By Ibekimi Oriamaja
TOM, a civil society organization, has urged Osun residents to vote carefully in Saturday’s governorship election, stating that Osun must not be handed over to charlatans.
Dr. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli told journalists on Wednesday during the monthly State-of-the-State address in Osogbo that the state’s affairs at this time require a leader with specific qualities to deliver success in the face of limited resources.
While condemning some political parties’ accusations and counter-accusations about a violent trend in the state, he urged residents to investigate candidates’ voting records before casting ballots.
“In recent years, we have also been involved in voter education, guiding state citizens toward patriotic voting decisions.” We believe that the current state of affairs in Osun State necessitates a certain level of leadership. A leader who leads Osun at this time must be mentally alert, possess strong fiscal management skills, and be capable of delivering success despite severe resource constraints.
“As a result, we have consistently advised Osun residents to thoroughly investigate each candidate running for election.” We cannot afford to take chances with leadership at this point in Osun’s history. We cannot afford to entrust the State to charlatans at this critical juncture.
“As a result, citizens must question each candidate’s plans and programs and vote for the candidate in whose hands they believe the State will be safest.” It is not the time for frivolous emotions; it is the time for introspection and the rejection of any candidate who does not understand the issues at hand and how to best address them.
“We are aware of the narratives advanced by some of the candidates’ supporters.” Recognizing their candidates’ incompetence, their supporters are spinning a narrative in which they will form cabinets of accomplished individuals to run government if they win. This is risky not only for our state now, because leadership necessitates a top-down approach, but also for the state’s future, because it establishes a poor precedent for leadership quality.
We must vote for candidates who have shown the ability to provide visionary leadership, and then ensure that when they take office, they bring equally capable cabinet members with them. We cannot afford to overlook the importance of the person who will lead the government having a high level of mental capacity.
“We encourage Osun residents to vote with the following in mind: Osun requires a leader with high mental capacity and an enviable track record; we are awarding the collective 23 to ensure they understand the magnitude of this task,” he said.
