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  • Ogun 2019: Youths condemn attack on Osoba

    Ogun 2019: Youths condemn attack on Osoba

    A GROUP, Yewa-Awori Young Professionals Forum (YAYPF), has warned elders of Ogun West against making inflammable statements capable of denying the zone of the opportunity to govern the state come 2019.

    In a statement issued by YAYPF’s National Chairman, Demola Edun, an engineer and the National Secretary, Mrs. Dupe Olabode, the youths distanced themselves from the position of the Ogun West Elders Council under the chairmanship of Chief Mohammed Ajibola Olagbaye over the political misfortunes of the zone over the years.

    The statement reads: “They have started again as they are now attacking Chief Osoba whom they knew is the brain behind Yayi’s political movement and electioneering agenda in the state.

    “These same set of people who are now attacking Chief Osoba were the one who greatly benefitted from him before. Yet, they are now castigating him because of his support for Yayi.

    “We have meticulously studied what they said during that ill-motivated press conference and going by their statements, it is obvious that they are acting out an already prepared script of their pay-master since they said wherever Amosun goes, they would also go.

    “But it saddened our hearts that our elders could reduce themselves to such an errand boys with myopic thinking. It is also sad that they are all bad students and followers of history, else, how could they forget so soon, what Chief Osoba did for Ogun West Senatorial district?

    “We wish to put the record straight that Chief Osoba was the first governor of the state to put the Yewa-Awori zone in an enviable position when he appointed Deacon Poju Adeyemi as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) between year 1999 and 2003.

    “Aside from Olamilekan Adeola, a.k.a. “YAYI”, who else among these politicians can match him in intellectual know-how, money and exposure?”

  • Ogun 2019: Youth group condemns attack on Osoba

    Ogun 2019: Youth group condemns attack on Osoba

    A GROUP, Yewa-Awori Young Professionals Forum (YAYPF), has warned elders of Ogun West against making inflammable statements capable of denying the zone the opportunity to govern the state in 2019.

    The forum called on sons and daughters of Ogun West, both at home and in Diaspora, to resist attempts by some selfish individuals, who may want to jeopardise the Yewa-Awori’s collective political aspirations, for their selfish interests.

    In a statement by YAYPF’s National Chairman, Demola Edun, and the National Secretary, Mrs. Dupe Olabode, the youths distanced themselves from the position of the Ogun West Elders Council, under the chairmanship of Chief Mohammed Ajibola Olagbaye, over the political misfortunes of the zone over the years.

    The forum said it was obvious “some members of this so-called elders’ council are indeed working for their pay master”, to silence other intelligent sons.

    The leadership of the Ogun West Elders Council, under Olagbaye, few days ago, came hard on Chief Osoba for his statement at the birthday of the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Deacon Poju Adeyemi. Osoba was quoted as saying the All Progressives Congress (APC) had not zoned the governorship seat to any section of the state ahead of the 2019 polls.

    The elders’ council also criticised the former governor for championing the governorship ambition of Senator Olamilekan Adeola.

    But the Young Professionals condemned the attack on Osoba, whom they said spoke the truth.

    “…it is high time we open our eyes; we should not allow personal interests of these politicians scuttle our chance of clinching the ticket and consequently administer the affairs of this state.”

     

     

     

  • I’m not against your zone, says Osoba

    I’m not against your zone, says Osoba

    Former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba yesterday said he was committed to ensuring that Ogun West produces the next governor in 2019.

    The former governor, who spoke through his ex-Chief Press Secretary, Kayode Odunaro, debunked Ogun West Elders Council’s (OWEC’s) claim that he is working against the zone’s clamour to produce governor in 2019.

    Osoba said he had always been on its side.

    The statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to a press conference in Abeokuta by a group of elders from Ogun West, purporting that Chief Olusegun Osoba …is not in support of Ogun West for Governor in 2019, based on some of his interviews in recent times.

    “As someone who served Osoba as his chief press secretary and later as senior consultant to the governor, I make bold to say the elders completely misread the interviews of Chief Osoba, with the regrettable part that none of them deemed it fit to seek clarification from Chief Osoba as a stakeholder in Ogun State on his stand on Ogun West for Governor in 2019.

    “Indeed, most of the personalities at the press conference were key officials and State Executive Council (Exco) members appointed by Chief Osoba during his two administrations and should ordinarily not find it difficult to approach him for his stand on any issue.

