During the 2019 guber elections, some political forces came together to make sure the Apc candidate Dapo Abiodun won and became the governor of Ogun state. The state was turned to a battle ground, because the Governor at the time Gov. Ibikunle Amosun favoured the Apm candidate Adekunle Akinlade while Vice President Yemi Osinbajo favoured Abiodun. The ruling party broke into two factions and their power tussle turned very violent and some party faithful’s on both sides lost their lives. The governor at the time Gov Ibikunle Amosun had the ears of the President Muhammud Buhari,even though he was able to secure 3 senate seats and some house of rep seats in the Apc his candidate Adekunle Akinlade lost the primaries to Dapo Abiodun.
Dapo Abiodun won the primaries because he had the vice president Yemi Osinbajo, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,the former governor of Ogun state Gov Olusegun Osoba and the last joker which was the Apc chairman comrade Adams Oshiomole in his corner. At the time Amosun was the Apc senatorial candidate for Ogun central,so what he did was to move all of his structure that did not win their apc primaries to APM political party. With his closeness to the president he felt he could still install his candidate through another party.During the Apc governorship flag off Gov Ibikunle Amosun brought Apm members to the venue to meet the president.All hell broke loose, because the Apm members started throwing pure water sachets and objects at the APC hierarchy while the President was on the stage.
To say that the former governor and current senator Ogun central Ibikunle Amosun is close to President Buhari is an understatement,because as of today Ogun state has 26 federal appoints while Apc has 2 and Apm has 24. Olamilekan Adegbite who is the Minister of mines & steel was the commissioner of works under amosun and a APM member.Adewale Ogunyomade who served as special adviser for Rural Development an APM
member has just been made a new board member of the Federal Inland Revenue Service to represent the South-West.
Amosun used his closeness to the President and his power as the governor to really intimidate Dapo Abiodun and his followers. To make matters worse Ladi Adebutu the PDP house rep member remo constituency who is the first child of Kessington Adebutu aka Baja Ijebu renowed Business man asked all of his followers to support Gov Amosun’s candidate Akinlade of the Apm.At the time Ladi Adebutu was the governorship aspirant who won the primaries held by the Pdp but Senator Buruji Kashamu was able to use the courts to win the ticket.So with Ladi’s help who also comes from the same federal constituency as Dapo Abiodun was what Adekunle Akinlade needed to cross the finish line.
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People tend to forget that in 2003 when Gbenga Daniel won the Pdp governorship ticket,Dapo Abiodun came in second.So once Gbenga Daniel became the candidate he pulled all the candidates that contested against him together and they all worked to deliver the state to Pdp which was AD at the time. As things were looking down for the Apc candidate, do not forget that Dapo Abiodun and Gbenga Daniel were still friends even though they were in different parties. Dapo needed Daniel’s help,but how do you ask the DG to the Pdp presidential candidate Abubarkar Atiku to support you in the Apc. So Daniel made a decision on this point, for the past 8 years amosun has been a torn in his neck,Ladi Adebutu who is the party’s official candidate could openly support buhari’s man and give amosun support with everything amosun has been doing to him and his followers.The Vice Chairman representing southwest in Pdp was hand picked by Ladi Adebutu,so if ladi could support the enemy without punishment or reprimand then he also can play that game.
Daniel’s open support gave Dapo the needed edge to win the election. Daniel’s structure went to work, just days to the election and Dapo abiodun was able to win by a slight margin. Without daniel’s help Adekunle Akinlade of Apm would be the governor today.It also shows why the presidency prefer to deal with Senator Ibikunle Amosun than with Gov Dapo Abiodun.
What is surprising is that Gov Dapo Abiodun promised to run an inclusive government to cater to the factions that worked to deliver his candidacy,
When he released his transition committee list,it was very inclusive with members of different party’s but, when he released his commissioner list all the names were Apc members.I now remembered how the Governor of Oyo state Seyi Makinde made other party members commissioners in his cabinet, due to their contribution during the elections.
The Governor of Ogun state needs to buckle up and let people know that he is a man of his word. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
THISDAY
