Unfortunate Tales From Ibadan North: I Knew A Man _ By Sola Abegunde
Oyo APC lost a gubernatorial election they had no business losing in 2023.
I will not waste time discussing how such a misfortune was brought upon the Party in this piece.
I have done justice to that topic time and time again.
My focus in this piece is on a very sad but interesting trajectory.
I have kept wondering why some people would rather choose to be a negative reference point in History instead of learning from History.
My consciousness was reawaken to Man’s pursuit of vanity and the seeming loss of common sense in the process of the pursuit, today.
The APC in Oyo state was supposed to elect its candidate for the forthcoming bye- election in Ibadan North Federal Constituency.
In fairness to the majority of the critical Stakeholders, they wanted a free, fair, credible, and transparent process.
However, a few individuals, driven by future ambition, chose to turn the process to a theatre to flex muscles and make a statement about who is on ground in Abuja.
The process was hijacked, no doubt, and until the time I am writing this piece, deep into the night of Saturday, 19th July, 2025, no official statement confirming a winner has been made.
Sadly, hundreds of Party faithful spent the whole of the day at different designated centres within Ibadan North Federal Constituency, waiting for those saddled with the responsibilities of conducting the primary.
Someone, who cried to all the rooftops in 2023, shouting ‘ jaa gba’, ‘ jaa gba’, foul play.
‘We will not accept imposition’, had, allegedly, hijacked the process and while the hapless party faithfuls waited under the sun, gnashing their teeth, he must be sitting down under the breeze of giant air conditioners, grinning from ear to ear.
I can imagine him smiling and chuckling as the lickspittles hail him.
In 2019, this same character was selected under controversial circumstances and his emergence led to implosions within his party.
He eventually lost the election.
In 2023, he, it was, who left the APC because, according to him, those who got the gubernatorial ticket did so through manipulations.
Now, he is the big gun within the Party and he is ready to prove to everyone that he is in charge.
Honestly, I pity him but I pity the ordinary members of the Party in Oyo state.
Whatever they labored for in 2023, their sweat ensured delicacies for those who openly ensured that their sacrifices were in vain.
It does look like powerhase shifted but I knew a man.
I knew a man who had so much control of a particular popular political Party in Oyo state during his time, but obviously, the electorate preferred someone else.
The battle for control of the Party became so fierce, but the man would not budge.
I remember vividly well the songs that were composed to condemn the attitude of the person in question. ( Baba to wa Egbe moya, e maa je Egbe yin…).
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In the end, the man in question never won an election on the platform of the Party he held on to, while one of those who were supported to wrestle the control of the Party from him became Governor on the platform of the same Party without much Ado.
Like I said, I have been wondering about why someone, who has his eyes set on hunting an antelope will set the village on fire because he wants to kill a mouse!
These days, I don’t think people have the time to reflect on their journey in life.
How could you think that you would do unto others, what you will not accept and you think they will keep quiet just because it is you?
I do not think it is too late for those who are doing what they are doing in Ibadan North to undo whatever it is they have done.
It is for their own sakes.
There is no man in this world, who can successfully hide behind a finger.
Unfortunately, History has different places to record those who put on the light and those who put it out.
What would be would be and what would not be would never be.
I knew a man.
Sola Abegunde