    “It is regrettable that they allowed the present temporal interests to severe links with their benefactor to the extent of not seeking to be on talking terms.

    “To the best of my knowledge, Chief Osoba is firmly committed to the Ogun West for Governor in 2019 project, based on equity, justice and fair play. This much I can see from his misinterpreted interviews.

    “Indeed, he has a passion for the development of Ogun West as, during his administration, Ogun West had the highest number of top political appointees, a situation that led the late Prof (Senator) Afolabi Olabimtan to lead a ‘thank you visit’ to him as governor.

    “Such appointments included the secretary to the state government (SSG), commissioners, vice chancellor of the state university and chairmen of boards of government agencies, headed by some of the people, who addressed the media against him…”

  • How Yewa can produce governor, by Osoba

    How Yewa can produce governor, by Osoba

    Veteran journalist, two-time governor of Ogun State and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Aremo Olusegun Osoba spoke with Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU in Lagos on preparations for 2019 polls, zoning and other partisan issues.

    What are the challenges that will face the next governor of Ogun State?

    The greatest challenge is to find a means of uniting the different ethnic groups within Ogun State. The next governor should also be somebody who has the wherewithal to earn the respect of our major leaders, both traditional and political. For example, the Awujale has been on the throne for over 50 years. The Alake of Egbaland is a seasoned administrator, who has served as the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters. Whoever that is going to be governor should earn the respect of these leaders. He will need competence and capacity. There is no oba in Ogun State who is not either a professional or a degree holder. We have people who are highly exposed, critical and analytical in Ogun State.

    In the light of the challenges you have briefly highlighted, what are the qualities you expect from the next governor?

    We should have a person who has a relative administrative experience, who has a high political sagacity. I expect an exposed, educated and somebody who will respect dissenting voices and opinions.

    The perception out there is that there is still a gulf between you and Governor Ibikunle Amosun. How is the party tackling the challenges of reconciliation and harmonisation in Ogun State?

    The so-called gulf is a creation of those who want to benefit from an impression of rivalry, which is non-existent. I am 78. I am going to be 79. I feel insulted when they say there is rivalry between me and the governor. I respect the governor. He is the chief executive. He is the head of Ogun State. I therefore, must accord him all necessary respect due to his office. There is nothing like rivalry. I am somebody who does his civic responsibility. I pay my tax regularly and up to date. Among the people in my age bracket, I will be among the first 10 in the whole of Ogun State, in terms of the quantum of tax I pay annually. My pension is only N676,000 a month. The tax I pay to Ogun State is in millions of naira. What then could be the reason for rivalry and disagreement. I don’t live on government largess. I don’t need government contract. I am contented. In relation to the APC, I am an advocate of internal democracy. Once the party allows the people to choose who will be their representatives, at all levels, both party and elective offices, I am very comfortable. At my age, I should be father to all. If you see that as a disagreement, that is using a wrong language. I insist always that we must do things right. We should be committed to the constitution of the party. I was the chairman of the committee that drafted the constitution. And I will continue to insist that the party’s constitutional provisions should be followed and upheld. I cannot be the one that headed the committee that drafted the constitution and be the one that will subvert the same constitution. That is what people have played upon and said there was a phantom rivalry.

    What are the issues that are likely to shape the governorship primary and election in Ogun State?

    First of all, there must be transparency in the evolution and emergence of anyone who will fly the tickets of the two major political parties. I have been governor two times, not two terms. Two different times, under the military and civilians. And to borrow the words of Adamu Ciroma, I won fair and square. None of my elections was ever challenged, either verbally or legally. In truth, the two people that I contested with at different times later wrote letters congratulating me. If I went through due process and won fair and square at the party and state levels, I should not under any circumstance be unfair to whoever is going to emerge as governor by wanting to impose or be part of the conspiracy to impose candidates. Therefore, what I expect is a fair, open and fair primary as a major factor that should shape the process of emergence of the governor of Ogun State.

    What is the place of zoning in Ogun politics?

