Following the crisis that has been rocking the PDP in Osun State, Omolebi-Sunday Segun Tunde, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, has issued a strong call for introspection and strategic caution among party leaders, particularly Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Drawing lessons from the political trajectory of Gboyega Oyetola, former Governor of Osun State, Tunde emphasised the importance of unity, accountability, and foresight in leadership.
Omolebi highlighted Oyetola’s tenure as Governor (2018–2022) as a “must-read book” for political leaders. He underscored that Oyetola’s governance was marred by internal party conflicts, particularly with his predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola. These tensions, coupled with the dismissal of voices advocating reconciliation, led to significant political fallout. “When I was in APC, people like me shouted and wrote ceaselessly when Aregbesola and Oyetola’s imbroglio started. We saw early enough that such will never birth pleasant outcomes,” he stated.
He lamented how mediators were branded disloyal and ignored during the crisis, leading to a fractured party structure. He warned against repeating such mistakes within the PDP, stating that “implosion should be avoided; the cost is weighty, and the profits will go to opposing camps.”
One of the key messages Omolebi delivered was the danger of surrounding oneself with sycophants who fail to offer critical feedback. He noted that Oyetola’s advisers prioritised “table manners” over honest dialogue, leaving him vulnerable to political missteps. “Advisers around him prioritised table manners over critical dialogue, failing to warn him of impending challenges,” he remarked.
In the same manner, Omolebi-Sunday urged Governor Adeleke to avoid falling into similar traps by discerning between genuine allies and opportunists. “Don’t see those who are apt at telling you all is not well as enemies. They are indeed your friends; they meant well for you and the survival of our party – PDP,” he advised.
Highlighting the need for grassroots relevance among commissioners and advisers, Omolebi pointed out that many current leaders lack electoral strength in their local constituencies. He stressed that true leadership lies in fostering unity and listening to diverse voices within the party.
He concluded by urging PDP leaders to reflect on Oyetola’s story as a mirror for potential pitfalls. “Take a lesson from the book called Oyetola! Read it and mark the bumps,” he said emphatically.
He also called on Elder Sunday Bisi, PDP Chairman in Osun State, to encourage Governor Adeleke and his aides to learn from history before it becomes too late.
Tunde issued a solemn warning: “The cracks can be mended before it becomes a full-blown eruption.” He cautioned that neglecting dissenting voices could lead to catastrophic consequences for Adeleke’s administration and the PDP as a whole.
In his closing remarks, Omolebi prayed for wisdom for Governor Adeleke to manage these challenges effectively: “May God help our Governor to manage these snares before it is too late.”
His message serves as both a reflection on past failures and a roadmap for avoiding similar mistakes in Osun State’s political future, especially under PDP administration.
This is contained in the text below as released yesterday to the press.
How the party hierarchy at the state perceives the inherent messages in the piece will determine the efficacy of the message and how the Governor manages feedback.Until then, one thing is clear: learning from the mistakes of others can always be profitable.
Below is the text as written by Omolebi-Sunday Segun Tunde..
TEXT
𝗚𝗯𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗴𝗮 𝗢𝘆𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗮: 𝗔 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁-𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝘄𝗮𝗷𝘂 𝗦𝗲𝗻 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗮 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝘀𝘂𝗻 𝗣𝗗𝗣 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀
In politics, as in life, the wisest path often involves learning from the experiences of others. As the saying goes, “𝘼 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨; 𝙖 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨.” The story of Gboyega Oyetola is a cautionary tale that underscores this truth. His tenure as Governor of Osun State (2018–2022) and subsequent political battles reveal the intricate dynamics of power, loyalty, and party politics.
There is more to learn from people who had taken a lane before us. The wisest thing to do in life is to learn from other people’s mistakes and misfortunes. Going through it will come with so many unnecessary losses, collateral damages most of the time and lifelong regrets.
In the context of political leadership and power dynamics, the story of Gboyega Oyetola in Abeere offers valuable insights into the complexities of governance and party politics.
However, his political journey also highlights the challenges of navigating internal party conflicts and the importance of listening to diverse voices within the party.
Oyetola’s political trajectory illustrates the dangers of neglecting internal party unity.
As tensions brewed between him and his predecessor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, voices of caution within the All Progressives Congress (APC) were often dismissed. Voices advocating for reconciliation were dismissed, and mediators were branded disloyal.
