As the race for the governorship in Ogun State hots up with the passing of each day, the shape of what to expect is becoming clearer. The sudden death of Senator Buruji Kashamu last year and the decamping of former Ogun Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel from the PDP to APC a few weeks back has changed the shape of things to come.
In the political permutation right now, are questions that need answers. The first one is whether Gov Dapo Abiodun will get a 2nd term ticket or not from his godfathers in APC when the time comes. Two, who will Senator Ibikunle Amosun back for governorship? The last time, he backed Hon. Akinlade against Prince Dapo Abiodun. Who will he put down this time around? Three, what is OGD’s game plan? His body language in the last few weeks has shown that he is fully back in form. Four, what does former Speaker Rt. Hon Dimeji Bankole also want? He has been busy for the past 6 months. Five, what is Hon. Ladi Adebutu cooking? Six, will the Egba wait patiently and allow the Ijebu complete their 8 straight years of 2 terms?
These and many more are the main issues. City People can authoritatively reveal, that the incumbent governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun wants a 2nd term. And he is rest assured he will get it. Why? The political situation favors him. He has just 4 more years to go. Anybody that wants to come in 2023 will be thinking of 8 straight years. He knows the people of Ogun East will not want to lose the governorship slot to the Egba who will also do another 8 straight years. He feels all hands would be on deck to support his 2 term bid. But there are those who are seriously plotting the removal of Abiodun come 2023, to be replaced by another person from his Ogun East senatorial zone.
The current Ogun East Senator, Hon. Lekan Mustapha was initially tipped to run before now. Until recently, he was said to be the candidate of Senator Ibikunle Amosun. Both are very close. Both have come a long way. Amosun has always been a great supporter of Senator Lekan Mustapha. But insiders say there are strong indications that Amosun maybe backing Otunba Rotimi Paseda of Ogun SDP who recently decamped to Ogun APC.
In fact, as some political watchers put it: “Senator Ibikunle Amosun is planning to install Rotimi Paseda to be the next Ogun governor. Let’s tell you about him. Rotimi Paseda is a 2-time governorship candidate in Ogun State who recently defected to the ruling APC from his former party SDP. Paseda had contested on the platforms of UPN and SDP in the 2015 and 2019 general elections, respectively.
He decamped during the APC revalidation and registration exercise. He validated his APC in Omu-Ijebu, in Odogbolu LG. Paseda declared that as an ardent follower of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he considered the APC the only party whose objectives align with the ideologies of Awolowo “I am crossing over now so that I can save my people better…”
We hear that former Speaker of the House of Reps, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole is contesting for the Ogun governorship too and he may be decamping to APC soon. Some say it is the Presidency he is gunning for. Don’t forget that he recently married the daughter of a Northern governor and that has given him high visibility. He is an acceptable candidate from the South-West to the North. Over the last 6 months, he has been consulting all the powers that be, to support his bid. He was in Abuja a few days back to consult President Buhari.
Hon. Ladi Adebutu is also contesting. He has always been in the race.
He feels that more than ever before, the coast is clear for him to contest and win. He knows he would get the Ogun PDP party ticket to contest. Money is not a problem for him. He has loads & loads of it. He has a huge war chest.
How about Otunba Gbenga Daniel? We hear he plans to take a shot at the Ogun East Senatorial seat, which he knows he could get if he wants. He is strong in that area. He enjoys a rock-solid political base in Ogun East. He is most likely to battle Senator Lekan Mustapha who will be going for a 2nd term.
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