    Let me first of all start by saying that the advocacy of zoning is not exclusive to Yewa. The two contending forces are using different languages to propagate their zoning philosophy. The Yewa/Awori/Egun in Ogun West says it is the turn of Yewa. The Ijebu says rotation should be on provincial basis. I am saying that, if you are going to use fairness, justice, equity; any language you want to use, the Yewa/Awori/Egun people of Ogun West Senatorial District deserve after 40 years to be given an opportunity. But, it must be based on merit. I qualify it with merit, not just to put a figure head there who will mess up governance in the state. Those who are not knowledgeable think that is anti-Yewa. At the same time, I do not accept the Ijebu’s propagation of provincial system, that the whole Egba Province made up of Egba, Awori, Egun, Yewa and the whole Ijebu Province made up of Ijebu and Remo should be the basis for rotating the governorship. They are wrong because there is nothing like provincial system in our constitution. The constitution recognizes the federal level, state level, senatorial district, federal constituency, state constituency and local government. Anything outside those things stated in the constitution cannot hold. So, when I say no zoning, the Yewa/Awori people should thank me because I say Ijebu cannot use provincial system as the basis for sharing the slot of who governs the state. Just as the Yewa/Awori/Egun. I refuse to say Yewa because the Ogun West contains other ethnic groups. Ogun West deserves to have it, but they must work for it, by virtue of the fact that the balance of forces between them and Ijebu are not the same. They should not be fighting each other.

    Could you shed light on the balance of forces?

    First of all, the Ogun West people only have five local government. Ijebu and Remo people have nine local governments. It almost doubles Yewa. The West Senatorial District is already disadvantaged by the number of local governments. In calculating the votes, you must have one third in two thirds of the local governments. A good Yewa candidate’s first point of call must be to unite the various ethnic groups in his senatorial district, in terms of Awori, Egun, Anago and Yewa, and the core Yoruba of the north of Ogun West. When they are united, then, they go and tackle the nine local governments in Ijebu and Remo in Ogun East Senatorial District by selling themselves, which I did, both in 1990 and 1999. Major forces were rallied against me. I went directly to the people.

    T’Ekobo has just entered the political lexicon in Ogun State. Is it a perception of the governor or the new perspective being offered by the Ogun APC?

    We are all t’Ekobo. Anybody who wants to reach the peak of his profession cannot lock himself up in Ogun State. If Obasanjo had locked up himself at Owu, he wouldn’t have reached the peak of his career in the Army as the military Head of State and elected President of Nigeria. I found myself keeping the legacy of Egba and Ogun State alive by finding myself in journalism. The first newspaper was founded in Abeokuta. If I had stayed in Abeokuta to continue producing a community newspaper, I wouldn’t have able to become the General Manager of The Herald newspaper, Editor of Sketch and Managing Director of Daily Times. If the present governor had stayed in Abeokuta, he wouldn’t have been able to set up an audit firm and did most of his businesses with Lagos State government and oil companies. There is no major oil company in Ogun State. Gbenga Daniel said he was selling elevator. Until recently, there was not a single elevator in Ogun State; until in recent years when there was one in OPIC Building. If he had stayed in Ogun State, he won’t be able to sell a single elevator. So when you say t’Ekekobo, all of us are t’Ekobo. The lexicon of t’Ekobo does not arise because the constitution of Nigeria, which the amendment to the Electoral Act by the Senate has now emphasized, says that anybody is free to contest for any office and anywhere. Until the constitution says otherwise, nobody can be disqualified by any party, INEC or anybody from contesting. The issue of t’Ekobo does not arise. I didn’t know anywhere in Ogun State, until 1989/1990 when I wanted to contest for the governorship. I went round virtually every village, got myself acclamitised, knowledgeable of the terrain, the people, their interests and aspirations. Until then, I never lived in Ogun State other than spending the holiday in my village and Abeokuta. Having an exposure is crucial to governing our state. You need that exposure to go a higher realm.

    Can APC retain power in Ogun State in 2019?

    Of course, yes. On condition that we allow transparent primary. On the condition that you allow the people to have a say on who emerges as our candidate. I have no interest in any particular candidate. I want the best for the state as much as I sympathise and support the sentiment of the Ogun West people, who on moral ground is eminently qualified to enjoy that slot. I am sure whoever is coming out to do serious ground work and not make the mistake of the past made by their past leaders that have denied them the opportunity of getting the governorship ticket.

    What were the mistakes of the past?

