FOLARIN: An Embodiment of Political Sportsmanship | By Morufu Smith

FOLARIN: An Embodiment of Political Sportsmanship | By Morufu Smith.

Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin is arguably one of the most misunderstood politicians in Oyo State. This is understandably so because Oyo State is an environment where rumours and hearsay thrive unabated. Once opposing politicians throw darts of calumnies against each other, the educated, the miseducated, the uneducated all lend voices to heighten the rumours and hearsay and turn themselves to Amplified Modulation Transmitters😆, transmitting the rumours beyond where there is no air under the earth.

In 2015, when Senator Folarin was the governorship candidate of the PDP, with Senator Ajimobi of APC, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja of Accord,  late Gov Alao Akala of LP and Gov Seyi Makinde of SDP, also in the governorship race, Senator Folarin was the first governorship candidate to congratulate late Senator Abiola Ajimobi even when the whole results had not been declared, having seen where the pendulum of victory was swinging. The then Senate Leader came fourth behind Alao Akala.

That true spirit of political sportsmanship exhibited by Senator Folarin, when others created sour tunes of rigging and manipulation against the process, is worthy of commendation and emulation.

It was also said in hushed tones in a circle how Senator Folarin, during a parley with the Returning Officer of Oyo State in the 2015 Governorship Election, Professor Aderemi Raji, told the English Professor that he wanted INEC to declare his true number of votes not votes suspected to have been gotten through rigging or manipulation. The INEC officials who worked during the collations of results then were said to be impressed with Senator Folarin’s spirit of democracy and political sportsmanship.

Therefore, it is not farfetched that Oloye Teslim Folarin adopts organic approach in his 2023 governorship electioneering, taking his campaigns to the grassroots, meeting landlord associations, associations of artisans and other relevant members of the grassroots. He believes in the sanctity of democracy and democratic process and his joy will lie in the fact that he becomes victorious in the March 18th, 2023 Governorship Election through the process of free and fair election.

Morufu Smith
IBSW LG, Ibadan