Determination was clearly written on the faces of the people of Osogbo when I landed in the capital city three days to the epic election. Ordinarily, visitors and residents had thought all hell would break loose on election
as a result of the heavy military personnel deployment put in the region of 65, 000. Suspense and a hushed sense of intimidation hung in the air as siren-wailing armoured personnel carriers drove round the city with battle-ready officials.
On the D-Day, security personnel had mounted roadblocks along major roads in Ilesa, Ilobu, Ile-Ife, Irepodun, Olorunda and Osogbo communities which I covered. As we drove by, a soldier or policeman would say, “Please, write well about us o. We don’t want our oga to see something else in the paper tomorrow o.”
When the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the winner of the election, the spontaneous jubilation of thousands of Osun people made me feel like Aregbesola is Nigeria’s Obama.
as a result of the heavy military personnel deployment put in the region of 65, 000. Suspense and a hushed sense of intimidation hung in the air as siren-wailing armoured personnel carriers drove round the city with battle-ready officials.
On the D-Day, security personnel had mounted roadblocks along major roads in Ilesa, Ilobu, Ile-Ife, Irepodun, Olorunda and Osogbo communities which I covered. As we drove by, a soldier or policeman would say, “Please, write well about us o. We don’t want our oga to see something else in the paper tomorrow o.”
When the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the winner of the election, the spontaneous jubilation of thousands of Osun people made me feel like Aregbesola is Nigeria’s Obama.
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