Otunba OLUSEGUN Oladitan is the Chairman,Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC). He is a successful lawyer of over four decades standing before his appointment in 2011 as Chairman,Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC. He is a community leader , journalist and traditionalist who does not pretend to be known or addressed as one. Otunba OLUSEGUN OLADITAN hails from Igbajo in Boluwaduro local government area of Osun. In this no-holds-barred interview with Bukola Aderibigbe and Moshood Suleiman, Otunba Oladitan spoke on sundry national and local issues especially in relation to conducting national and local government elections in Nigeria and Osun state in particular. He explained why local government election in Osun will hold as expected but not so soon as would have been expected,the factors that will cause its delay, the fears and apprehension of the opposition parties leading to election boycott on many occasions and the way forward in achieving the best of democracy in Nigeria. Here are the excerpts of the interview conducted in his cosy office at the state headquarters of OSSIEC, Testing Ground area , Osogbo.
Osunnewsroom.com:
The business of conducting elections particularly at the local level no doubt falls within the purview of your official jurisdiction .
Oladitan:
You are quite right. There’s no doubt about that , constitutionally speaking we are in charge . Thank you.
Osunnewsroom.com:
Having established this fact , it now takes us to an incessantly asked question in many political and even non political quarters regarding how independent are the state Independent Electoral Commissions in Nigeria?
Oladitan:
You are not the first and you will definitely not be the last to ask this question. Over and over it has been asked by people especially the opposition party members who are always of the impression that the term “independent” of state electoral commissions only exists on papers but in reality, our activities are being dictated by the government in power . Well everyone is entitled to his or her opinion on any matter. However,this is far from the truth especially as far as the Osun example is concerned. Over the years (since 2011)OSSIEC under my leadership has proved its worth and mettle as independent in carrying out its day-to-day activities as a state electoral umpire. We are not perfect . No. We are not but we are absolutely apolitical in carrying out our assignments. Be that as it may, one is , however, not immune to having a sentiment or bias for one political party or the other because as humans,we are all political animals. However in occupying this type of office , any political emotion or bias must be buried as much as possible. Like Caesars wife, one must be above board. Constitutionally speaking ,we are not expected to be a member or card carrying member of any political party. Whoever does so ,he/she is not being fair to himself or herself as witnessed at the national level when a woman loses her nomination as INEC commissioner on the altar of being sympathetic to a given political party in Nigeria.
Osunnewsroom.com:
What then is the key to carrying out the job of conducting an election successfully without being accused of political bias or sympathetic to a given political cause?
Oladitan :
Transparency. Yes, one must be seen to be open. This is the key word and the watchword if you like as far as the job of the conduct of an election is concerned. One is expected to perform that duty creditably and to the best of one’s knowledge and ability. Mark you, people are watching and it is on the basis of being watched that people will now judge your independence or otherwise. Like Caesars wife ,one must be above board because he who lives in a glass house should be mindful of not throwing stones.
Osunnewsroom.com:
Our people still have doubts about the autonomous nature of the activities of state Independent Electoral Commissions in Nigeria. How can we get this notion erased ?
Oladitan:
Well,time will tell. Society especially electorates or opposition political parties have to completely do away with this empty thinking .It , however,requires a lot of orientation and education for them to get it erased from their minds completely.
Osunnewsroom.com:
Are you saying by your operation and other activities you are insulated from being controlled ?
Oladitan:
O yes, we are. OSSIEC under me is not and has not and will not be allowed to be controlled. There’s even no room for such to be allowed to hold sway. All the same, we are not saying there can be absolute independent in the conduct of our affairs. It is a relative term. How can I be absolutely independent in a situation where I have to talk to the Governor to give me the money for the conduct of our operations? There’s no absolute independence all over the world as far as the conduct of any election is concerned . This is the bitter truth to be swallowed. The concept of being completely independent is relative and conjectural .
Osunnewsroom.com:
Is that so ?
Oladitan:
O yes ! For instance,sometimes I have to go cap in hand begging for money to get certain things done on time or else there would be a failure.
Osunnresroom.com:
You must be speaking from experience.
Oladitan:
O yes !!! Experience is the best teacher. No doubt about this. Happily enough I have had cause to conduct a local government election in this state,though not in the life of the present administration. I am also happy to say that It was adjudged as free and fair. It was widely acknowledged to be held in line with the dictate of the official mandate given to my Commission to conduct such an election.
Ossunnewsroom.com:
To be appointed into your present office as Chairman, the popular assumption is that one must be or seen to have been a strong politician. Is that true?
