2023 General election: why Governor Dapo Abiodun mfr should be re-elected
By Chief Samson Oderinde
Ogun State is one of the complex states to administer in Nigeria. It is unique in all standards especially because it had enjoyed and continue to enjoy the rare privilege of producing several great and versatile nationalists, leaders and administrators in the anal of the country. Thus, it is looked up to, to showcase the very best which it is made of at all times, including the choice of her best at every electoral year, to govern it and continue to showcase the very best in all ramifications; including good governance and robust welfare activities. Since the creation of the Gateway State in 1976, it has been governed by such experienced and worthy leaders as Chief Bisi Onabanjo (1979 – 83), Chief Olusegun Osoba (1992 – 93) and (1999 – 2003), Otunba Gbenga Daniel (2003 – 2011), Senator Ibikunle Amosun (2011 – 2019) and the incumbent Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun (2019 to date). They all did their very best, with wonderful legacies. Every patriotic indigene and resident would wish that the untainted growth and development of the state since the return of democratic governance continues unabated.
2023 is another electoral year, which gives the electorates the opportunity to elect those who would govern their states till 2027. For the governorship of Ogun State, candidates of the various political parties are struggling it out with the incumbent Governor of the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun who is seeking re-election under the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC). All the candidates on the Ballot for 2023 are quite strong and formidable, but out of all of them, Prince Dapo Abiodun is simply the best choice. Aside from the very high qualities of Prince Dapo Abiodun, which have made him in compatible to his opponents, the high flying credentials, attainments and achievements of most of the candidates being fielded by the APC at all levels of the electoral process, would contribute maximally to the make the outcome of the gubernatorial election favorable to the party and the Remo Prince.
There is no gain saying the fact that Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC Presidential flag-bearer is an household name in Nigeria, so loved and adored by Nigerians would win votes massively for himself, Prince Dapo Abiodun (to secure his re-election) and other candidates of the party to win their national and state legislative seats.
The All Progressive Congress is equally blessed with first class Senatorial Candidates which are being fielded for the three senatorial districts of Ogun State at the elections. For Ogun East, a former Executive Governor of the state, His Excellency Otunba Gbenga Daniel is being fielded. Already, he has gained the endorsement of influential and powerful block of Ijebu and Remo dynasty and authorities who call the shot and dictate the pace in all spheres of life, including the foremost traditional rulers in Nigeria; their Royal Majesties Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland and the Akarigbo and Paramount ruler of Remoland Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi and their retinue of influential traditional rulers, as well as the numerous clubs and associations (Regberegbe). Otunba Daniel is expected to win massive votes for himself and contribute massively to the electoral victories of his party’s Presidential and Gubernatorial candidates, as well as the other candidates from his district.
West senatorial district is presenting a current first class and ranking senator of the Federal Republic, in the person of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, who has not only garnered wide legislative experience in Lagos State and at the National Assembly (the longest legislator in the South West of Nigeria), but he is so much loved and admired for his philanthropic gestures which are unparalleled. He has equally been adopted and endorsed by the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland Oba (Dr.) Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle and other powerful traditional rulers of both Yewa and Awori extractions, with virtually all the other levels of traditional rulers and majority of the people from West district supporting him solidly. He is also expected to win majority votes for himself and all the other candidates, including the Presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, gubernatorial candidate; Prince Dapo Abiodun and other candidates for legislative seats.
