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As More Aspirants Join OGUN Guber Race
Right now, all over Ogun State, one of the major topics of discussion is who the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun (DA) will support to succeed him, as he rounds off his 2nd term in office. Though the coast is not yet clear as it is still over 24 months to the next election, many names of possible aspirants are currently being mentioned, here & there.
Leading the list is Senator Olamilekan Adeola, (FCA) popularly called YAYI. He is the most visible of all the aspirants planning to run for governorship.
He is a long distance runner. He has been at it for the past 16 years. He has been working on becoming governor for close to 20 years now. And he has invested heavily in the project.
Hon Ladi Adebutu is also running for governorship. He has also been at it for a while. He feels he is the best candidate for the job right now, since DA is not on the ballot, this time around. His performance at the polls the last time makes him feel he would win this time. He is still in PDP.
There are others like the man who is considered to be the most powerful Minister in Pres. Tinubu’s government, Wale Edun. Many don’t know he is one of President Tinubu’s most trusted aides. That was why the President gave him that portfilio as not only Minister, but supervising Minister of the Economy.
He is from Abeokuta and he is being tipped for the No 1 position in Ogun State. There is also Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole, the former Speaker of the House of Reps. He has been in the race many times over. He is being tipped to run again for governorship.
Hon. Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka popularly called GNI, is also being tipped to run for governorship. This won’t be his 1st time.
He has attempted it twice but stepped down. He is currently an Abuja lawmaker in the House of Reps, where he represents his zone. He is MHR representing Yewa-North/Imeko-Afon Fadera Constituency.
Hon. Biodun Isiaq Akinlade, is also running for Ogun governorship come 2027. He has attempted the slot twice. He is also from the Yewa axis , just like GNI. He enjoys the support of many party leaders. He currently serves as the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation Technology & Aerospace. He is the Baba Adinni of Yewaland Hon. Akinlade is the member representing Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency.
Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Ishola will also be running. He is the immediate past High Commissioner of Nigeria to the UK. He is under pressure to run.
He is from Abeokuta. The Egbas want him to run. Shortly after he returned home after a successful job in the UK, powerful Egba people held several receptions for him in Abeokuta and he has become very visible in the scheme of things in the state. He is also a visible Muslim leader with a powerful title.
There is also Bukola Olopade, popularly called OZOGULA, who recently got a good job in the Sports Arena. His name is being mentioned everywhere.
Hon. Jelili Kayode Amusa, a former Abuja Federal lawmaker is also being tipped.
But the big question is: who does the incumbent Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun prefer? No one knows. He has kept mum. He has kept his cards close to his chest.
Political analysts have pointed at 2 powerful people in his cabinet. They are the current SSG, Tokunbo Talabi, who was the first person to be reappointed after the Governor dissolved his cabinet after he won his 2nd term bid.
He was reappointed on 8th June, 2023. And the Finance Commissioner. Dapo Okubadejo, the Commissioner for Finance of Ogun State & Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor. He is a brilliant young man who was a former KPMG Partner & Africa Head, Deal Advisory & Private Equity. He is a Technocrat. They are 2 of his most trusted aides.
Some have even tipped Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, the present Senator representing Ogun Central senatorial district. He is very close to the Governor. His victory at the last polls was attributed to the overwhelming support he got from the Governor.
Some have also mentioned Gov. Abiodun’s friend, the Lagos Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. Though, Obasa has his base in Agege, he is from Abeokuta where he has many friends and associates. He and Gov. Dapo Abiodun, are very close. At every event hosted by the Lagos Speaker, the Ogun Governor is always in attendance and he usually stays long to support his friend and political associate. Obasa is also believed to have his eyes on Lagos governorship slot because he has paid his dues in Lagos politics. He is also keeping the Ogun governorship option open.
There are those who feel that Gov. Dapo Abiodun would not mind throwing his full weight behind Obasa if Obasa so decides to run. There is also Dr Kadri Obademi Hamzat, the current deputy governor Lagos State. Some have also mentioned Mr. Fola Adeola, the Founder of GT Bank, who is quite close to Pres. Tinubu. Some say the President is eager to compensate him with a high profile role. His name is also being mentioned as a possible person for the job of Ambassador to the US. Some have even mentioned Pastor Tunde Bakare’s name.
