BY KAYODE ODUNARO
Over the weekend, precisely on Saturday, February 7, the race towards the governorship seat of Ogun State in 2027 got a push with a radio declaration to contest for the position of governor by no less a figure than Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, the first daughter/child of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
Not a few were surprised by the announcement coming shortly after her expression of the opposite sentiment to a news channel in Remo, Ogun State. The denial then, followed some bill board advertising suggestive she is back from a seeming self-imposed political sabbatical. In the ensuing interview she made reference to her supporters trying unsuccessfully to coax her for political participation that she left over a decade and half ago in 2011. From her volte face in just weeks after that disinterestedness in jumping back into the political waters of Ogun State, her supporters may have mounted undue pressure for her to change her mind after being on record as uninterested.
Senator Obasanjo’s throwing her hat into the ring of Ogun 27, albeit without her heart, considering from her recounting that she is virtually being ‘drafted’ by an unnamed group of supporters, bears some interrogation from observers, participants and stakeholders in Ogun state party politics and governance.
At this point, a disclaimer is in order for me. I am not writing this on behalf or for Senator Solomon Adeola aka Yayi that I have been associated with since 2011 and presently working for as his Chief of Staff and Media Adviser. It is also an open secret that many Ogun State indigenes earnestly yearn for Senator Adeola to throw his hat into the ring at the appropriate time for an ambition he is silently nursing but yet to officially declare for.
I write as a foundation member of All Progressives Congress, (APC), an indigene of Ogun State with interest in its development and someone that had participated in the state’s politics and governance process at some responsible levels as far back as 1997 under the military era. And as a triple Chief (Baaroyin, Majeobaje and Osorun) and community leader in Ogun State, I am commenting on Ogun State affairs as a stakeholder, as of fundamental rights, and of course a partisan politician in APC. And presently on Ogun 2027, I am partisan for Senator Adeola. But this write-up is not about my partisan preference in Ogun 2027.
A time will come for that within our party, APC and subsequently when eventually all aspirants declare their intentions. For now, only Senator Obasanjo and Hon. Abiodun Akinlade are on my record as declarants. For Hon. Akinlade, one can leave interrogation of his ambition to a later date.
For me, the first thing that struck a chord about Senator Obasanjo is where she is coming from. She is not only the most politically visible scion of the former President Obasanjo family but has participated in governance at state and federal level. She definitely had paid her dues as a state commissioner and a one term Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria both under the conservative People Democratic Party (PDP). And to heel, she is the beloved daughter of a famous former president of Nigeria that served under PDP. This leads one to raise eyebrow about her choice of political party to realize her new found ambition.
The ruling party of APC at state and federal level has President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its National leader. From what is in public domain, there is no love lost between President Tinubu and former President Obasanjo. In the race towards 2023 that eventually saw the emergence of Tinubu as president, Chief Obasanjo was not in support of Tinubu and going toward 2027 election, it is also clear that Chief Obasanjo will root for an Obi, a Kwakwanso, an Amaechi or anyone for that matter except Tinubu, and yes, Atiku.
So, why is Senator Obasanjo pitching her tent in a party under the leadership that her father is unalterably opposed to? Did she or the group that pressured her get the consent of the former president? Was there consultation with the former president for his blessing? Or is APC just a convenient platform to push the agenda of the group that went to drag out Senator Obasanjo from her self-imposed political sabbatical?
These are posers for interrogation until clarity is obtained. Coincidentally, a more direct but similar occurrence did take place recently when the son of former Vice President to Chief Obasanjo, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, in the person of Abba Abubakar Atiku also declared for APC and directed that all coordinators and member of the political group he founded in 2022, Haske Atiku Organization, to align with APC and support President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda!
The dissimilarity for now is that Abba Atiku’s reason for joining APC against his father’s interest and undying ambition to rule Nigeria is that it is not yet premised on running for an office but in faith in APC and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu. For Senator Obasanjo, we await her keying into APC after her registration ethos and declaration of faith in the successful Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
Curiously, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku had come out boldly as not to oppose his son’s political re-orientation saying the decision of his beloved son “to join APC is entirely personal”, and stressing that “As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience…” Certainly, the public will await Chief Obasanjo’s comment on her daughter’s political re-orientation. Which led back to my poser earlier if the group that pressured Senator Obasanjo discussed the issue with her father and what response did the elder stateman give. I am sure at some point the former president will make a public comment on his daughter’s political decision.
For now, we await to see if this will play out as the case of the Sarakis in Kwara State where against all odds Senator Bukola Saraki effectively retired his father Senator Olusola Saraki from politics or as some are already suggesting that these moves by scions of former PDP leaders are moves to achieve some yet to be stated hidden agenda against the ruling APC.
Which brings one to the issue of APC as a party in the equation of Ogun 2027. In Ogun State, the party has had a good run in Ogun State since 2011 despite some hiccups that led to forceful electoral takeover from incumbent APC governor. Since 2019, however, it could be said that the party has been nurtured, sustained and held together mostly by no other persons than the incumbent governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Chief Olusegun Osoba, a former governor and National leader of APC and Senator Adeola.
These three party leaders in their own way have weathered the storms from within and without including electoral storm that could have spelt disaster for the party in Ogun State. All manner of anti-party activities by party bigwigs at critical moment had been orchestrated but adroitly managed to keep the party intact. For Senator Adeola, some public commentators have publicly proclaimed him a good ambassador of APC, not only in Ogun State but across Nigeria.
Going toward 2027, will our party, APC risk fielding candidates that are practically being coerced or those that overnight want to run on the party’s platform that had been nurtured and sustained through thick and thin. From Senator Obasanjo revelations, PDP might as well be dead and buried with what she described as “all kinds of turmoil” while if she is given the option, she would have opted for African Democratic Congress (ADC).
But according to her that coalition is yet to have its “ducks in a row yet; they are still working on it”. Does this imply that she sees ADC as an alternative to jump to once the ducks are now in proper row? Very plausible considering all we know about the still in the making contraption call ADC and its concentration with mostly disgruntled politicians. We await those developments.
On a note of commendation however, Senator Obasanjo’s declaration for Ogun 2027 knocks off some religious inclined aspirants that want to hinge outcome of Ogun 2027 on religion. The drive to make religious factor a criterium for candidacy of Ogun 2027 suffered a setback for those going about trying to sell an ‘awalokan’ for any religion in Ogun 2027.
As far as I know, religion has not played a significant role in the political recruitment of leadership for Ogun State. But there is always a balancing act between the two major religions, in terms of governor and deputy governor, and other positions. As a state, Muslims and Christians relate as brothers and sisters with families intertwine even at nuclear family level. Senator Obasanjo declaration is a testament to the fact that religion plays a negligible role in recruiting the leadership of Gateway State. Christians and Muslims alike are welcome. The politically enlightened indigenes of Ogun State usually make their choice on factors outside religious considerations.
We await more declarations for Ogun 2027 as our party, APC, is now the darling to aspirants. Indeed, all other political parties are either in limbo or just empty shell of little electoral value. As stated, once other aspirants declare their intentions, some of us in APC will do a critical review of the options before the people of Ogun State for the people to have a qualitative and progressive state. For that I am toying with a title that will read – “Ogun 27: Between Political ‘Wannabes’, Opportunists, Serial Losers and The Rest of Us”. Let me hope my title is not used before I write.
*kayodunaro@hotmail.com