When I was in APC, people like me shouted and wrote ceaselessly when Aregbesola and Oyetola’s mbroglio started. We saw early enough that such will never birth pleasant outcomes.
Those at the dining table called us names. We didn’t stop just because of the love we had for the party and the understanding that we can only aspire when the party holds sway.
At a time, I was branded to be in TOP when I didn’t even know the road to their converging point. Personally, I kept on reaching out to the leaders of thoughts within the fold to help intervene and let peace reign as I am presently doing now.
Yet, so many were egging Oyetola on. The mantra then was, “𝙀𝙣𝙞 𝙈𝙖 𝙇𝙤, 𝙆𝙤 𝙈𝙖𝙖 𝙇𝙤!”
One by one, they begin to remove the firewood beneath the cooking pot; those who could not win their units took centre stage, and emergency leaders pervade the space, and I was worried at how leaders could be in a precarious situation when surrounded by those who cannot tell them the unvarnished truth.
It is indeed observed that table manners were observed by those around Oyetola: “𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜.” Advisers around him prioritised table manners over critical dialogue, failing to warn him of impending challenges. Forgetting that the dinner will be over if you cannot sustain the hold on power.
The 𝗧𝗢𝗣 gathered; they were called “𝙞𝙠𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙪 – 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨,” but we all see the consequence! We know the story so well and how it all ended.
Yes, our party, the PDP, was the profiteer! We took the spoils of the fight. We enjoy the booties of the battle, and today, we should learn and be cautious. 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝.
The Governor should take a lesson from this. He would be the greatest loser in this impending implosion if it is not stemmed. Those around him might only be telling him all is well. That was how Oyetola was also assured. 𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙡𝙚-𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙨; 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨! 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜. Today, we can all realise how fallible every leader can be.
Take a lesson from the book called Oyetola!. Read it and mark the bumps. You are the one wearing the shoes. Governor Adeleke must tread cautiously to avoid repeating history.
Many Commissioners and Advisers may lack grassroots relevance or electoral strength in their wards or local governments. Yet these individuals often dominate political spaces, making the loudest of noise. True leadership lies in discerning between genuine allies and opportunists.
Don’t see those who are apt at telling you all is not well as enemies. They are indeed your friends; they meant well for you and the survival of our party – PDP.
The cracks can be mended before it becomes full-blown eruption. Implosion should be avoided,the cost is weighty and the profits will go to the opposing camps.
𝙄𝙜𝙞 𝙮𝙞 𝙤 𝙙𝙖, 𝙚 𝙮𝙤 𝙣𝙞 𝙞𝙣𝙖!𝙏𝙤𝙝𝙪𝙣 𝙤 𝙙𝙖, 𝙚 𝙮𝙤 𝙣𝙞 𝙞𝙣𝙖!!𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙡𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙞 𝙤 𝙙𝙖 𝙤𝙤𝙤!!!
The repercussion will be too colossal.
For instance, Hon. Diran Odeyemi has no political structure or relevance to win any election, even at the minutest political delineation – polling unit. And these are the likes of people around that will tell you all the votes in Ijesaland are in their pockets. We know them. We know everyone!…
For our current leaders : Governor Ademola Adeleke and PDP stakeholders, Oyetola’s story serves as a mirror reflecting potential pitfalls,though avoidable. The importance of surrounding oneself with advisers who offer unvarnished truths cannot be overstated. History warns against relying solely on sycophants who assure leaders that “𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡” while ignoring signs of dissent.
Oyetola’s experience also illustrates the dangers of being surrounded by advisers who only offer positive feedback, often at the expense of critical analysis.
𝙈𝙖𝙮 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙂𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚.
The day is still very young! Reflecting on past political manoeuvres to avoid similar pitfalls in the future is crucial. Our leaders should read this book. Our party Chair, Elder Sunday Bisi, has been trying, yet he needs to read this book and do more to encourage our Governor and his aides to read it before it is over.
In conclusion, Gboyega Oyetola’s political experience reminds us that leadership is not just about holding power but sustaining it through unity, accountability, and foresight.
Leaders must heed voices of reason and prioritise party cohesion over personal ambition.
~ 𝙊𝙢𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙞-𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙎𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙣 𝙏𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚,
𝘼 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙧,𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝟬𝟭,
𝙊𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙂𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘼𝙧𝙚𝙖,𝙊𝙨𝙪𝙣 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚.
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