Impressed by the violence-free atmosphere created during his campaign, the Chief of Staff to Osun state Governor, Elder Peter Adebayo Babalola has been rated as the best aspirant so far in the PDP circle.

Interviews conducted round some major towns in the state by Osun Mail revealed that the governorship bid launched recently by Peter Babalola was still a surprise to so many people going by the level of thurgery been displayed by some politicians nowadays.

“Give it to Peter Power. It is a carnival-like rally”, a member of the Campaign Team of an aspirant said. 

Government workers, artisans, market women, okada riders and commercial motor-drivers have all spoken glowingly of Babalola as a grassroot mobilizer.

In Osogbo, Ilesa and Ile-Ife, residents disclosed that it has been long that a stylish campaign of that nature will take place without being followed by any commotion.

Surprisingly, Peter Babalola’s support cut across party lines as most people saw him as one of the best governorship aspirants.

Alhaji Sikiru Bamidele who resides around roundabout in Ilesa said he was caught by surprise when he saw Babalola’s campaign train in Ilesa.

He said, “What surprised me most was that immediately the market women and artisans saw the campaign train afar off, they have started panicking, they were packing their goods and equipment but we were all disappointed when we discovered that no act of thurgery was displayed by the occupants of his campaign vehicles as they passed through Ilesa.

“Infact, if other politicians can emulate Peter Power by not engaging violent youths in their campaign exercise, I know we will definitely get to the promise land of democracy in Nigeria”.

Also speaking, an okada rider popularly known as ‘fine boy’ said since that day, November 11, 2009, his notion towards Oyinlola’s Chief of Staff has changed.

“My thinking before was that he is a very violent man, I thought he is not approachable at all, I have been thinking that because of his intention to contest, there will be more violence than we witnessed in Ilesa between 2005 to 2007 but I was totally disappointed.

“When we are talking of re-branding Nigeria, I think this man, Peter Power should be taken as a typical example, and he has laid a good legacy that we are expecting other aspirants, both from PDP, AC and other parties to emulate”.

In Ile-Ife, Mr. Oyelami, a Secondary School teacher has this to say, “I have known Elder Peter for a long time, you know we are from the same denomination, which is The Apostolic Church. He is somebody you need to move close to. Though, looking at him from afar off can give you negative impression about him but if you are opportune to have one thing or the other to do with him, you will know that he is a perfect human being.

“One of the qualities I always admire in him is that he is very straightforward, Elder Peter will not deceive you, and he will not tolerate laziness because he is not lazy. So, I think he is one of those people we really need in this state.

“I am not a politician but you know we are all political animals, Babalola has shown good example of a born-leader who will not encourage violence or hooliganism when he actually get to the position of authority”.

The story repeats itself in Osogbo, the state capital, a middle-age woman who simply gave her name as Iya Kemi said she was at the Osogbo City Stadium that day to sell pure-water.