Osun election: Is this the nature of things to come?

The defeat of APC in the Osun state governorship election yesterday is, in a way, a rejection of the politics of Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the people of Osun state. It is also a repudiation of Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket and it may just be the harbinger of what to expect in February. Many Nigerians have spoken against the arrogance of Bola Tinubu in selecting another Muslim as his running mate in utter disregard for our diversity and an apparent insult to the Christian community. I have written pages of articles, even before the presidential primary, denouncing such an all-Muslim ticket.

The huge margin of defeat of APC yesterday (PDP 403,371; APC 375,027) is therefore a strong message of protest and indignation from the huge Christian community in the state to Tinubu and the APC. My projection is that the APC faces the risk of defeat in the polls in 2023 because of its haughtiness, parochialism and closed-mindedness. Many Christians in the country are against the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, and even among some Muslim communities in the north, there are many voters who believe that Tinubu’s choice is damn too insensitive. As I write, virtually every top leadership position in the party and the Buhari administration is occupied by a Muslim male. It is a recipe for disaster.

Another reason for the APC defeat in Osun, which may play out in the general election, is the adamancy of the Osun people in rejecting the Tinubu dynasty which he had firmly planted in Lagos. Everything in Lagos state belongs to Bola Tinubu. You cannot hold any position in government without his expressed approval. Be reminded that Governor Oyetola is his cousin who was foisted on the Osun people four years ago despite protestations from the citizens. After four years, Oyetola has not impressed the people.

When the minister of interior and past governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola, complained of Oyetola’s high-handedness and pushed his replacement early this year, Tinubu bared his fangs, pumped in money and ensured that Oyetola was renominated. Expectedly, Aregbesola and his supporters stayed away yesterday. Some even voted for Senator Ademola Adeleke, the PDP candidate. This scene may be replayed on February 25, 2022. APC supporters who resent the all-Muslim ticket and are suspicious of Tinubu’s love for the treasury and bullion vans may vote for another party.

Yemi Osinbajo’s hip surgery and the good example of his media team

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo checked into the Duchess Hospital, Ikeja, yesterday for a surgical procedure on his thigh bone to repair a fracture, and pronto, his communication team promptly informed the nation in a terse press statement. The press release further indicated that the hospital would make a full statement once the VP was out of the theatre. Within a few hours, the statement came from the hospital, indicating the nature of the surgery and assuring a bewildered nation that the VP was okay.

Many Nigerians across the nation were pleased with the transparency, honesty and professionalism with which the VP’s team communicated with the citizens about the VP’s hospitalisation. That’s how modern governments work. It is a departure from the usual practice in which our leaders would sneak abroad into a foreign hospital without informing the people. Even when the people are informed of such visits, the nature of the illness is hidden. Till today, we don’t know what illness kept President Buhari abroad in 2017 for over seven months. It is just as well that the president is now as fit as a fiddle, and will finish his term in good health.

Equally commendable is that Osinbajo chose a Nigerian hospital for his care. It marks resounding confidence in our healthcare system and proves the point that our medical specialists are up to their task. Thank you, Prof Osinbajo, for rejecting medical tourism. For a knee surgery last year, BolaTinubu spent months in a London hospital.

The VP commissioned the Duchess Hospital last year, and I was impressed with the facilities it has. I quickly made a mental note to visit the place whenever I’m in Lagos. I went there early this year, and as soon as the airport taxi that took me turned into the premises, the driver asked: “Oga, is this a new hotel?”. It is indeed a beautiful place. A doctor answered all my enquiries promptly. The facilities are among the best and the specialists there are top of the class.

Other hospitals in the country are also good. Five years ago, my former boss in the bank suffered a heart attack in Benin and he was quickly evacuated to a hospital where he had a successful heart surgery. Three years ago, a man I know had a successful brain surgery in a hospital in Lagos. He had suffered a blackout on his way from his village in Anambra. Just this year, my friend had a successful kidney transplant in an Abuja hospital renowned for such treatments, and a close relative had a successful backbone surgery.

I believe that our healthcare system is not as bad as it is painted. If Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife had had the slightest confidence in our doctors, they wouldn’t be sitting in a British prison today.

I commend the VP for showing a good example and trusting in our medical specialists. I thank Laolu Akande and his team in the VP’s office for his professionalism in managing the communications component of this matter.