"A house that ignores its builders will always leak when the rain comes."
By Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo
Every political family is defined by its history, and in the historic 2018 Osun State governorship election, that history was written in sweat, sacrifice, and silent resilience. The victory wasn't secured inside grand government halls or amidst the cozy corridors of Abuja. It was forged in the wards, on the dusty streets, and under pouring rain by men and women who asked for nothing. They were the uncelebrated heroes—the real foundation—guarding votes and spending their last naira simply because they believed.
Yet, fate and political maneuvering dealt a cruel hand. What should have been a blueprint for long-term governance turned into a lesson in political irony. Coalition arrangements took precedence, and the praise songs meant for the original builders were sung for newcomers. Instead of honoring experience and continuity, the party initiated a period of silent malice, benching its core strategists and grassroots heavyweights.
The Anatomy of Disillusionment
By 2022, history repeated itself in full display. Personal and vindictive politics sidelined veteran hands in favor of untested figures who could barely identify local grassroots leaders. The party primaries—traditionally a sacred process of consultation and credibility—became a stage for imposition and backroom deals. Loyal heavyweights were publicly embarrassed, creating deep internal fractures that damaged the party far more than any external opposition could.
[ HISTORICAL TRAJECTORY ]
2018 VICTORY 2022 FRACTURE 2026 IMPASSE
┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐
│ Forged in the │ Silent │ Impositions & │ Low │ House Leaking: │
│ Grassroots & │ ──────────► │ Benched Veteran │ ──────────► │ Urgent Need for│
│ Unsung Heroes │ Disregard │ Strategists │ Trust │ Reconstruction │
└─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘
The consequences of these decisions were devastatingly clear:
- Erosion of Loyalty: State, LGA, and ward structures built over years were handed over to fresh decampees, leaving legacy members begging for recognition in the house they constructed.
- Lack of Accountability: Critical questions regarding campaign resource management went unanswered, allowing commercial politicians to profit while genuine workers were left empty-handed.
- Abandonment of Progressive Ideals: The foundational legacy—pioneered by leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who emphasized rewarding those who stayed through the storm—was traded away for short-term political convenience.
The Path to Reconstruction
Political parties are not destroyed by past mistakes; they are destroyed by a refusal to correct them. Heading into 2026, repeating these errors by handing campaign leadership to unproven hands will only deepen the rift. Trust is low, and the house is undeniably leaking, but the engine of the party remains intact if leadership chooses truth over sentiment.
| Strategic Imperative | Action Plan |
|---|---|
| 1. Honor Tested Loyalists | Re-engage and integrate the veterans of 2018 who anchored the party's foundation. |
| 2. Return Power to the Base | Respect local structures; stop gifting party organs away for short-term deals. |
| 3. End Vindictive Politics | Value experience over favoritism, utilizing newcomers as support rather than replacements. |
| 4. Ensure Accountability | Audit past campaign operations to rebuild financial and structural integrity. |
| 5. Restore Credible Primaries | Re-establish transparent, democratic internal processes to prevent pre-election bleeding. |
| 6. Unite the House | Eliminate the divisive "Ki i se ara wa" (they are not one of us) culture to foster genuine unity. |
A Call for Wise Leadership
Osun politics stands at a pivotal crossroads. A political party cannot survive by constantly discarding the hands that laid its foundation blocks. True progress requires recognizing that while new drivers can be introduced, the core engine must never be thrown away. To reclaim victory and restore public trust in 2026, the party must return to first principles, heal its open wounds, and honor the builders who stood firm when the rain was heaviest.
