Re: Why Yayi can’t be the governor of Ogun State: Ijebus can’t be second fiddle (part 2)
By Dapo Adeyemi
When Otunba Deji Osibogun’s article titled “Why Yayi can’t be the Governor of Ogun State” was published last week, the first part of my two paragraphs reaction on some WhatsApp platforms was “I align myself with the submission of @Deji Osibogun except that he attempts to forget that Governorship positions rotate between Senatorial Districts”.
I intentionally used the words “attempt to forget” because I thought he was pretending not to know that the position rotates between the 3 Senatorial Districts in the State. However, with his latest release (PART 2) where he added “IJEBUS CAN’T BE SECOND FIDDLE”, it became obvious to me that he may not know, hence, my reaction to put the record straight.
In his latest article, the Otunba tried to justify his position that the Ijebus can’t play second fiddle. He even went further to make case for our brothers and sisters in Yewa/Awori axis of Ogun West and he believed that the Egbas in Ogun Central and the Remos in Ogun East had been denying them of being the Governor of the State.
Hear him, “Now, the fact is that for two times, two of the main ethnic groups have been denied the Governorship slot by their neighbouring brothers. That is, Remos have denied Ijebus of their rightful slot in 2019, while the Yewa/Awori have been denied their slot by the Egbas in 2011”.
Otunba Osibogun, in support of his position for a Governor of Ijebu extraction in 2027 said that Ijebu axis voted massively for the incumbent in 2023. I don’t know how massive the votes were because the PDP represented by Hon. Ladi Adebutu had 65,625 votes in the 6 LG’s making the Ijebu axis while APC represented by Prince Dapo Abiodun had 60,034 votes.
In fact, the results of the 9 LG’s in the East Senatorial District is less than that of Central or West. With this, the assertion of Otunba Osibogun that the Ijebus voted massively for the incumbent is far from been correct.
I don’t know why Otunba is using RIYE to determine the Governorship slot of the State. It is on record that at the inception of the present dispensation in 1999, Chief Olusegun Osoba from Central defeated the late Senator Jubril Martins Kuye from Ijebu axis of East. Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD) from Remo axis of East defeated Chief Osoba in 2003 and was in office till 2011. Senator Ibikunle Amosun (SIA) from Central succeeded Otunba Gbenga Daniel after defeating late General Olurin from Yewa South LG (West) and Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI) from Imeko Afon LG (West).
The incumbent, Prince Dapo Abiodun from Remo axis (East) took over from Amosun after going through his party primaries where he defeated prominent sons of Ijebu like Sen. Gbenga Kaka, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru and Mr. Jimi Lawal. He also contested the general elections with Candidates from the Central and West Senatorial Districts, like Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka, Hon. Dimeji Bankole and Sina Kawonise amongst others. In fact, we also have late Buruji Kashamu from Ijebu axis of East.
In 2023, its on record that candidates from across the axis in the State contested with the incumbent and he defeated all of them. It is therefore inconceivable that anybody should expect the governorship slot to stay in the East Senatorial District after the tenure of the incumbent.
I have been able to establish that no ethnic group had been denied of the opportunity of occupying the Governor’s seat as presented by Otunba Osibogun. In fact, at no time had Ijebu’s been staying aloof. They have been contesting at each election year, though, it may not be on the platform of any of the major parties. I believe that with Otunba’s advocacy, the time for a governor of Ijebu extraction is by the corner.
Before concluding, let me say that I agree wholeheartedly with the suggestion of Otunba that the Governorship of Ogun State have to be renegotiated, though, it should not be open to the highest bidder or somebody with questionable track records or antecedents.
As 2027 approaches, it is expected that candidates will emerge from all the Senatorial Districts, but my appeal is that Otunba Osibogun should rally his people behind an Egba Candidate with credible records and integrity, with a firm agreement that the Egbas will support one of them in 2035. May God spare our lives beyond that time.
Hon. Dapo Adeyemi writes from Ifo.
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