In the same vein, the Ogun central senatorial district of Ogun State is lucky to have a brilliant and versatile administrator of great repute Alhaji Shuaib Afolabi Salisu (Omoyayi) to represent it on the platform of APC. He is a very popular candidate who has been endorsed by the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, other traditional rulers and chiefs in Egbaland. He is already bulldozing his way into the hearts of the electorates impressively; he is expected to make great impacts in the election. He would be elected and be expected to contribute effectively to the overall performances of both the Presidential and Gubernatorial candidates, as well as other candidates for national and state legislative seats. In addition there are strong and tested foot soldiers for him who are contesting for the House of Representatives and Assembly seats in Ogun State in various constituencies of the state, some of who are incumbent in the positions for which they are seeking re-election and who have performed impressively. Some had served in similar positions in the past, with wonderful records. The list also includes a former governorship candidate with intimidating performances at some elections in time past. In addition, virtually all the political juggernauts in Ogun State who dictate the pace in the various political parties in the time past have now congregated in APC and are working assiduously for the party and all its candidates to win the 2023 election. Without any hallucination, all of these would no doubt advance the vote of the great Prince.
The situation as it presents itself in Ogun State is clearly a walkover for the APC, with the Presidential sagacity of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and of course the very irrepressible and constant merit award winning Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun. By implication, the re-election of Prince Dapo Abiodun at the gubernatorial election is signed, zealed and delivered.
The general election is just a few days away and efforts are being made to project candidates of the respective political parties positively, to attract the acceptability and sympathy of the electorates and mobilise votes for them. Prince Dapo Abiodun, the incumbent Governor of Ogun State and gubanatorial candidate is seeking re-election to the exalted office which he has been adjudged to have used proficiently and nominated severally as the best Governor in various fields of endeavours in the last three and half years within Nigeria and across the continent of Africa. In my opinion, the status quo ante should be maintained in Ogun State (Prince Dapo Abiodun should be retained as the Governor), so that the enviable position of the state could be consolidated and its development enhanced. Impliedly, the good people of Ogun State should continue to support Prince Dapo Abiodun till he secures their mandate once again.
The superlative performance of Prince Dapo Abiodun has bolstered the rating of APC in Ogun State and made all the elective offices within the party to be keenly contested for. It remains the party to beat, considering the array of strong, popular and high ranking politicians, as well as incumbent public officials being fielded for the 2023 general elections. All hands must be on deck by every patriotic indigenes of the state to mobilise support and secure massive votes for this hardworking, resourceful and goal getting development administrator and peoples’ leader. Luckily for Prince Dapo Abiodun as highlighted before, God has endowed him with able colleagues, comrades, lieutenants and co-candidates, who are contesting for other political offices, such as the Senate and House of Representative seats, with the full complement of able and adorable candidates of the party for House of Assembly seats across the state.
It will interest everyone that an empirical research was conducted simultaneously in all local government areas of Ogun State very recently and it revealed that the people are more in love and are appreciative of the development strides of His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun and are willing to re-elect him back into office, to continue his good work. It should be emphasized that public administration, especially development administration at the level of governorship of a state requires great knowledge and intelligence in the management of both human and material resources, as well as financial wizardry and personal zeal to be able to make great and verifiable impacts. Governor Dapo Abiodun has displayed these wonderful qualities, performed exceptionally so far and moved Ogun State forward.
He has done so much for Ogun State in such a little time of three and half years, such that the image and status of the state has been positively catapulted to enviable heights in Nigeria and the resultant national and international merit awards and honours for him and the state. Clearly, Prince Dapo Abiodun stands out as the most experienced, proficient, credible, accountable tested and trusted amongst the candidates jostling for the gubernatorial position of Ogun State in the 2023 gubernatorial election. He has demonstrated enough dexterity, resourcefulness and reliability, to attract the support of the people. He is poised to win the coming election by about fifty percent (50%).
The star of Ogun State, which is currently glowing should be allowed to continue to shine even more brightly for the entire world to see, with the re-election of Prince Dapo Abiodun, it is the sacred duty of the electorates to ensure that they retain this result-oriented administrator who has used their meagre resources to turn around their fortune, so that they may enjoy more of his productive and developmental strides and valuable dividends of democracy for another four years starting from May, 2023.
Chief Samson Olu. Oderinde, JP is an author, essayist and analyst, a former member, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Governing Council. Ex-S.S.A (Political) to former Deputy Governor of Ogun State and Former Executive Chairman, Yewa North LG.
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