All over Ogun State right now, many people are talking about the preparations for the 2027 governorship race. And many are wondering who the Egba people will support.
Many people are talking about the bright chance of the current Ogun West Senator, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly called YAYI. He is the preferred candidate of many, for governorship. He has been described as the man to beat. Across the state, everyone is talking about him, because he has a political machinery that is very formidable and wide spread, across all the Wards and local governments. He has solid political structures across the 3 Senatorial zones. Although he is from Ogun West, he has huge followership in Ogun Central and Ogun East. He has met with Stakeholders in all these zones and he has their buy-in. He has also been touching many lives with his empowerment programmes.
What is helping his governorship ambition is the fact that he comes from a zone in the state that has never produced a Governor, since the creation of Ogun State in 1976.
But City People gathered that some Egba people plan to field an Egba candidate for governorship. It is not that they don’t like Yayi. They do. But they feel it is their turn. And that governorship should come back to their zone. They can’t seem to wait for another 8 years before the governorship comes back to them.
So the Egba people are divided. Some support Yayi, whilst some others prefer an Egba candidate.
How true is it that the Egba are not likely to support Yayi, who has strong links with the Egba? His mum is Egba.
Political observers say that is a difficult political equation. “We still don’t know how the Egba are going to handle this. They will try all they an to tackle Yayi,” explained a source. “The main issue is that if they support Yayi, it will take the Egba out of power for 24 years and most of the present political actors would most likely have been retired”.
“Gov. Dapo Abiodun complicated the issue all the more. There is practically no Egba man at the top echelon of Abiodun’s administration from Deputy Governor, SSG, COS, Finance Commissioner, HOS, name it. It’s only the Speaker. To make matters worse a Yayi government can only take a deputy from Ogun East (which means the Egba will be effectively out of power for another 8 years, if Yayi spends that much.” Then the rotation will come back to Ogun East/Ijebu for another 8 years.
So, the political equation in Ogun State right now is more like Egba/Egbado (from the old Province) and Ijebu/Remo Province
That is why Yayi too is trying to play up his maternal side. It is quite understandable that his Yewa project is a disruptive political equation.
We hear that his handlers have also be acussed of not helping matters because they are selling Yayi as a Yewa candidate, which is suggestive that he is coming to marginalise other zones to the advantage of Yewa. Yayi’s handlers have been acussed of recruiting what they term political workers from other zones instead of political allies which has been termed to mean, come and work for us and not come and work with us.
This has heightened a fear that he will dump many of them after the elections. Many fear that he will import most of his political appointees from Lagos and relegate all the local politicians.
Truth be told, Senator Solomon Olamilekan is currently leading in opinion polls and is considered a strong contender for the position.
The key contenders for Ogun state governorship include the following:
(1) Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) who represents Ogun West Senatorial District, leading in opinion polls with 19% of votes in a Federation of West African Freelance Journalists poll.
(2) Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, the PDP candidate who secured 12% of votes in the mentioned poll.
(3) Dimeji Bankole: APC aspirant with 12% votes.
(4) Princess Olatorera Majekodunmi-Oniru who is running for governor, focusing on progressive governance, agricultural advancement, and social security.
(5) Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI) the former governorship candidate, now representing Imeko-Afon/Yewa North Federal Constituency.
(6) Hon. Kayodee Amusa, a former Federal lawmaker. What are the factors influencing the election? They include:
(a) Zoning and Power Shift: Strong agitation for Ogun West to produce the next governor, as it’s the only zone yet to hold the position.
(b) Incumbent Influence: Governor Dapo Abiodun’s impact and political godfathers like former governors Olusegun Osoba and Ibikunle Amosun.
(c) Party Dynamics: APC and PDP have notable aspirants shaping the race .
Some other politicians vying for the position include:
(1) Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola who represents Ogun West who District, leading with strong support from his zone, seen as a potential frontrunner.
(2) Dimeji Bankole: Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, an Egba aspirant with significant political weight.
(3) Ladi Adebutu: PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate, representing Remo federal constituency with experience.
(4) Sarafa Tunji-Ishola, the former Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, banking on Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s political structure.
(5) Segun Showunmi the PDP governorship aspirant who is an articulate advocate with political experience.
(6) Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the incumbent Deputy Governor, advocating for Ogun’s first female governor.
The key factors influencing the election are:
Zoning: Strong agitation for Ogun West (Yewa) to produce the next governor as it’s yet to hold the position.
Party Dynamics: APC has multiple aspirants like Yayi, Bankole; PDP’s notable candidate is Adebutu.
Political Godfathers: Influence of former governors like Olusegun Osoba, Ibikunle Amosun shapes alliances.
Incumbent Impact: Governor Dapo Abiodun’s backing reportedly leans towards Ogun Central aspirants like Sarafa Tunji-Ishola.
