Absurdity of Kupoluyi's Vituperation Against Senator Ajibola Basiru

It is important to set the record straight in the  light of the recent article authored by an Emmanuel Kupoluyi, which attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to discredit the towering political and professional competence of Senator Ajibola Basiru (SRJ). The piece, cloaked as a neutral intervention, was, in reality, a veiled attack aimed at undermining the credibility of a man who has consistently proven himself in every assignment he has taken on, from the class to courtroom, the red chambers, and now, the national secretariat of our great party.

Let’s start by stating the obvious: losing an election is not, and should never be, the sole metric of measuring political competence. If it were, then how do we explain the fact that in Osun State in 2011, three political heavyweights, an immediate former governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and two incumbent Senators, Iyiola Omisore and Isiaka Adeleke, all lost their senatorial bids? What happened in 2023 was no different from historical electoral patterns in Osun: when a party loses the gubernatorial election, it suffers a ripple effect in subsequent polls. SRJ’s loss was not a personal failure, but a reflection of the general wave of voter sentiment, a reality that any objective analyst would acknowledge.

And despite that wave, SRJ delivered Osogbo and Olorunda for the APC in both the Presidential and Senatorial elections. His performance in these core local governments was not only commendable but pivotal. In fact, if the three APC candidates for the House of Representatives had replicated similar success in their respective LGAs, Orolu, Ifelodun, and Ila, the overall fortune of the party in that election would have been significantly better. It is therefore laughable and intellectually dishonest to paint him as politically incompetent.

By that same flawed logic, are we to say that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is now incompetent because he lost the 2022 governorship election? Or should we argue that Senator Ademola Adeleke should never have been presented by the PDP in 2022, simply because he lost in 2018? Was the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the first man to govern Oyo State twice and a former federal lawmaker, suddenly unfit for leadership because he lost his senatorial election in 2019? The absurdity of such thinking is glaring. It is a lazy narrative driven more by bias than logic, and one that collapses under the weight of historical facts.

If we are to discuss competence, then Senator Ajibola Basiru stands tall on multiple fronts. He is an accomplished legal luminary, an academic with deep roots in legal scholarship, and a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Osun State, where he reformed the justice system and introduced several progressive legal policies. His performance as a Senator was not just satisfactory, it was exceptional. He emerged as the official Spokesperson of the Senate, a position that requires unmatched intellect, political maturity and eloquence.

Today, he serves as the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a position he attained unanimously. This alone speaks volumes about the trust and confidence reposed in him by stakeholders across the country. Since assuming that office, SRJ has played a key strategic role in every off-cycle election, mobilizing structures, harmonizing stakeholders, and ensuring party cohesion at critical moments. His impact has been felt in states like Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa, and his voice continues to echo nationally as a staunch defender of progressive ideals. Edo and Ondo APC will for ever be grateful to him.

And let’s not ignore his role at home. Since 2022, SRJ has been the loudest and most consistent opposition voice in Osun politics, fearlessly holding the Adeleke-led PDP government to account. While others have opted for silence or safe diplomacy, he has taken the bold path of principled resistance, a rare and courageous stance in today’s political climate.

Kupoluyi’s attempt to dismiss such a sterling figure on the shallow basis of a single electoral loss is both disingenuous and intellectually lazy. It is ironic that those who preach "competence" are quick to discard real substance in favor of narrow parochial considerations.

Let it be known that Senator Ajibola Basiru is not only competent; he is the standard. His legal brilliance, legislative mastery, administrative acumen, and current national relevance all make him not just a qualified aspirant, but the most formidable political figure Osun APC can present in 2026.

And more importantly, SRJ represents unity. He is one of the few leaders within the APC fold with the pedigree, network, and political capital to genuinely rally all camps, bridge longstanding divides, and reposition the party for total electoral victory. His candidacy offers a unique opportunity for Osun APC to move forward, not just with a competent flagbearer, but with a man of vision, courage, and tested capacity.

One can only hope that those who hired Emmanuel Kupoluyi now realize the incompetence of their hatchet man and the utter futility of their campaign of calumny.

Ayotunde Jimoh 

Ward 03,Olorunda Local Government.