OrionTimes Political Desk |May 30, 2026 For Accord Party, the road to victory just became steeper as Oluwole Oke's primary win reaffirms his status as one of Osun's most formidable electoral forces. Hon. Oluwole Oke's victory in the party primary has once again reaffirmed his standing as one of the most influential political figures in Osun State. More than securing a ticket for another electoral contest, the outcome has sent a strong message across the political landscape: Oke remains a formidable force whose influence extends beyond his constituency and whose political relevance continues to shape conversations ahead of the 2027 general elections. A Political Brand Built Over Time In politics, longevity without relevance means little. However, Hon. Oluwole Oke has managed to combine both. Having served multiple terms in the House of Representatives, he has established a reputation rooted in constituency engagement, grassroots mobilization, and legislative experience. His...
....political ambition looks like a funeral procession
For Oriontimes
The road to the Bola Ige House in Osun begins with a price tag that could echo through a small town: ₦50 million for a nomination form.
An amount heavy enough to fix roads, revive failing schools, or transform a youth enterprise, yet it is merely the entry fee for anyone daring to dream of governorship.
A governor is expected to serve, but before service comes the screening question:
“How loud is your pocket?”
Not your vision.
Not your competence.
Not your connection to the people.
This is why many young Nigerians quietly walk away from the idea of leadership.
Not because they lack ambition,
but because the system kneels on their necks and whispers:
“You’re too broke for this dream.”
And when a generation realizes the door is locked, they respond in the only language they know: satire.
They turn politicians into characters for social media skits,
slice them into two with editing tools,
fry their images in pans,
and laugh, not because the issues are funny,
but because humour is the only affordable form of protest they have left.
Across the sea, Number 10 Downing Street tells a different story.
To run for Prime Minister in the UK:
You don’t need ₦50 million.
You don’t need ancestral assets.
You don’t need a political godfather standing behind you with a cheque.
You need ideas, party support, grassroots engagement, and competence.
Their system is demanding, yes, but accessible.
A 40-year-old can rise, contest, debate, and possibly win,
without first auctioning his future to afford the dream.
In Nigeria, a 40-year-old is told to “wait for his turn,”
a turn that rotates through the same hands for decades,
like a wheel refusing to touch new ground.
In the UK, political ambition is a process.
In Osun, political ambition looks like a funeral procession,
you count the cost before you start the journey.
The Two Doors: A Stark Comparison
Number 10: Entry is rigorous but not gold-plated.
Bola Ige House: Entry is financially fortified.
Number 10: Youth participation is encouraged.
Bola Ige House: Youth participation is admire from afar.
Number 10: Leadership is a service job.
Bola Ige House: Leadership is a premium product.
And here lies the global irony
When African leaders demand a permanent seat at the United Nations,
the world quietly wonders:
“If young people can’t even access leadership at home,
what future are you fighting to represent abroad?”
The danger is not the cost of governance.
It is the cost of entry.
A democracy where ambition requires millions is a democracy that silences millions.
Until the gate is lowered,
the gifted will remain spectators,
the system will remain narrow,
and leadership will remain an auction house,
not a service centre.
Abioye Tosin Lawrence is the publisher of Oriontimes Online Newspaper and author of Voices From The Fire: My Journey Through a Hollow Empire
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