A case study of Oluyole Federal Constituency (1999-2023)
The pursuit of good governance in Nigeria before now has always been encouraging trustworthy and competent electoral candidates, who are committed to serving the public’s interest.
Talking about foreign-based, we simply refer to someone who is an indigene of a particular country living outside the shores of his or her country for the purpose of seeking greener pastures.
A very good example of this can be found in football where you have many players plying their trades outside the shores of Nigeria and whenever there is a tournament, they come back to the country and participate either in international competitions or mere friendly games. The likes of Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Osimhein, Ahmed Musa, Willem Troost-Ekong, Joe Aribo, Ola Aina among many others are foreign-based players that are of Nigerian origin.
Nigeria began its latest democratic journey in 1999 with President Olusegun Obasanjo sworn-in along with members of the National Assembly as well as state assemblies. It is also worthy to note that in the last eight years of this republic, there had been many foreign-based politicians coming to town to be involved in the process.
Oluyole Federal constituency in Oyo State no doubt is one of the oldest constituency, not only in Oyo State, but also in Nigeria. The constituency have also had its own fair share of foreign-based Nigerians coming home just like all other federal constituency. From Hon Depo Oyedokun, Hon Ibrahim Olaifa, Hon Olusunbo Olugbemi and now Hon Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, it is a common knowledge and fact that those mentioned were never grassroots politicians, but people who took advantage of circumstances, personality, party structure among others to win the emergency victorious at the poll.
The assessment of their performances can best be answered by the good people of Oluyole Federal constituency they represented. But one thing that is clear is the fact that the people of Oluyole Federal constituency have just woken up from slumber and are now in dire need of home-grown politician who had weathered the storm together with them, understand their sufferings and will stand by them when it mattered most.
Since 1999, none of the representatives from Oluyole Federal constituency can be said to had this characteristic. What they had was an Ilorin-based journalist turned House of Reps member, a medical doctor and union leader based in Lagos, and in the last six years, it became worrisome, with the representatives coming from America and China.
Aside from Olaifa, who few believed recorded a moderate success, which may be due to his unionism, others have not delivered as expected.
No wonder the desired development has eluded the constituency while the people of the area are groaning under fake promises on a daily basis. It was not surprising that the people of are now clamouring for better representation as the 2023 election draws near. Who do they want as their representative, only the people can decide on that.
It is very important for people to participate in the process and choose political leaders who will serve the their nterest and promote good governance.
Akinola Emmanuel wrote from Idi Ayunre, Ibadan