The Egba people are indeed pushing for one of their own to become the next Governor of Ogun State in 2027. According to High Chief Bode Mustapha, the Osi of Egbaland, it’s Egba’s turn, citing their significant voting population – 56% in Ogun State.
The key factors driving Egba’s aspirations include:
Demographic Strength: Egbaland boasts 56% of Ogun State’s voting population.
Historical Support: Egbas claim they’ve supported other zones; now they want their turn.
Traditional Leadership: Statements from prominent Egba leaders like Hon. Bode Mustapha underscore their determination.
Potential Candidates: Names mentioned include Hon. Sarafa Ishola, Senator Lanre Tejuosho, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole, among others.
Egba Lokan Agenda 2027 Stance
The group denies endorsing specific individuals like Senator Yayi, emphasizing support for credible Egba indigenes.
They highlight Egba’s history of producing notable leaders like Obasanjo, Shonekan, MKO Abiola.
The Egba people have a strong aspiration to produce the next Governor of Ogun State in 2027, and their chances seem plausible given their demographic strength and political mobilization.
The key factors favoring Egba’s chance are as follows: Demographic Strength: Egbaland boasts 56% of Ogun State’s voting population, giving them significant electoral clout.
Political Mobilization: Groups like “The Egba Agenda 2027 Crusaders” and “Egba Renaissance” are actively pushing for an Egba candidate.
Historical Leadership: Egba has produced notable leaders like Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
Potential egba candidates include:Ambassador Sarafa Tunji-Isola, backed by Egba Renaissance, praised for leadership skills and diplomatic experience. Dimeji Bankole: Former Speaker of House of Representatives, Harvard-trained, from Egba part of Ogun Central and Wale Edun: Minister of Finance, seen as a contender with federal influence.
The considerations include
Zoning Dynamics: Ogun West (Yewa/Awori) hasn’t produced a governor; they’re also strongly pushing for the seat. Political Alliances: Support from godfathers like Senator Ibikunle Amosun shapes prospects.
Intra-party Politics: APC and PDP have multiple aspirants; competition is intense.
Chief Bode Mustapha, the Egba high chief asserts that the Egba won’t wait another 16 years. He says they will support an authentic Egba candidate.
Egba Agenda 2027 Crusaders, urge unity among Egba politicians for 2027 governorship. He said an original Egba candidate will be supported for 2027 governorship race in Ogun State, says Bode Mustapha
Chief Bode Mustapha has declared his support for a candidate of Egba origin to become next Governor of Ogun State in 2027.
Mustapha made the declaration during a Live radio program in Abeokuta, emphasising that no aspirant or candidate without authentic source of Egba origin will be allowed to contest under the platform.
The renowned politician stated that Egba would not allowed any emergency “foreigners” under the guise of Egba indigineship to take the slot, stressing that throwing money around by anybody would not pave way for such.
He added that an authentic Egba must have a village and therefore whoever claims to be Egba without a village is nothing but fake, adding that any interested genuine Egba can either come from mother or father whose origin are Egbas to contest
“There is no hidden truth that Egba has villages, and whoever is Egba must have a village, but anything contrary is fake. Anybody can throw money around, but our position is that anybody interested to contest as Egba must either come from Egba mother side or Egba father side. I will support any aspirant with Egba roots—no matter if it’s from their mother’s or father’s side”, he emphasised
He pointed out that any aspirant whose Egba origin claim is in doubt, should be properly investigated by the monarchs of the claimed section of Egbaland by such aspirant.
The business mogul used himself as a good example of such, recalling that when he was to contest in the second Republic, some people claimed that he was from Ibadan, adding that after though investigation by the late monarch of Gbagura it was established that his parents are original Egbas and that closed the chapter of doubt, stressing that any aspirant with such challenges should be bold enough to be properly investigated
“But now anybody who can bring money, becomes leader. Just imagine somebody comes in, one day and he brings money and they say go to all the places. And that’s where you even have people who are not from your place,they’ll have somebody who’s not even Egba or Ijebu,Yewa whatever ,they say tomorrow he’ll be governor. I said Governor of where?, he queried
“I am saying this today, as long as I am alive in 2027,the Governor of Ogun State will be an Egba man .An Egba man has tried for the Yewa people. Egba with 56 percent of voting population in Ogun state will not sit behind the fence for 16years. We’ve supported others now we wanna take our thing. Awa lokan”, Mustapha stressed.
“We have that sense of entitlement deservedly .Anybody can carry his money all over the place,we don’t care about that. Egbas are proud people,you can’t buy us with money,we don’t care where your money comes from. As long as I am alive an Egba man will become governor of Ogun State”, he emphasised.
Asked if the Egba will support Yayi, Chief Bode Mustapha said we don’t lose anything if he becomes Governor, because his mum is one of us. She’s Egba Alake from Kemta.
