2023: Stop Chasing Shadows, Wahab Issa Mocks Olododo

The attention of the Wahab Issa Campaign Organisation (WICO) has been drawn to a certain report by a self-confessed failed lawmaker whose speciality appears to be muckraking and has also been adjudged by his constituents as having wasted their precious time as a legislator in Abuja with nothing to show for it except for the sponsors of premature bills that have not seen the light of the day for almost four years on the floor of the House of Representatives. 

In another puerile move, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Hon. Gani Cook Olododo, while reacting to the analyses of some social commentators was carelessly deriving pleasure in attacking the personality of the leading candidate and his counterpart in the PDP, Hon. Abdulwahab Oladimeji Issa, whose achievement is unbeatable, experience is cognate, capacity is proven and knowledge of his constituency is profound. Olododo was tingled by the resolutions of these critics stemming from several factors such as the antecedents of the candidates, public perception of the parties and the capacity of these parties to mobilise votes across the federal constituency.

However, we challenge the opportunistic legislator to choose a date to verify Wahab Issa's projects himself rather than engage in meaningless rants based on outright falsehood. Aside from the fact that we have details of over 450 persons he facilitated job opportunities for (compare to Olododo's 11), the communities he electrified, the schools he built, and the roads and markets he constructed are still effectively and efficiently in use to date, despite leaving office some 12 years ago.  We would be glad to oblige him with copies of documents that contain information about these projects so that Olododo can clear his doubt and move on in shame! 

Olododo was initially boasting of facilitating over 900 gainful employment for Kwarans during his sojourn as local government Chairman, Commissioner, SSG and Chief of Staff under the Saraki dynasty. Now after the public condemnation of these unsubstantiated claims, he has lessened it to 305. All these figures he's quoting are questionable and lacking substance. Just like the way he was going around to commission projects sponsored by the Federal Government. This is part of what Olododo feels could save him from imminently inevitable defeat.  

We were not surprised that the desperate Olododo camp, faced with mounting setbacks in its campaign, will engage in another round of mudslinging after it failed to lure electorates into his folds. This latest allegation, we must say is another attempt at shadowboxing. Gani and his men have just woken up to the reality that Hon. Wahab Issa's sure victory in the national assembly election of February 25th is inevitable hence this desperate resort to character assassination and innuendoes.

The SDP candidate who had been making overtures to individuals and traditional heads to adopt him as their standard-bearer has continued to have his runty pride shamefully hurt by social commentators whom he suspected to be mercenaries of his counterpart in the PDP. Olododo needs to wake up and embrace the realities as it continues to unfold that he has no grassroots support premised on his lack of capacity for leadership and bad representation in the last few years, which has unarguably resulted in a huge disconnect between him and the constituents.

From Olododo's egotistic outbursts in his rallies, it is crystal clear that he is not remorseful about his failure. He's venting his anger against somebody that is only focused on running an issue-based campaign and not particularly capitalising on his failure of leaving a legacy of selfless service. Olododo is desperate to give what he doesn't have, unlike Wahab Issa who is blessed with an insatiable desire to turn the federal constituency into an Eldorado through service. Olododo's desperation, arrogant sense of entitlement, uncouthness and predilection to drench his opponents in vitriol are making lots of people feel unsafe with him. And very many are beginning to question his fitness for the job he’s seeking for the second time. 

We have reasons to wonder aloud whether Olododo is truly afraid of losing power. Perhaps he has now realised that his three and half years of bad representation have pushed the people to the brink. I still wonder what makes Olododo to be mobilising his party members and paid-loyalists to campaign and feels he can deceive the constituents with theatrical endorsements that won't translate to votes come February 25th. Does he need actually that? Perhaps he's suspecting that this election is already slipping away.

We can only liken Olododo and his surrogates to figurative jesters, typical of a drowning team that has lived its life solely on deceptions, falsehood and propaganda. The forthcoming election is far more complex and beyond the usual game where opportunists like him operate with outdated tactics laced with lies and unfounded misconceptions. This is a game that has given the opportunity to contenders to campaign based on their track records and the electorates to choose based on their convictions. It would be good if Olododo can desist from toeing this sordid path and engage at the intellectual level by arguing his position to convince the people of the need to see things from his perspective. He shouldn't find it difficult to be a democrat! 

Let me set the record straight, Hon. Abdulwahab Oladimeji Issa as a fine gentleman with demonstrable intellectual capacity is on a divine mandate to bring succour to the people of Ilorin East and South Federal Constituency, he has also paid his dues and is well-loved by his people. Olododo's continued efforts to break this fraternal bond with his people shall keep being in vain. This is a man who is committed to sponsoring people-oriented bills to provide social security for certain categories of people; especially the aged and unemployed.

Olododo and his team should note all these gimmicks are not enough to distract us. Even though we are known for this kind of game being played by the outgoing Member, it is only necessary that we acclimatise to show the level we could go in defending fallacies being peddled by a desperate bottom-feeder. Our constituents have decided to collectively punish the Otoge crusaders by voting against their parties (APC and SDP) at all polling units. And we shouldn't be blamed for that. 

We however sympathise with Olododo and his mudslinging agents. We know why they are lashing at every straw available. They are seized with fear that the election is already lost. With the massive turnout of the constituents to welcome our candidate across the length and breadth of the federal constituency in the last few months, it is obvious that they are running after a train that has left the station.

The SDP and Gani are utterly confused and in serious disarray and running around in circles like a barber’s chair looking for what is not lost. A responsible party should have taken the cue from its losses. Yet like a fly that insists on being buried with the corpse, the media handlers of the SDP candidate prefer to flog a dead horse. The over 100,000 registered voters who will vote in the elections have the intellect to choose who they want as their Representative. We shall surely meet this party of propaganda at the polls by the weekend.

SIGNED

Aliu Ahmad Gold

Head, Abdulwahab Oladimeji Issa Media Office.

22nd February 2023.