Oladitan:
No. It doesn’t necessarily hold water that one must be a politician or a card-carrying member of a given political party especially the one at the helm of affairs. However, I must emphasise that there’s no human being who is not a politician. It depends on how one plays his or her own politics . Even in a family circle at our various homes , element of politics is sometimes at work. One should, however, be mature and fair-minded in going about it so as not to wreck the boat of peace in such a given family circle or home. It is like eating a particular kind of food . The choice of whether to eat pounded yam or Amala is in itself political because it is a matter of choice or preference by an individual.
Osunnewsroom.com:
Still talking about your experience so far in this office as Ossiec boss .How hot and sensitive is the job if one may ask?
Oladitan:
I must say that it is a bag of mixed feelings . Just like life, it is shrouded with the good, the bag and the many uglies . By and large , however,there’s no regret being OSSIEC boss . Osun is my home state and I am on top of the situation to play well my part . God has been faithful to me in carrying out my duties. For instance, during the immediate past administration, there were occasions when I had to disagree with the then governor. It was, however,an open disagreement where I openly said no about certain matters and that’s the concept of being independent-minded. I must emphasise that It is not all the time that one must accept what the Chief Executive tells one to do all the time. On many occasions, it takes me a long time to see Mr Governor because I have no business lurking around the corridors of power without any concrete reason. It is not in my character but that does not mean that our relationship with the executive arm and other arms of government is not cordial. No. We can not operate in isolation. When occasion demands, we do the needful. I have witnessed a lot of local government elections in this country by virtue of my position as the National Secretary of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions . So I can tell you confidently that whatever you are hearing from me, you are hearing it from the horse’s mouth.
Osunnewsroom.com:
Members of the opposition political parties in all states of the federation have always made boycott of local government elections a way of showing their lack of confidence in the fairness of any election to be conducted by the states .
Oladitan:
It is absolutely an absurd act . It is not good. I must use this opportunity to say emphatically that It is politically suicidal for opposition party or parties to boycott any election; be it at the local,state or national level . Boycotting an election,I must say, is a political tragedy of monumental proportion being committed by politicians and their political parties .
Osunnewsroom.com:
Really ?
Oladitan:
O yes ! How can you and why must you boycott an election under the pretext of not having confidence in the ability and sincerity of the officials who will conduct it? That has been the stock in trade of the major opposition parties in this country. This is wrong and a big letdown to our democratic journey as a nation .Whether it is going to be fair or otherwise,it is only when you take part that you will have a say in condemning it . It is only by your participation as a political party that you will have the necessary political arsenal to challenge its fairness or otherwise in a court of law after its outcome.
Osun Newsroom:
In other words, you are saying that participation is central to challenging the result of any election in a court of law?
Oladitan:
Yes, participation is very important. It reminds me of this popular yoruba proverb: “O si nibe, o ni ba wo ni won se pin”? As a matter of fact, there were instances in this country of ours where members of the opposition political parties won elections conducted by the sitting governments. There are instances I can cite to buttress this point. Not quite long, it happened in Nassarawa state where opposition political parties won many seats in an election conducted by the Nassarawa state Independent Electoral Commission. Also In Kaduna state, some few months back, in the election conducted by the Kaduna state Independent Electoral Commission, we saw where the opposition party in the state beat the incumbent governor, Mallam Nasir El Rufai in his polling unit hands down. This was made possible because the opposition party participated in that election. If it had been to the contrary, reverse would have been the case and there will be no legal backing to drive home the allegation in challenging the outcome as lacking in fairness and credibility.
Osun Newsroom:
Sir, what you are saying in essence is that participation is key to challenging any election outcome in a democracy like ours in Nigeria?
Oladitan:
Of course, yes! Capital YES! You cannot operate in isolation. If you do not participate, manna will not fall from heaven for you take advantage of.
Osun Newsroom:
Confidence in a state organised election is always lacking in this country and no one, for now, can say when there will be a change of mind
Oladitan:
Well, it will happen one day but quite difficult it is for now.
My advice to all opposition parties not only in Osun but all over the Nigerian federation is to have confidence in the ability of all state Independent Electoral Commissions to conduct an election that will be averagely regarded as free and fair. To all political parties, I must emphasise, please participate and don’t boycott any election. Make sure you show your face and your teeth and even the entire body structures, that you cannot only bark but bite as well.
