Re: APC NWC Members: Endless Adventure, Misadventure for Guber Ticket. ...SRJ Ambition Not Fueled By Desperation, By Rasheed Ayotunde Jimoh

It is my firm resolve and unwavering conviction that the political trajectory of the former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and incumbent Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, shall divinely befall APC National Secretary and leading gubernatorial aspirant in Osun State, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, as we anticipate the Osun 2026 gubernatorial election.

Just as destiny favoured Mai Mala Buni, the only APC scribe to become governor, so shall grace follow Senator Ajibola Basiru, a loyal party man, legal icon, and leading light of the Osun progressive movement.

Only last week, an unresearched article was published by The Sun Newspapers Limited, fueled by misinformation and driven by a pen intoxicated with bitterness and envy. It attempted to chronicle the aspirations of past APC National Working Committee (NWC) members who sought to govern their home states. Yet, the piece reeked of personal vendetta and failed to answer a fundamental question: is it a constitutional aberration or political crime for a serving NWC member to aspire to lead their state? Certainly not.

Were these individuals qualified at the time of the contest? That is the more relevant question, one the writer conveniently ignored.

The article’s delivery is malicious and reflects the desperate scheming of those threatened by Basiru’s rising political profile. The attempt to portray ambition as desperation exposes the writer’s ignorance of the natural progression of public service.

In the specific case of Senator Ajibola Basiru, his gubernatorial aspiration is not born out of desperation but from the widespread call of stakeholders and genuine progressives across Osun State and beyond. He has repeatedly emphasized that his interest is driven by the urgent need to rescue Osun from the current administrative doldrums and misgovernance under the Ademola Adeleke-led PDP government.

Basiru’s robust public service record, spanning almost two decades, is a testament to his deep-rooted commitment to progressive ideals. As a seasoned administrator, astute legislator, legal luminary, and master strategist, he brings to the table a pedigree the opposition finds difficult to counter, except through slander.

In a display of cognitive dissonance, the writer alleged that Basiru fraternized with Governor Adeleke, only to later accuse him of criticizing President Bola Tinubu for hosting the same Adeleke. Such contradictions betray a deliberate distortion of truth and an alarming lack of logical reasoning. You cannot accuse a man of being both too close and too hostile to the same person.

For those still feigning ignorance of Basiru’s contributions to the APC, his unwavering opposition to Adeleke’s lacklustre governance is well documented. He remains one of the boldest voices in Osun’s political wilderness, consistently exposing policy blunders, denouncing unconstitutional acts, and standing firm against injustice.

Just last week, he held the state government accountable for crippling local government administration by refusing to allow duly elected APC chairmen to function.

From the unlawful sack of traditional rulers, teachers, and healthcare workers employed under the APC-led Oyetola administration, to the disregard for court orders and the mismanagement of communal conflicts and public projects like the Ido-Osun Airport, Basiru has not only spoken out but offered statesmanlike solutions.

That his detractors continue to ignore these contributions while quoting a PDP publicity secretary to malign his credentials speaks volumes. What value does the opinion of a partisan opposition figure add, particularly one whose livelihood depends on government patronage?

Senator Basiru has become the proverbial ripe fruit attracting sticks and stones from adversaries and feigned allies alike. Yet, these attacks only reinforce the legitimacy of his candidacy and the threat he poses to those profiting from Osun’s current mediocrity.

His resilience in the face of calculated smear campaigns underscores his dedication to the progressive cause. As the scribe of the ruling party, his loyalty to the APC is unquestionable. His contributions to party building are undeniable. His ideological alignment with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is unwavering.

The diatribe peddled by the said writer is a cowardly attempt to preempt the rising wave of support for Senator Ajibola Basiru. Rather than engage in issue-based discourse, the writer chose the path of falsehood and innuendo. But no amount of blackmail or character assassination will stop the will of the people.

Senator Basiru’s aspiration is not only valid and legitimate, it is backed by his record, his readiness, and the resounding call from Osun indigenes yearning for purposeful leadership.

No volume of ink, however bitter, can rewrite Basiru’s proven dedication to the progressive cause. Osun deserves more, and come 2026, that more is Ajibola Basiru.

***Ayotunde Rasheed Jimoh is a public commentator, and political analyst and resides in Osogbo, Osun State