    For example, when I decided to contest in 1990, our leaders of the old UPN; Papa Abraham Adesanya, Papa Olaniwun Ajayi, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Papa Solanke Onasanya; told me bluntly that they will not support my candidature, not because I am not a loyalist of Awolowo. They all knew I am a loyalist. I served Awolowo, both in his life time and after his death. But, they had decided that the governor should come from Ogun West Senatorial District. I didn’t buy their decision. What I did was that I went round the entire state, preached my philosophy to the people, exposed myself to the people; to weigh the merit and demerit of my candidature. It was an open ballot system where you queue behind the picture of your preferred candidate. There was no confusion in terms of symbol or ballot. I emerged. At that time, Prof. Olabimtan, my senior in the Methodist High School, was even more qualified than me to be governor. But, he made a tactical error of relying on the leaders to deliver him. I went to the people to deliver me. I thanked him. He conceded and rally round me to get me elected as governor. By 2010, when Ogun West had the best material after Olabimtan, Gen. Idowu Olurin, a man who had all the attributes that our Yoruba norms and philosophy captures as omoluabi. An officer gentleman. Again, they threw all their eggs in the baskets of Gen. Obasanjo and Gbenga Daniel to deliver the governorship to them. Talk of experience. Talk of exposure. A man who had been head of ECOMOG, governor in Oyo; a successful governor. When Awolowo died, he gave the best speech among the governors in the Southwest. I was there at the Parliament Building. The speech was based on progressive philosophy, which could earn him the governorship automatically. But, tactically, they put their hope on some individuals. Again, they lost. At that time in 2010, Yewa youths invaded my house, that I did not support their candidate. I asked them a single question to which they didn’t have an answer. Did their elders and leaders ever canvassed their programs, ideas and philosophy to me? Even the head of Yewa Think Tank, Dr. Ibikunle, served in my government. He never approached me. Not even a phone call. They put all their egg in the PDP basket. Olurin, who should have had a free ride, didn’t get it. They are beginning to make the same mistake now, hoping some individuals will be there to deliver them to the Government House. I am telling all of them, particularly aspirants from Ogun West, to first of all go to Ijebu; go to their villages, go to their leaders, expose yourself in Ijebuland. All the obas are either bankers, accountants, military personnel. The oba of Itele made a first class at the University of Lagos. These obas, these community leaders in Ogun State are highly enlightened people. Look at Omolayoye. He retired from Unilever and continued to live in his village. That is ijebu culture. They impact on thei roots. I have been telling the aspirants; go and sell yourselves to these people so that when you get to the primary, they will use merit, just like they used it for me. The Ijebu adopted me as their candidate on the eve of the primary. The wishes of the elite then, even my father, the Awujale, was not comfortable with a candidate from Egba then. Today, I am his first son. My own style of governance agreed with his own philosophy of fairness. He came to like and respect me for it. The governorship will go to Yewa,if their elders and obas engage elders and obas from other areas. They should engage the two major parties and persuade them to take their candidates from Ogun West. They will now look at the two candidates from the two parties from the same Ogun West. I know intimately the Yewa’s character.

    What is Yewa’s character?

    The Yewa, Awori and Egun are distinct groups. I had that experience when I wanted to create paramount chieftaincy for them when I was governor in my first coming. At that time, the chairmanship of the Council of Obas was rotated among Alake, Awujale and Akarigbo. I felt it should not be confined to two senatorial districts as they are talking now, that they deserved a paramount ruler. I am an advocate of what they are calling for, but I don’t want them to approach it in a lazy manner. I didn’t use my power and influence as governor to ram down the paramount ruler on the Ogun West people. I consulted Oba Dr. Sikiru Adetona. I pleaded with Oba Oyebade Lipede and I pleaded with the Akarigbo. It took me a long time to get them to agree that we should have a paramount ruler from Ogun West. After I had persuaded those major obas and after canvassing it among obas in Ogun West, I had the greatest obstacle in Ogun West. Oba Ibeshe was adamount. He said under no circumstance would he ever cede his own crown to the Olu of Ilaro. Oba Afon traced his roots and crown beyond that of Olu Ilaro. Olota did not want to hear anything about it; he said he and his people were distinct. He said as an Awori, he was not going to accept the paramouncy of the Olu of Ilaro. Oba Ipokia said it was impossible. The secretary to Government. Deacon Poju Adeyemi, who has joined Governor Amosun and Obasanjo to preach power rotation to Yewa knew what was going on then. He said only one or two obas did not support it and that I should approve it. I said no way; that the paramount ruler is the paramount ruler of everybody, and that until everybody accepted. I had to go personally to plead. It took me quite a long time before they accepted. If I didn’t like Yewa people, why would I give them the self-respect they wanted. Olu Ilaro now sits as chairman by rotation over the Awujale, the Alake and the Akarigbo in the Ogun State Council of Obas. Within the West, they have dichotomy. That should be surmounted by whoever wants to be governor. Then, he should go to Ogun East Senatorial District to seek support. We in Egba, the Osun Central, do not have any case after eight years of Governor Amosun.