Osun Newsroom:
…and majority of them usually run to court shortly after the election to challenge its outcome based on the allegation of lacking in credibility. Isn’t it funny then?
Oladitan:
Well, you have said it all. It is not only funny but absolute rubbish and nonsensical. You did not participate in a process and you are challenging its outcome as not being free and fair. Then challenging it will amount to wasting of time. It will not stand. It will amount to an exercise in futility because you have no ground to that effect to drive home your argument. It is like a roller coaster, what goes around, comes around.
Osun Newsroom:
When are we likely to have local government elections in Osun?
Oladitan:
A lot of things must be properly put in shape before we can conduct a local government election in Osun state for now. We have been doing all the preparatory works silently without making much noise about it, in line with our independent nature as a Commission in charge of conducting good and proper election. For instance, we have started the training of the Commissioners in OSIEC. Majority of them are new to the nitty gritty of all that it takes to conduct an election. Therefore training is very crucial for their effective delivery and performance. Aside this, there’s the need to also train both regular and ad hoc staff that will be recruited by the Commission to carry out the all important exercise. Except if we want to be economical with the truth, conducting an election is a money gulping venture. So for now, those essentials earlier stated and others which could not be stated for official reasons must be put in proper perspective before the Commission will say it is ready to conduct another local government election in Osun. But by and large, we are not completely saying that it will not be conducted .The timing is what for now cannot be frontally disclosed.
Osun Newsroom:
Specifically, funds to carry out the exercise could be one of the important reasons too?
Oladitan:
Yes, you got it absolutely right. The issue of money is a serious one. This is the reality on ground in Osun. Given the current indices at play, there are many intervening variables too to be addressed before thinking of conducting a local government election in Osun.
Osun Newsroom:
How did you come about your appointment as OSIEC chairman? And what was your immediate reaction when the job came your way out of many other people who could have shown interest for the position but didn’t make it?
Oladitan:
The first thing I had to think of was the story I was hearing about Osun. Leaving a juicy background in Lagos as a legal practitioner of over four decades to relocate home (Osun) as an OSIEC Chairman was a tough decision to make and contend with in the first instance. But service to my people was given preference because I knew I was coming to an environment where I just have to make do with what is available and close my eyes to the other goodies of where I was to relocate from. Leaving a state like Lagos to Osun to work wasn’t easy for me . I must confess. But here I am in the system and coping in the name of service to my dear state and Nigeria as a whole.
I was appointed by the immediate past governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in 2011, as OSIEC chairman, when the incumbent governor, Mr Adeboyega Oyetola was his Chief Of Staff. As OSIEC Chairman, we have had occasions to disagree on certain official issues with the former governor and after serious deliberations on the matters, we got them amicably settled.
Osun Newsroom:
So how would you describe working with the incumbent governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola?
Oladitan:
So far so good, the personal and working relationship between me and gentleman governor Adegboyega Oyetola has been so good, cordial and mutually interesting. By virtue of what he is and what he believes in, Oyetola is a delight to relate with and work with anytime any day. As the sitting Chief Executive Officer of Osun, he has exercised a nice and quiet disposition, he is easy going and with an open mind. He calls you when occasion demands to ask questions on certain grey areas and in the process seeks your consent to get things done properly. Don’t forget, like I earlier told you, I have known and interacted a lot with him when he was the Chief of Staff.
Osun Newsroom:
Was there a period that you have had cause to disagree on official matters?
Oladitan:
He is a good listener who does not use his position to lord it over those he is working with. He succumbs to superior arguments after being convinced beyond every reasonable doubt. He is large-hearted. As humans, we have had cause to disagree too. It is normal in the kind of open administration he heads. For instance in the appointment of the caretaker committee members, I challenged certain actions taken. But sincerely yours, when he advanced strong reasons in favour of such actions and decisions taken by his administration, I had to give in for his line of thoughts and reasonings which were cogent. And on many occasions too, he allows my reasonings too to hold sway .
Osun Newsroom:
So there’s no undue interference from the Executive arm of government on your Commission?
Oladitan:
At all. There’s nothing of such. I must tell you with all sense of sincerity and responsibility. As the state chairman of OSIEC, Mr Governor gives me full autonomy to operate. As the sitting Chief Executive who is in charge of governance of the state, he has the power to wield the big stick but reverse has been the case with Oyetola who will rather want you to exchange views and ideas before a final decision is taken on any official matter and even personal matters. He is a delight to work with. I love him as a person and I respect him a lot as the sitting Chief Executive of our dear state, Osun. Thank you.
