Hon. Wole Oke, politics is a journey and every traveller eventually gets to a crossroads. For a man who has spent years on the political stage, this is the moment to pause, reflect and ask one honest question: must you continue?
The people of Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency deserve fresh representation, fresh ideas and a new direction. The conversation on the streets, in the wards and across the constituency today is loud and clear — it is time for a new voice — and that reality cannot be ignored.
Politics should not be reduced to a contest of who can spend the most. If the people have decided they want change, no amount of money can buy their mandate. It would be wiser to ask yourself whether contesting again is worth the enormous financial and political cost, because there is no honour in spending a fortune just to remain on the ballot when the mood of the people has clearly shifted. You can stay on the ballot and still learn, after the votes are counted, that the electorate has moved on.
This is not the time to throw everything into another electoral battle. Sometimes, true political wisdom is knowing which battle is no longer worth fighting.
The people are not obliged to keep anyone in office. Public office is a mandate, not a lifetime entitlement. The people of Obokun/Oriade have every right to decide if they want the same representation or someone new, and if the prevailing sentiment is that they want a new representative, the most dignified response from a veteran like you is to respect it.
You have had your time, you have made your contributions, and you have held the stage. Perhaps now is the time to let another person take the microphone.
The honest truth, Hon. Wole Oke, is that the political mood in Obokun/Oriade no longer favours you. The constituents have shown where their heart is, and wisdom demands that you listen. Rather than force a contest the people no longer want, the most statesmanlike step is to withdraw from the 2027 race in good faith.
More importantly, this is the moment to right a wrong that many of your followers and constituents have not forgotten. You made a clear promise to your younger brother, Barr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, that you would support him for the House of Representatives and hand over the baton to him. That promise gave hope to many young people who believed that you truly wanted succession and generational progress in Obokun/Oriade. But along the line, you reneged on that promise and chose to hold on to power.
Sir, in politics, integrity is everything. When a leader reneges on his own promise to his brother, it sends a message that personal interest has been placed above honour, above brotherhood, and above the collective interest of the people. It weakens trust. Today, the same young man you promised to support enjoys massive love and acceptance across the wards because the people see sincerity and capacity in him.
Power, as we all know, is transient. No one holds it forever. Yesterday it was someone else, today it is you, tomorrow it will be another person. The true measure of a statesman is not how long he stays, but how honourably he leaves and how well he keeps his word. There is no better time than now to correct that wrong.
In doing so, you have an opportunity to honour your earlier commitment by throwing your full support behind Barr. Pelumi Olajengbesi. Supporting him for the House of Representatives will not diminish you; it will project you as a leader who keeps his word, who corrects his mistakes, and who prioritises the collective interest over personal ambition. It will heal wounds and restore confidence.
After that, retrace your steps, return to your original political family and seek reconciliation where necessary. There is still a greater tomorrow ahead of you. 2030 remains very bright, and the political space still holds many possibilities for a man of your experience, if only you choose to tread your path with humility, caution and strategic patience.
The 2027 election should not be about proving political relevance; it should be about the people, their expectations and the future they want. So, Hon. Wole Oke, step back and feel the political temperature of your constituency. If the people are asking for a new direction, there is no shame in accepting it — in fact, there is honour in it.
Do not wait for the ballot box to deliver the message. If Obokun/Oriade wants a new representative, leave honourably, save your resources, save yourself the stress and allow the constituency to move forward.
Every political journey has a beginning, a middle and an end. Not every career must end with another election. Sometimes, the greatest act of statesmanship is knowing when to take a bow.
Hon. Wole Oke, perhaps 2027 is the time to leave the stage voluntarily, rather than be reminded by the electorate that the time for a new voice has come.
Signed:
Comrade James Onifade
Advocate for Good Governance and Judicial Reform
