government with Senator representing the district, Otunba Dino Melaye. This is not a well thought out decision! I recall how Ijumu people stood vehemently against Yagba Agenda in the last Senate election citing strongly that Yagba people cannot produce both Senator and Deputy Governor. That had their way. Now it is their turn to be roundly rejected by Yagba people. Many wondered why they didn’t consider Tunde Irukera from Egbe. Faleke’s choice have left Yagba land out of equation!
Audu emerged candidate of APC after defeating other hard-working aspirants who have invested a lot in the party. Many expected the party to allow any of the key aspirants either run with Audu as running mate or nominate same. The choice of Faleke is a slap on the faces of committed and loyal party men and women in the State. Aspirants like Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, George Olumoroti, Clarence Olafemi, Suleiman Baba-Ali, Salihu Atawodi should have been considered or asked to nominate who should be Audu’s running mate. Of a truth, he labours of Kogi APC heroes has been in vain.
We keep our fingers crossed as we wait to see how the party intends to control dissent in the party, maybe by appeasing disenchanted ‘goats’ with robust ‘yams’.
– Titi Balogun writes from Lokoja
