- List Of Those To Watch
With the recent Supreme Court judgement confirming Prince Dapo Abiodun as the winner of the 2023 governorship elections in Ogun State, the race for Ogun 2007 governorship has begun in earnest, as pressure is beginning to mount on some prominent politicians and indigenes of the state to run for office.
City People can authoritatively reveal that the move actually began late last year, but since many politicians were unsure of the way the pendulum will swing, interms of the Supreme Court judgement, all the moves being made were done underground. Over the last few months, pressure has been mounted on a few big names across the state.
One of them is Mr. Wale Edun, the current Minister for Finance & Co-ordinating Minister. He is an Egba man from Abeokuta, Ogun State. There are those who are rooting for him. He is currently the most powerful Minister under Pres. Tinubu. And he has the solid backing of the President. Explained an insider, “Just like former President, Muhammadu Buhari believed so much in BRF, Pres. Tinubu also believes in Wale Edun and that explains why he has saddled him with the responsibility of overseeing so many portfolios in this present dispensation. Edun also enjoys the support and confidence of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo. Recently, the Alake held a grand reception in his honour, along with the 2nd Minister who is from Ogun State. It is already a known fact that Edun, who has not made up his mind yet may just decide to run. Many believe that if Edun is able to fix the Economy for Tinubu, that will be a good profile for him to clinch the number one job in Ogun State.
There is also Amb Sarafa Isola, Nigeria’s former high Commissioner to the UK. He is also an Egba man from Ogun State. He has a solid reputation that will help him. He also enjoys tremendous respect and goodwill among his people. A few weeks back, there was a grand welcome reception held in his honour by his Egba kinsmen and friends. The Committee of Friends which organised the reception was headed by Chief Joju Fadairo. The Alake attended the party. So also the Osinle. The Olowu was also there. A lot of big names in Egbaland turned up for the big party.
The current Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Alhaja Noimot Oyedele is also being tipped to run. It is believed that she has done so well as the No 2 person in Ogun State. There is a general believe that she comes from Yewa axis where there is huge votes.
There is also Bukola Olopade popularly called Ozogula. His profile has risen phenomenally over the last one year. He bagged a big title from the Alake and he has a rich trajectory and pedigree. He was a 2 term Commissioner under Otunba Gbenga Daniel and he is very, very close to Gov. Dapo Abiodun.
A lot of pressure has been mounted on him to run but he has not made up his mind. He feels it is still to early to talk about 2027. “Let us all support the Governor to succeed on all of his legacy projects for now,” is what has been his answers to all those who are putting him under pressure. “Our focus should be on how the people are looked after by government rather than playing politics”.
There is also Alhaji Hamzat, the current Deputy Governor in Lagos. His name is also being touted as a possible candidate for Ogun governorship come 2027. There are those who feel that with his intimidating profile which he has gathered in Lagos State, he could cross over to Ogun State and give the governorship a shot.
Another name worth mentioning is the current Lagos Speaker, Rt Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. Though he has a solid base in the Agege area of Lagos and has won elections repeatedly, there are those who feel his strong links with Ogun State can help him win.
Why the Ogun Deputy Governor, Alhaja Noimot Salako Oyedele might decide to run is because the Awori in Ado-Odo Ota claim they have the population and they have been queuing behind the Yewa project for years. And the idea is that Awori should produce the candidate for the next Ogun West project.
The population of Ado-Odo Ota is more than all the other 4LGs in Ogun West (Yewa South, Yewa North, Imeko Afon and Ipokia) combined. Lets quickly add that Hamzat and Obasa are both from Ogun Central (Abeokuta). Their own protest contest is rooted in the Lagos rival politics. After Asiwaju left the scene, there has been a contest of who takes over as the leader. Yayi belongs to a faction which Gbajabiamila belongs.
Obasa & Hamzat, being from Egba are trying to protest Yayi’s incursion into Ogun State politics and eventually picked the best prize or the most cherished trophy as Governor. They see Yayi as not coming from Ogun State, because twice they had accompanied him to Ekiti State to bury his parents then.
Hon. Ladi Adebutu will also be in the race come 2027. But the fact that he and the present governor are from the same Ogun East zone is a big problem. Both he and Gov. Abiodun are from the same senatorial zone.
As for Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly called Yayi, he is firmly in the race. As things stand right now, he is the most prepared of all the aspirants. He has contested for Ogun governorship 3 consecutive times. But lately, he has been encountering stiff opposition from rival groups accusing him of outspending others.
Who will Gov. Dapo Abiodun support? The answer to that remains unclear. An insider reveals that the governor is keeping that card close to his chest. Revealed an insider, Gov. Dapo is playing all of them. He is close to Yayi but there are those who argue that DA will not support Yayi. And Yayi knows this. Yayi knows DA is not going to support him. His body language is very clear on that. DA has been playing Divide & Rule among them.”
“Presently, he makes GNI feel he will be considered. In another breathe, he is also assuring Hon Biodun Akinlade of his support. He is also pushing GNI & Akinlade forward to go and stop Yayi, assuring both that whoever emerges in the front line will pick the guber ticket, while the next will pick the Senate. His plan is to retire Yayi in Ogun State politics.
Yayi’s biggest problem is his intimidating profile. He has a formidable structure across all the senatorial districts which scares other politicians. He is also believed to have a war chest that only few politicians can match.
But can the governorship go back to Ogun East again in 2027? Many people don’t think so. “It is going to be very, very difficult,” explained an insider. “Even in Ogun East, the Ijebus are already complaining of marginalisation.”
“An Ogun East governor in 2024 can only come as a fluke like the BAT Muslim/Muslim ticket. If too many candidates come out from Ogun West and Central and they divide their own votes, then Ogun East can rally round their own singular candidate. But this will be very tough. This strategy works most for Ogun Central because they have the population (Ifo, Obafemi Owode & Abeokuta South). The sentiments of Egba politics will also determine the direction in Ota.
But the ultimate battle will be between Gov. Dapo Abiodun & Yayi. The gists making the round is that things have started falling apart between the 2 of them. Recall that Yayi owns the political structure via which DA came power in 2019 and getting re-elected in March 2023. DA’s fear is that a Yayi as Governor will be too strong to handle after he leaves office.
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