We have read the latest sponsored outburst from the camp of Hon. Kafilat Ogbara and quite frankly, it confirms what the entire Kosofe political family has known for months: some people simply do not know how to accept defeat.
The statement begins by accusing Mayor Dele Oshinowo of causing chaos within APC. That accusation is as ridiculous as it is dishonest. How can the man who has consistently called for peace, party supremacy and unity be accused of causing chaos, while those who have spent weeks attacking the party, discrediting its processes, undermining its leadership and promoting division are suddenly pretending to be apostles of peace? The truth is simple. Your principal lost. She lost and has refused to move on. She lost and suddenly the party became the enemy. She lost and suddenly the process became flawed. She lost and suddenly everybody else is to blame except herself.
The APC is not her father’s house. Nobody is entitled to a ticket. Nobody is entitled to victory. Politics is not inheritance. You contest. You win or you lose. The people have spoken. Accept it and move on.
Now to the comedy of the century: the claim that Mayor Dele came from NNPP. At this point, we genuinely do not know whether to laugh or question the intellectual capacity of those writing these statements. Mayor Dele Oshinowo has been a progressive since 1998. His political journey is public knowledge. But perhaps we should not blame people who know little about the history of progressive politics in Kosofe. After all, what else should we expect from people who arrived yesterday and now want to rewrite history?
The irony is that the principal being defended was herself accommodated by the same political family she now seeks to destabilize. She was welcomed, supported, promoted and defended when she came from PDP. Her nomination form did not fall from heaven. Let us tell the truth for once. The nomination form that paved the way for her emergence was purchased by Princess Samiat Abolanle Bada who believed in supporting her ambition. Resources were mobilized. Support was mobilized. Structures were mobilized. People invested in her success. The same people she now seeks to undermine because the political pendulum did not swing her way this time.
There is an old saying that a home that is peaceful is often peaceful because the bastard child has not yet grown. For years, APC Kosofe remained united despite differences because genuine progressives placed the party above personal ambition. Now the bastard children have grown and instead of helping to strengthen the house they were welcomed into, they are attempting to pull down the very roof over everyone’s head because they did not get what they wanted. That is exactly what we are witnessing today.
The same people who were accommodated, supported and empowered have suddenly become experts in division, blackmail and sponsored propaganda. When things were going their way, APC was the best party in the world. The moment reality arrived and the delegates spoke, the same party suddenly became flawed. The same process suddenly became unacceptable. The same leaders suddenly became enemies. Such behaviour exposes the real problem, not the party, not the process, but an inability to accept defeat. The Apc Lagos state released a list, you claim it’s not real. Is that not anti-party move? Our National leader and The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu invited all candidates who won the last primary election to reaffirm where the party and the presidency stands and you are still saying the process did not take place, is that saying the presidency isn’t sure?
Then they claim Mayor Dele neglected party members. This is perhaps the biggest joke in the entire statement. Everybody who has worked closely with Mayor Dele knows the truth. His political family remains intact. Can your principal honestly say the same? How many people abandoned Mayor Dele after office? How many? Now ask yourselves the same question about your principal. The answer is staring everybody in the face.
There are stories all over Kosofe of how people were used and discarded, of how relationships were damaged by arrogance and entitlement, and of how individuals who made sacrifices were rewarded with ingratitude. Yet these are the same people trying to lecture others about loyalty and party commitment. It would be funny if it were not so hypocritical.
Then comes the tired allegation about demolitions and land grabbing. Did Mayor Dele demolish your father’s house? Mention one property. Mention one owner. Mention one verified victim. Just one. Not rumours. Not propaganda. One verifiable case. We challenge you. Stop hiding behind vague allegations and produce evidence.
The reality is that while some people were busy pursuing politics of entitlement, Mayor Dele was busy delivering projects that changed lives. Over 270 housing units were delivered. Hundreds more were left under construction and are nearing completion. Roads were built. Schools were built. Markets were built. Sporting facilities were developed. Economic empowerment programmes were expanded. A housing revolution unprecedented at the local government level was successfully executed. A chairman transformed a notorious slum and criminal hideout into a thriving residential community. A chairman whose achievements attracted attention far beyond Kosofe. A chairman celebrated across Nigeria for redefining what local government administration could achieve. These are facts, not propaganda. These are visible achievements, not sponsored narratives.
Then we come to the laughable allegation that Mayor Dele sponsored Waheed Odunuga. This is where desperation completely abandons logic. The same Mayor Dele who committed resources, influence, energy and political capital to support your principal’s emergence in the last election is now suddenly sponsoring opposition candidates? Are you people serious, or have you simply run out of lies?
The truth is that people support performance. People support development. People support results. When individuals witness transformational governance firsthand, they naturally gravitate towards it. That is not sponsorship. That is called credibility. Unfortunately, credibility cannot be manufactured through sponsored press statements.
Now let us address the biggest lie of all: the claim that no election took place. This is perhaps the most foolish argument anybody can make. If no election took place, where did the figures your camp was circulating come from? If no election took place, what exactly was your principal doing at polling units that day? If no election took place, what victory were you people claiming before the final result exposed reality?
You cannot participate in an election, claim victory in that election, lose the election and then suddenly declare that no election took place. You cannot celebrate a process when you think you have won and condemn the same process when you have lost. That level of hypocrisy deserves an award.
The truth remains that the people of Kosofe spoke loudly and clearly. Mayor Dele tested his popularity. Mayor Dele proved his popularity. Mayor Dele emerged. Not through propaganda. Not through blackmail. Not through entitlement. But through the overwhelming support of party members and grassroots stakeholders. That reality is clearly painful to some people, but pain does not change facts.
The election is over. The people have spoken. Kosofe has spoken. And no amount of bitterness from those who came from the bush and are now trying to spoil the city that genuine progressives spent years building will change that reality. APC Kosofe belongs to all genuine progressives, not to individuals who only love the party when it serves their personal ambition.
The sooner your camp accepts that reality, the better for everyone. Until then, keep writing statements. The people will keep laughing.
By Abideen Olamilekan.
Disclaimer
Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of KosofePost newspapers or any employee thereof.