    How do you see the agitation for the creation of another state from Ogun State for the Ijebu?

    I am totally in support. When we had a little over 30 provinces in the colonial days, ijebu province and Egba Province are the two provinces that is still one state. Sokoko has been broken to almost six states; Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto. Some states have been broken into three, four. Yet, Ijebu and Egba still remain two provinces in the same state. It is totally unfair. That is lack of equity. I support Ijebu State out of the old provinces that deserves a separate state.

    Have you and former President Obasanjo reconciled over the 2003 that made you to lose your second term bid?

    I have no grudges against former President Olusegun Obasanjo about 2003. The election was massively rigged. I didn’t lose any election. They wrote 1.2 million votes for the presidential election. The opinion poll they claimed they have done tallied with the results they wrote for the governorship. The result came to 600,000. They forgot that they had written the 600,000 votes for the governorship. By the time they now add the result to the 1.2 million votes, they didn’t add account for the 600,000 votes for the governorship. Till today, they can’t account for it. Were the 600,000 ballots voided? Were they not used? The Court of Appeal, which was the court of first instance in the presidential election, described the Ogun election as criminal in nature. But, I accepted my fate because I didn’t come to serve by garrison command philosophy. Today, I am at peace with myself. At 78, I am still relevant in the politics of Ogun State and Nigeria.

     

  • Osoba loyalists seek cancellation of Ogun ward, council congresses

    Osoba loyalists seek cancellation of Ogun ward, council congresses

    Loyalists of former Governor Olusegun Osoba yesterday called on the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to set aside last Saturday’s ward and local government congresses in Ogun State.

    The loyalists from the three senatorial districts, who converged on Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to protest the alleged “injustice”  and marginalisation, claimed the congresses were “stage managed” across the 20 councils and urged the APC NEC to declare it “null, void and of no consequence.”

    Carrying placards, they vowed they will neither shift an inch nor leave the party for anybody.

    Reading their letter titled: “Protest Against Conduct of Congresses in Ogun State’’, the APC senatorial chairman for Ogun Central, Kunle Adeshina, said the “congresses did not follow party constitution and guidelines.”

    Adeshina declared that the purported removal of the party officers and delegates by the Acting State Chairman (Tajudeen Lemboye) violated Article 21 D(VI) of the APC Constitution.

    “We write to strongly protest the conduct of APC Congresses in Ogun State as party constitution and guidelines were not followed.

    “The purported removal of party officers and delegates by the acting state chairman of Ogun State contradicts Article 21 (Vl) of APC constitution.

    “Apart from the fact that the call and conduct of the congress contradict the guidelines, the acting chairman and his pay master went ahead and removed names of eligible party officers and delegates, not only  that, they prevented them from participating.

    “We urge the National Executive Committee of our party to set aside  the stage managed congress held on July 29, 2017, in Ogun State and declare it null, void, and of no consequence.

    “Our protest is in line with the constitutional provision of APC.We urge our party to address this injustice to maintain its cohesion in Ogun State,” Adeshina said.

    Fielding questions from reporters, the senatorial leader said they were not privy to conduct of the congress, and only got wind of it few hours to the purported exercise.

    “We were not privy to what happened on Friday. We were not informed. As law abiding citizens, we did not go out so that there would not be a fight. If our people had gone out, there would have been a fracas.

    “Even those that managed to go out, they complained of not being allowed access, we simply told them to go home peacefully as the constitution is there. We will use constitutional means to protest what happened. We are not silent or mute. We are only maintaining stoic silence,” he said.

    Also speaking, former Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Tunji Egbetokun, who urged the protesters to remain calm and be law abiding, said they would not allow anybody to run away with the success of APC.

  • 2019: Obasanjo, Osoba, Amosun and Ogun West politics

    2019: Obasanjo, Osoba, Amosun and Ogun West politics

    THE itch to set some records straight with regards to some aspects of politics in Ogun West Senatorial District in relation to the two other districts has become so pertinent at this point in time that some of us who witnessed what transpired in Ogun State between 1999 and 2003 close-up, must speak up if only to correct some falsehoods circulating in the mainstream and the social media.

