Note: This was first posted on Kwara Change Initiative Facebook Page

As a friend on this page (Kwara Change Initiative), I read with keen interest postulations of a few contributors as regard the politics of my great hometown-Igbaja with each end trying to undo each other but none of them tried to trace our political history which I think perhaps they have little inkling of it.

Permit me on this page please, to in the meantime, attempt a summary account of Igbaja politics as from 1999-2011, even if the interest of the moderators of this page appears not served. I am one of the few that watch political developments in this area with the thinking that why, we are so ignorant of how it is played elsewhere that have helped them? I lived all my life in Igbaja but can sufficiently account for developments between the aforesaid period.

As at 1998 when this democratic journey was to start, we were expecting the usual divides amongst the known politicians in their traditional camps to slug it out. But a small group of young elements changed the face of Igbaja politics; most of them professionals from Lagos who aligned with the AD. I beg to state here that the old brigade had to return to the coaching seat for competent advises. The political parties were AD, APP and PDP. As usual the palace and its council queued behind the ruling party then; APP.

The PDP and AD were in opposition after the general elections of 1999 but the AD had won Igbaja ward 1 election in December 1998 to produce a councilor that represented the community at the local government parliament in Share, headquarters of Ifelodun LGA.

During the said period i.e. 1999-2003, few compatriots benefitted from the APP led government, the community royal palace project received support from that government, a few physical projects were inaugurated and some individuals were also patronized.

By 2013, the APP (or ANPP) government fell and Igbaja had been labeled an APP stronghold going by the result of the 2003 election that gave victory to the party in our ward. For more than 12 months running the new PDP government that took the reins of power in 2003 was not permeable for the AGIP (?). Therefore the campaign for mainstreaming became very strong amongst torch bearers. They had to show the government that they are back as the local government election was drawing nearer, 2003 local government election in Igbaja was unprecedented in style and conduct. The AD/ANPP alliance as arranged at the local government level was fully implemented in my community, as a councilor emerged again from that arrangement. Before long let us check on the list of our councilors for the period under review. 

SUMMARY OF WARD COUNCILLORS (1999-DATE)
1. Engr. Kamaldeen Amuda (1998 Dec-2003)-AD
2. Mr. Kayode Adesina (2003-2006)-AD/ANPP
3. Mr. Kehinde Ilufoye (2007-2010)-PDP
4. Mr. Muritala Aleshinloye (2011-2013)-PDP

Since mainstreaming became the order of the day, everybody nearly abandoned his party for the ruling party except a few that stuck to their old party. Well, this might be a reason for electoral victories of PDP since that time but no thanks to those who abandoned their parties for a plate of Asaro. 2007 and 2011 elections saw the community organs, expectedly with the palace campaigning for the continuity of PDP-government. Events of the election night on April 14th, 2007 should be told by the rightist -politicians. Their porosity cost them that election and more of vulnerability in 2011.

They appeared uncoordinated even when one of them was running for a seat in the state house of assembly. They were lost in the hands of political jobbers. The PDP did well here by penetrating their ranks.

In the 2011 general elections, out of the 13 polling booths; ACN won ECWA Demonstration School 1&2, ECWA Secondary School, lost narrowly in Muslim Primary School where a PDP beneficiary voted and Jamat Nasril Islam Primary School where many names were lost to computer fault during registration.

Open Space Isale Igbaja 1&2 were overwhelmingly won by the PDP and 3 other booths around the palace while they also won in Baptist Primary School and Open Space Ile Balogun. In that election PDP was consolidated on the many prongs of IPU, IPF, IFOWOSOWOPO (More than 50 clubs and societies), Palace, Chiefs, and Community Leaders and so on.

Never blame them that was the era of southern agenda and it was soothing that an Igbomina son from Ifelodun local government area was running for no. 1 position in Kwara. I also voted him on that strength, though I now have my reservations. For whatever it is, emotion is spent reason now prevail.

Atanda is an indigene of Igbaja, lives and work there.