Ajagunla Should Not Allow Himself To Be Used
By Akin Adeyeye
I supported Senator Ajagunla throughout the APC senatorial primaries in Osun Central. I campaigned for him, defended him and mobilised for him because I genuinely believed in his aspiration.
Immediately after the primaries, Senator Ajagunla personally addressed many of us supporters and party faithful. He spoke calmly and responsibly. He told us clearly that he had accepted the decision of the party and that politics should never destroy relationships. He even informed us that he would place a congratulatory call to K-RAD and work for party unity moving forward. We all left that meeting believing the matter had been settled in good faith.
That is why many of us are now shocked seeing the outgoing senator suddenly associated with petitions and renewed agitation against K-RAD’s victory. From what many insiders are saying, it appears the current pressure is no longer genuinely coming from Senator Ajagunla himself but from certain political interests, including Senator Ajibola Basiru, who are allegedly using him to prosecute a proxy political war against K-RAD.
Senator Ajagunla must be careful not to create a dangerous precedent within the APC. If people who defect into a political party and are warmly accommodated later turn around to destabilise the same party whenever outcomes do not favour them, it may discourage future political cooperation and weaken internal trust between decampees and old party members. At this critical period, APC needs unity ahead of the governorship election, not prolonged internal battles.
Osogbo and Ila Orangun have shared decades of electoral harmony and mutual political respect. Whenever Osogbo presents a candidate, Ila traditionally supports. Whenever Ila presents one, Osogbo reciprocates. Even when Senator Ajagunla contested under the PDP, the Ataoja of Osogbo openly supported him despite the fact that Senator Ajibola Basiru, an indigene of Osogbo, was also contesting at the time. That gesture reflected political maturity and inter-community solidarity.
Now that the APC has democratically returned the senatorial ticket to Osogbo through K-RAD, Senator Ajagunla should tread carefully and avoid leaving behind a divisive political legacy. Statesmanship sometimes requires accepting difficult outcomes in the larger interest of party unity, historical harmony and future political stability.
Akin Adeyeye writes from Ila Orangun, Osun State.
