Exclusive Interview With Osun NNPP Chairman, Dr Tosin Odeyemi

 

Dr Tosin Odeyemi is the chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Osun state. In this interview, he bares his mind on the importance of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state to the 2027 general elections and where the president should look towards in appointing the next INEC chairman. Excerpts

What feelings do you have for the forthcoming 2026 gubernatorial election in Osun?

Osun election will not go the way some people who feel they know it all are boasting around of now, Osun election is an election that will change the narrative, it is an election that will send the signal to Presidency, Osun election is a determinant factor to what will happen in the 2027 general election. The coalition going round at the national level might also take a shape in Osun, but in a different form. Osun election means a lot to any serious politician who intends to run for presidency in 2027, and I can beat my chest that the permutation will change completely and a different narrative entirely will surface.

Any contender who knows that the Osun election is the last election that will usher us into the General elections will know what Osun 2026 election means.

Osun Election will be a clear signal to what will happen in 2027 general elections because some political parties will get it wrong totally as I can assure you that people/parties are more wiser than the past/previous elections. If any party brings up a unifying figure/neutral person and a credible personality, don't be surprised that other political parties might bring their structures together to make such individual win Osun Election. 

Some political parties in Osun are clamoring for zoning. Are you also in support of this at the expense of competence?

Yes, some parties are clamoring for zoning just to get the equation balance, but sometimes the best is not always where we are clamoring from. I am not in particular about zoning, but at the same time, if the best is coming from the west, it's fine. But the fact remains that the best can come from anywhere. What we want is someone that will bring the betterment of democracy to the masses of Osun, someone that will make us feel and partake from the dividend of democracy, someone that knows where the shoe pinches, someone that is accessible, someone that would be accommodating, someone that will bring everybody on board,not a pushover. Each political party in Osun should go back to their drawing board and look for an acceptable and unifying candidate to make the race easy for them. Efforts are on top gear in my own party to pull the surprise. Watch out for NNPP.

As a stakeholder in Osun politics, what advice would you give President Bola Tinubu on Osun guber election?

Osun is a peculiar state, and every calculative politician should know that our politics here is quite different from other states in the South West, so all the political parties need to thread softly. As a stakeholder in Osun politics, if I am privileged to meet Mr. President, I will tell him to put the interest of Osun indigene in particular and Nigeria as a whole at heart. He should first map out effective and best ways his renewed hope agenda can be of positive effects in the lives of our people. We must not deceive ourselves. Things are hard presently. The federal government needs to do something urgently to cushion the effect of the economic hardship we face now. When our economic stables, then the issue of election can come in. 

Beyond that, Mr. President must look beyond party politics. Osun, under Nigeria, is for all, and as a father of the nation, he should look for someone who will bring good governance to the state.

Like I said earlier, a neutral person, a person without blemish, a name without stain, someone that can unify everybody across bothers, not minding party, and ethnic. He should look at helping the state by supporting the best. Yes, he should help the state by supporting the best. He should do his independent investigation in supporting the best. He should shun party politics. He should look at who has the interest of the masses. Moreover, ensuring free, fair, and credible elections is paramount. The president should reinforce the importance of electoral integrity and support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its efforts to conduct transparent elections in Osun come 2026.

The tenure of the present INEC chairman is gradually winding down. Where do you think the next chairman should come from?

In the spirit of fairness and equity, the next INEC chairman should automatically come from the Southwest. Though, politically, I'm sure some people will criticize Mr President when the time comes and he appoints somebody from his zone, despite the fact the history of past helmsmen in the commission, he should be focused and look away. In 1999, Abel Guobadia from Edo State, South South, was made the INEC chairman, followed by Maurice Iwu from Imo State, South East between 2005-2010. Attahiru Jega from Kebbi State, North West, took over from him between 2010-2015, and Mahmood Yakubu from Bauchi State, North East, is there from 2015 till date So, South South, South East, North West and North East people have had their fair share as the commission's chairmen, it should come to South West this time around, after which it can go to North Central.