    In 1998, during the run -off to the formation and registration of political parties, a secret meeting took place in the house of late Dr. Tunji Otegbeye, of blessed memory, where it was agreed that Otegbeye must do all in his power to mend fences with erstwhile friends and even political foes who contributed to abort his attempt to become the governor of Ogun State during the two party system of Ibrahim Babangida, the former military ruler. He agreed and late Chief Bola Ige of blessed memory helped in no small way to smoothen the pathway for him in the East Senatorial District. Suffice to say, Otegbeye was also a major contributor to the formation of All Peoples Party (APP) and later-on the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

    By the start of party politics in 1999, it was agreed by Alliance for Democracy (AD) that a consensus candidate will be fielded by the party and therefore, there will not be primaries. A deal was struck by the West and the East Senatorial Districts to allow Ogun West to produce the candidate. Contrary to what was peddled by history ‘distortionists’, Ogun West produced only one candidate in the person of Dr. Ayinde Ibikunle.

    Meanwhile, Dr. Tunji Otegbeye and other leaders in the West met with the Central Senatorial Districts to cement a deal but a quorum could not be effected. It was then decided that a meeting that should decide which district should provide the candidate should take place at Aiyepe in Ogun East Senatorial District, since we knew then that Chief Olusegun Osoba from Ogun Central and Dr. Ayinde Ibikunle from the West were the main contenders.

    Chief Gbenga Kaka chaired the meeting on that fateful day at Aiyepe, and when it got to the moment of voting, some thugs led by one ‘Serubawon’ from Abeokuta disrupted the meeting, pushing delegates off their chairs and people scampered for their lives. The leaders eventually met and fixed another meeting for the following week. The news was all over the place and all opinion leaders like Prof. Wole Shoyinka and other human right activists vowed to attend the next meeting. But it was not to be because two days to the meeting, the then leaders of AD, led by Chief Abraham Adesanya, announced the name of Chief Olusegun Osoba as the consensus candidate for AD. All threats to leave the party or court action were placated on the plate that Osoba will hand over to a person chosen by the people of Ogun West in 2003. It was also agreed that Osoba should make the hand-over deal his swansong in his Ogun West campaign, and so he did on tape.

    However, come 2003, Osoba decided he was going to run for another term saying that his first coming was truncated by the military, therefore he needed to complete it. At that point, delegates were sent from Ogun West to remind him of his promise to both Ogun East and Ogun West Senatorial districts. But all plea yielded no result. I remembered vividly a delegation was led on behalf of Mr. Yaya Ahmed to his office when in perfecting his agenda, he removed Mr. Ahmed’s name for House of Representative for a person from Osun State, Mr. Babatunde. At that point, all the progressive leaders of Ogun West, led by Dr. Tunj Otegbeye, decided to fight Osoba once and for all. That was how ‘AD Authentic’ and ‘AD Osoba’ was formed with one backing Maman Yusuf and the other backing Abdul Kadri Ahmed factions of the party.

    The term ‘Yewa for Governor’ or ‘Yewa Lokan’ was coined and built as a platform to vent the grievance of Yewa and when Chief Osoba insisted that no other candidate must emerge from AD in Ogun State, the Yewa leaders felt that the marginalization protests in the media will die a natural death unless a candidate emerged in AD to represent Yewa interest. At that time, all potential candidates from Ogun West went underground, believing that no one could face the incumbent and succeed and that if the struggle was not about wining then it will be a waste of scarce resources. But a quiet Yewa man in the person of Engr, Femi Tetede who had all the while been sponsoring various activities in the agitation and who was earlier on forcefully retired by the maximum ruler, Gen. Abacha(deceased) for a perceived link with NADECO and his closeness with General Akinrinade was asked to run inside AD and he agreed.

    Meanwhile, the PDP watched the drama with keen interest and decided to field a Yewa candidate. It is on record that Senator Kola Bajomo was highly favored by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the incumbent President of Nigeria at that time. He was invited to run as a PDP candidate. He was even offered the Chairman of National Population Commission (NPC) at a meeting attended by Yewa leaders in Akinola Aguda House Abuja. It has never been disclosed why Senator Bajomo declined the offer later on, but it was rumored that after getting to Abeokuta, Chief Osoba promised to hand over Oke Mosan to him in 2007. With his candidature biting the dust, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo must have been very disappointed with Yewa people and since he was running in a fourth- coming election as well, he was said to have been prevailed upon by the PDP in Ogun State to go for a strong man that can demystify Chief Osoba. After all, he had tried to install another Yewa man, Dr. Afonja as the Administrator of Ogun State when he was the Military President, and the gesture was equally turned down.

