Will Senator Omisore Get It Right This Time?

If anyone had told Senator Iyiola Omisore that he wouldn’t succeed his boss, Bisi Akande, way back in 1999, he would have dismissed it with a swift wave of the hand, and probably called the fellow a liar.   This is because before his political career suffered a precipice of sorts, Omisore was one of the most popular politicians in Osun State, not because of his position as deputy governor, but of his wealth, generosity, powers and supposed political know-how. He was so rich that he contributed in no small measure to the governorship election of the governor in the Alliance for Democracy (AD) party. Also, he was so powerful and connected that many in the state have already touted him as the crown prince and successor to his boss. It was indeed considered a done deal! But as they say in this part of the world, ‘Man proposes, God disposes’

Before his very eyes, Omisore’s political career suffered a huge decline when he had a face-off with Akande. Both the governor and his deputy engaged in mudslinging, denigration and high-wired political bite-biting, which divided the once solid camp into two.

He suffered humiliation and was frustrated out of AD.  Since then, his career has not been the same. The more he tried, the more it eluded him.   

As time went on, he experienced more thorns than roses, and there came a time when he mooted the idea of quitting politics after jumping from one political party to another without success. From the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), all with little or no success.

However, since the trained engineer was rehabilitated and rescued from the political wilderness and welcomed back into the camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he has gotten a breath of fresh air, and it seems his political ambition is back on stream.

The former senator has once again thrown his hat into the ring to wrestle power away from the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke.

However, Society Watch gathered that this might be yet another case of phantasmagoria, as the intrigues, horse-trading and power play in the state ahead of the election have become fiercer than ever.

The question on the lips of many is, can Omisore succeed this time around?