Hope for Ogun West Governorship Ticket Becomes Unpredictable
AstheleadershipoftheAllProgressivesCongressinOgunStatecomesclosetounveilingitsgovernorship candidate, Femi Ogbonnikan examines the possibility of the ticket going to Ogun West
After a long wait, strong indications have emerged that the Ogun State leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has finalised arrangements to unveil its preferred governorship candidate. Feelers from the state secretariat of the party hinted that the state leadership of the party was prepared to announce the successor to Governor Ibikunle Amosun from among the strong contenders to the exalted office.
The decision would end the ‘hide and seek’ game the governor deployed in the recent past, ostensibly to buy time.
Notwithstanding, recent events by the three major political parties, APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ‘third force’, African Democratic Congress (ADC) appear to be altering the political equation in Ogun. Following the withdrawal of an APC strong contender, (Sen Solomon Olamilekan Adeola), the chances of Ogun West (Yewa/Awori zone) presenting a consensus candidate is already shrouded in uncertainty. The initial aspiration of the Lagos West lawmaker had stirred the hornet’s nest and sought to strike a balance with whoever the incumbent governor is. The exit of Adeola, a formidable aspirant, may have sealed the chances of a Yewa candidate coasting home to victory in the 2019 governorship election in the state.
With Adeola’s withdrawal, the coast is clear for Amosun to unilaterally appoints a successor, without input from stakeholders from other zones. Lack of cohesion among the aspirants, has been identified as a major threat, to forging a common in order to come up with a consensus candidate.
The development has signalled a repeat of the outcome of the 2011 Ogun State governorship where two Ogun West candidates (Prince Gboyega Isiaka and retired Gen Adetunji Olurin) emerged and contested against each other, thus making it an easy win for the incumbent governor, Amosun, an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, who is from Ogun Central (Abeokuta).
An Ogun East APC governorship aspirant, Otunba Jimi Lawal, said recently during his official declaration, “Ogun West lacks unity and the political strength to win the governorship in 2019. If APC wants to lose Ogun State governorship, they should insist on Ogun West. Ogun West has only five local government areas. They are already divided because ADC is fielding Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI)”.
No fewer than nine governorship aspirants (of Ogun West stock) on the APC platform have signified interest in the plum job. They are Chief Kola Lawal (current Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry), Engr Tope Kuyebi, Prince John Adegbola, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade (lawmaker representing Yewa South/ Ipokia Federal Constituency), Hon. Abiodun Ishaq Akinlade (ex-lawmaker), Rt Hon. Suraj Adekunbi (Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly), Chief Tolu Odebiyi (Ogun State Governor’s Chief of Staff), Prince Aderibigbe Tella and Chief Biyi Otegbeye. However, two aspirants, Kola Lawal and Tope Kuyebi, are said to be most favoured, standing tall high and wielding perceptible influence among the Yewa elders and leaders on account of their humility, acceptability, pedigree, clout, wealth of experience and educational qualification.
The peace that has pervaded the ruling party until recent times, is predicated on the subtle delay the governor, has deployed in enthroning sanity, a development many political watchers have observed as a ‘postponement of the evil days’. Amosun had pledged to unveil the identity of his successor, shortly after the last Ramadan fast. On another occasion, the governor chose to make the announcement, immediately after the last July 14 Ekiti State Governorship poll. Subsequently, a new expectant date was slated after the Eid-el-Kabir festival.