    Round about the same time, Chief Gbenga Daniel and Chief Dele Arojo and others emerged as aspirants in the PDP. Meanwhile, in AD, the factional Chairman of the ‘Authentic AD’ Chief Tayo Sowunmi, was an Egbaman, a very strong believer in justice and equity, and at a time the Student Union President of UNILAG, who led student’s takeover of Radio Nigeria. He was a staunch believer in Yewa for Governor at that time. He was making big waves confronting Chief Osoba at the national and state levels, in the print and the electronic media. And by the fact that the INEC and all security agencies in Nigeria recognized Alhaji Abdul Kadri Ahmed as the National Chairman of the party, the faction led by Chief Tayo Sowunmi became the recognized party Chairman in Ogun State as well. This boosted the splitting of AD into two in all the local government areas of Ogun State and made Chief Osoba panicked and began to pander back to the faction led by Alhaji  Abdulkadri.

    It is interesting to note that as the election was moving closer to the primaries, all the leadership of PDP in Ogun West met at Ajilete Resort and unanimously endorsed Chief Dele Arojo.  The word was that they were going to cast a block vote at the primaries and requires some votes from the Central and the East to win the race.

    At this point, Chief Osoba had made an in-road into the National Working Committee of the AD and had met the demands of all the 36 State Chairmen. This obviously, Engr. Tetede and Chief Tayo Sowunmi who had ran the party in Ogun State for more than two years on their own purse, could not meet. That gave the way for the party’s NEC to insist that only the incumbent governor can confront the federal might and from then on it was fait accompli for Qgun West in the AD.

    However, when the news got out that Ogun West PDP had unanimously endorsed Chief Ayodele Arojo, a secret meeting was held between the Tetede for Governor Group and late Chief Dele Arojo, brokered by late Chief  Olalekan Ojo, ostensibly to back Arojo in the general election so the party structure of ‘Authentic AD’ was being maintained for that purpose alone. Then one dark day at Egbeda and four houses from Engr, Tetede’s office, Chief Arojo was gunned down in cold blood.

    Now, several meetings and ‘horse trading’, began when Chief Gbenga Daniel eventually emerged as the PDP candidate between leaders of Ogun West PDP and Engr. Tetede.  One interesting meeting that l still remembered vividly was one held at Senator Ibikunle Amosuns house at about 1.35am one and half week to the governorship election. Senator Amosun had won his own election, but it was close. The thinking then was that with the ‘AD’ Authentic intact, their swing in the governorship election could be decisive. So, a meeting was held inside the Abeokuta GRA house of Senator ‘elect,’ Amosu.

    At that meeting, we insisted that Chief Gbenga Daniel must sign a document for us stating the basis of our agreement with us and what he would do for the group as a party. The negotiation went into stalemate and we decided to leave. Senator Ibikunle Amosun briskly walked to the gate as we were leaving and pleaded with us to come back. I told him point blank that some of our people know him very well and that was why we were in his house, but none of our people knew Chief Daniel. I said further that if Chief Daniel becomes the governor, even he (Senator Amosun) would not be able to have his way with him. He laughed and we predicted six months before their romance become stale.

    I am not surprised that Senator Ibikunle Amosun ran for the governor in 2007 and l am not surprised that he is today championing the cause of Ogun West.

    In conclusion, it is important that all stakeholders stop stigmatizing Ogun West as being jinxed as in the number of candidates she puts up. History tells me that every district presents many candidates before the primaries, so Ogun West should not be cowed by such talks.

    Also, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had done so much to help Ogun West become the governor of the state both in terms of direct support and appointments. The very recent one was that of Adetunji Olurin. Not many are aware of the huge amount of money given and efforts made by the old man to actualize the dream. To read in some social media that OBJ derailed the campaign of Olurin is not only mischievous and wicked, it is downright insane. If anybody was to blame, ask Mrs. Patience Jonathan, Gboyega Isiaka and the leader of the team, Chief Gbenga Daniel.

