With about 15 days to decide who takes over the mantle of leadership from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration which had been in the saddle since November 10, 2010, in Osun State, the amphitheatre is gradually being set as the electorate and the generality of the people of the state of virtue prepare to queue behind the contestant of their choice.

Presently, there are 48 governorship candidates, from varied political parties, angling to occupy the governor’s office, located within the precinct of Bola House, Osun State government secretariat and the popular Oke fia Government House.

Though, major governorship candidates; Mr Gboyega Isiaka Oyetola of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Chief Moshood Adeoti, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alliance for Democracy (AD) flag bearer, Mr Olugbenga Akintola, All Grassroots Alliance (AGA), Mr Lawrence Olufemi Kehinde, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN)’s flag bearer, Mr Adedeji Olanrewaju Adewuyi, Pade Okunola of the Accord Party (AP) and host of others have begun campaigns, there is no doubting the fact some germane issues already on the front burner of public discourse may play a major decimal in the election.

As these set of political gladiators step up their intrigues, horse trading and electioneering campaigns, consultations and persuasive messages which are rhetorical features of Nigerian politicians are being deployed to market their manifesto and blueprints to the electorate. While they transverse the length and breadth of Osun, making tall promises, bookmakers are of the view that the recurring Osun West agenda, high debt profile of the state, votes buying, workers’ welfare and health service in the state may be on the front burner ahead of the epical battle. While some of these issues dominated public discourse before August 9, 2014 governorship poll, only Osun West agenda and votes buying are fast gaining prominence among these critical concerns.

As the contenders jostle for the 1, 213, 026 votes of the people who have collected their Permanent Voters Card to take over Aregbesola’s job, keen watchers of unfolding political undercurrents hold the notion that it is too early to predict who would win the September 22 gubernatorial poll in Osun. However, the acumen and technical know how to frontally tackle the aforementioned issues, with the ultimate decision of the voters, are obvious determinants of whoever carries the day.

•Excerpted from a Tribune report