So who will Gov. Dapo support? His political associates say he already knows the person, but he is spreading his net wider to accomodate more people. They claim that he is the one who has encouraged GNI and Hon. Biodun Akinlade to join the race.
Insiders say, Prince Dapo Abiodun’s plan is to become a political godfather after he leaves office just like other 2 term governors. He wants his loyalists to take over the key positions.
Right now, he controls the party at the State level. He is the leader of the party. He also controls the political structure all over the state. At the last local government elections, Ogun APC cleared all the seats.
But the problem DA has, explained a source, is that it might not be very easy to instal a successor, the way other governors do. This is because he has entrenched opposition in Ogun APC. Former Governor and Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has declared war against the incumbent governor. He has openly made it known that over his dead body would Gov. Abiodun install a successor. There is also Senator Gbenga Daniel, a former Governor of the state who is currently representing Ogun East Senatorial District. He and Gov. Abiodun don’t get along. They have been at daggers drawn for years. The general believe is that OGD is not likely to support DA’s candidate. Political analysts say the game is between the Egbas & Yewas. And all the contenders feel OGD has Ogun East locked down and they all need his support because Ogun East will be the decider.
And both Amosun & Daniel have strong influence within the party and the state.
Will Gov. Abiodun support Yayi in 2027? That is the big question. Both are very close. Recall that Yayi, it was who put down his political structure to help Abiodun win in 2019 when he contested. At that time, all odds were against Prince Dapo Abiodun who had a running battle with Senator Ibikunle Amosun. Again in 2023, Yayi was also to help Abiodun win his 2nd term bid, when Hon. Ladi Adebutu & Co. ganged up against Abiodun and he narrowly won. Observed an Ogun politician with all the interventions of Yayi in the last 6 years, for Abiodun, it should be easy to predict that Gov. Abiodun will support Yayi, but Politics is not played like that. In Politics 2+2 is not usually 4. DA might decide to change his mind. He may have other plans”.
Truly so. Consistently, Senator Yayi has explained that he enjoys a good relationship with his Governor. Even when some politicians tried to talk about cracks in the wall of their friendship, Yayi has come out severally to tell the whole world that his relationship with Prince Dapo Abiodun is strong and intact. But there are those who still have their doubts as to whether Gov. Abiodun will support Yayi’s ambition or not. They argue that they have not seen any signs of that. They have gone ahead to raise issues as to whether DA will be able to control Yayi if he takes over. This is because Yayi has a strong personality. He has a mind of his own. And the fact that Yayi has a strong grassroot political machinery in place that is difficult to uproot by anybody.
Those close to the governor say that DA has Trust issues with handing over to Yayi. His fear is that he may not be able to control Yayi if he contests and wins as the next governor.
City People also has learnt that the Yayi Group is aware of all these issues. And so, they have Plan B and Plan C.
But they feel it will be easier and seamless if they can get the buy-in of the governor. Explained a politician, the Governor is not likely to support Yayi unless he has been pushed to the wall and he has no option. And they feel it is also dangerous for DA to dos so because he might not be able to control Yayi, who is not a Yes man.”
As it is, Yayi remains the aspirant to beat. He enjoys tremendous Goodwill and Support all over the state from the Grassroot to the very top. He has been holding mega empowerments that has drawn him closer to the people.
Rumour has it that DA seems to prefer Bankole. But there are those saying the party might impose Yayi on him, if Yayi is Pres. Tinubu’s choice. It is also unclear where the President stands in all these.
But the battle against Yayi by the opposition has become very intense. They have come up with several unsubstantiated arguments about his roots. Some powerful stakeholders in Ogun State are fighting back that they don’t want Yayi because they say he is not from Ogun State. This allegation has been debunked by the Yayi Group. It has denied it repeatedly.
As it is, the race is getting interesting by the day.
