Virgil van Dijk, Antonio Rudiger, and Gabriel Magalhaes are internationally recognised defenders in football now, they are often referred to as “stoppers.”
Reminiscing on my growing up in Ibadan, I played in the Under – 13 Mufutau Ajadi Olanihun Football Competition, a very highly competitive league that kept young talents on their toes week in, week out. I was part of this intense tournament for three straight years in the early nineties (1990`s). As a young midfielder, my tactics and playing strategy was simple, collect and control the ball, look up, dribble one or two opponents, and deliver a precise pass to our striker. But every now and then, you would run into towering, solid, hefty, unyielding, and ruthless defenders. The only way past them was to rely on creativity and speed, what coaches taught us to be “touch and go” or “kick and follow”
These defenders were dream killers, snuffing out creativity, frustrating attacks, and ultimately shutting down on a few occasion our team’s chances of victory. Nigeria’s Super Eagles have also produced formidable defenders like Uche Okechukwu, Taribo West, and Joseph Yobo, men who stood like walls of Jericho in the heart of defence line. Now, in the political arena, the question begging for answers in the mouth of ordinary Oyo Central constituents is, “Can Afeez Bolaji Repete, play the role of a tactical defender and block the second term ambition of Senator Yinus Akintunde, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment in the 2027 general election? Politics, much like football, is a game of strategy, strength, and survival. The battlefield is different, but the rules remain the same and only the smart, the swift, and the resilient can break through. Will Repete political machinery outmanoeuvre the formidable Akintunde?
In Oyo Central senatorial district, history records that only Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin has broken the barrier of securing a second term. The UK-returnee was first elected to the Senate in 2003 and later in 2007, where he rose to the prestigious position of Senate Leader. Before him and ever since, others have only managed to secure a single term before being shown the exit door. With Senator Akintunde, the current occupant of the seat making no secret of his ambition to return to the hallowed red chambers, the political battleground is gradually heating up.
The burning question remains: will he earn a resounding and well-deserved “AYE” from his constituents? Politics is a game of interests, and those who gave Akintunde shelter before and during the 2023 election will have to decide whether to offer him another political abode in 2027. Will his past alliances and benefactors remain unshaken, steadfast, or will the tides of political loyalty shift against him? As the clock ticks, only time will tell whether he will stand tall or be swept away by the storm of political realignment.
As a writer, my mind is filled with many countless questions. Where will Repete get the financial resources to challenge a sitting senator in the APC primary race? Like Taribo West or Antonio Rudiger, does Repete have the toughness, the commanding political presence to block Akintunde’s smooth ride to victory? What is his gross weight of financial chest? Or hope Repete is not carried away by the noiseless noise of students and youthful spectators outside the pitch of play? Who are the political backers standing firm in Repete’s defence, urging him to challenge Akintunde head-on? Why is Repete trying to leap from the ground floor straight to the penthouse without first mastering the political staircase? A senatorial race is not a NANS election, if anyone needs to pinch him faster.
Several factors appear to be working in favour of the youthful and dynamic Repete. By 2027, he will be approaching a stage in life when individuals tend to exhibit sharper reasoning, deeper political insight, and a more pragmatic approach to governance. At this pivotal age, the drive for accountability, integrity, and progressive leadership is at its peak. It is often said that experience breeds wisdom, and this is the age of renewal and regeneration, where fresh ideas and strategic thinking take centre stage in nation building. The youthful energy will still be visible than a very tired look of an old man which may rub his main opponent. There is a growing sentiment that the youthful electorates in Oyo Central may rally behind one of their own, rather than entrusting power to an older politician perceived as more interested in personal enrichment than in the collective good.
The numerical strength of Ibadanland, if strategically mobilized, could be a game changer for Repete’s senatorial ambition. With its substantial population, Ibadan controls five out of the eleven local government areas in Oyo Central. If the APC blocs in Oluyole, Ona Ara, Egbeda, Lagelu, and Akinyele can speak with one voice and align their political machinery behind Repete, then his path to becoming a distinguished senator will be significantly clearer. Politics, after all, is a game of numbers, and when the tides of support flow in the right direction, victory becomes more than just a possibility, it becomes a near certainty.
Upon deeper reflection, can Senator Yinus Akintunde, widely perceived for his stinginess and tightfistedness, afford to let a resourceful low-budget underdog like Repete outshine him in this political contest? Perhaps, I should whisper into Akintunde`s ear to make a strategic move and sign Repete onto his political camp with a four-year deal, who knows, Repete might be broke and looking for a cash out escape route. It must be in cash or kind equivalent to the substantial financial outlay Repete has already invested, along with a “golden handshake” hefty enough to kidnap his ambition. Yet, truth must be told, Akintunde faces an even greater stumbling block on his path to securing a return ticket to the National Assembly in 2027. His relentless skirmishes and rough play with erstwhile benefactors, those who greased the wheels of his 2023 victory have left many disillusioned. Critics argue that his legislative impact has been underwhelming, less productive, ranking him poorly in mid-term assessments when compared to past heavyweights like Monsurat Sunmonu, Ayo Adeseun, and Teslim Folarin.
With mounting discontent and political alliances crumbling, Akintunde’s road to re-election appears more treacherous than the hurdles he overcame in 2023. As murmurs of doubt grow louder, seasoned political observers and analysts are beginning to write off his chances of clinching a second-term ticket. Finally, reflecting on the spirited days of my Under – 13 Olanihun era, one cannot help but draw a parallel to the unfolding political contest in Oyo Central Senatorial District. The pressing question now is whether Repete will emerge as the formidable defender, the unyielding barricade that will thwart, obstruct, and ultimately prevent Akintunde from reclaiming his senatorial seat in 2027.
The political chessboard is set, and the opening moves have been played. The stakes are high, and the battle for dominance has just begun. In the grand arena of power, where ambition clashes with strategy, only the most astute and resilient will prevail. As the drama intensifies, all eyes remain fixated on the unfolding spectacle, with keen observers scrutinizing every move and technique and countermove. Politics, as they say, is a marathon, not a sprint. Will Repete rise as the immovable force, or will Akintunde’s political dexterity prove too formidable to contain? We are watching with keen interest the politics of Oyo Central senatorial district. Both of you, Yinus and Afeez BolajiRepete, on your marks, get set, the starting gun has been fired, gooooooooooooooooooooooo.
Comrade Abiola Oluwanisola
abiolaoluwanisola57@gmail.com
Lagelu Local Government
Oyo State