    Hence, all hands must be on deck by all men of goodwill in Ogun state to allow justice and equity to prevail as it did with power shift in Nigeria in 1999 by allowing a qualified and competent Yewa man to occupy the exalted post of the state governor in 2019 as of right not privilege.

    By so doing, all the three major parts of the state would have had an opportunity to offer credible leadership to our dear state.

    • Olurin, an activist and public affairs analyst wrote in from Ilaro…olusegunolurin365@gmail.com
  • Osoba, Seriki, Obanikoro, others eulogise Gbadamosi at burial

    Osoba, Seriki, Obanikoro, others eulogise Gbadamosi at burial

    The cream of the society yesterday trooped to the ancient town of Ikorodu, Lagos State, for the burial of foremost industrialist and business icon, Chief Rashid Gbadamosi.

    The burial ceremony took place at his Kunbi Haven residence, situated on Sule Oyesola Gbadamosi Crescent, Kokoro-Abu, Ikorodu.

    As early as 8 a.m., sympathisers started arriving at his home. They all described him as a true son of Ikorodu and Lagos State.

    At exactly 2.00p.m., the Grand Chief Imam of Ikorodu Division, Sheik Seifudeen Ayinla Ademoritan Olowooribi,  leading other Imams, led the congregation in the last prayer for the deceased.

    His body was lowered into a vault that was prepared for him many years ago, at exactly 2.15p.m.

    The state government was represented at the ceremony by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Olukunle Ojo, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Prince Rotimi Ogunleye, Commissioner for Arts, Tourism and Culture Mrs.  Adebimpe Akinsola and Special Adviser on Overseas Affairs and Investment (Lagos Global) Prof. Ademola Abass.

    Other dignitaries included former ministers Prince Ademola Seriki and Musiliu Obanikoro; former Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba and wife, Derinsola; a former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Fatai Adeyinka; Justice of the Court of Appeal Justice Habeeb Abiru ; Director, Eko Hospital, Olorogun Sunny Kuku; Oriwu Sun Publisher Alhaji Monsur Olowosago; Majority Leader, Lagos House of Assembly S.O.B. Agunbiade; Managing Director, AIICO Pension Manager Mr. Equarekhile Longer and others.

    Oba of Lagos Rilwanu Akiolu, Ayangburen of Ikorodu Oba Adewale Shotobi were represented by bearers of staff of their respective royal insignia.

    In his graveside oration ladden with Qur’anic recitations, Sheik Olowooribi, who was full of encomiums for the deceased, praised almighty Allah for granting Gbadamosi’s wishes.

    He admonished sympathisers to think of death and how it would come and ensure that they were always in good stead.

    Sheik Olowooribi, who noted that the vault had been prepared long before his death, said: “While some were buried in unknown places or missing, the almighty Allah granted his wish. It is where he wished to be buried that he was buried. Allah is great.”

    He said the deceased was good to all who came across him during his lifetime and prayed almighty Allah to forgive his sins.

    The deceased’s daughter, Mrs. Kunbi Osinoiki, in a chat with reporters, noted that Gbadamosi built bridges across national facets.

    Aside from being an industrialist, she said her father was passionate about drama and dramatists and assisted some of them to prominence.

    It was her wish that her father would be remembered by Nigerians for his contributions to the national economic growth as a former Minister for National Development and Economic Planning and Chairman,  Petroleum Pricing and Regulating Agency(PPRA) and former Chairman, Nigerian Industrial and Development Bank (NIDB).

    Although Gbadamosi was not politically active, she noted that her father served the country in whatever capacity he was appointed because he was passionate about Nigeria.

    Ogunleye, who spoke on behalf of Lagos State delegation, noted Gbadamosi’s contribution to the development of the state as a premier Commissioner at age 27.

    Ogunleye said the late Gbadamosi did so much for Lagos State and Nigeria and that his shoes would be difficult to fill.

    Chief Osoba, who said he was close to the deceased for over 60years, described his death as too sudden.

    He urged the young ones to emulate him, particularly for his selfless service to the country.

    Yeni kuti, whose late father, Fela Anikulapo, was a close friend of the deceased, said his death was too sudden and shocking.

    “It was so sad an end to such a vibrant uncle and an industrialist that provided jobs to many. He was our rock. When Fela died, he was there for us. When my sister died, he was there for us and all through. We would miss him,” she lamented.

    Justice Adeyinka, who repeatedly called the deceased by his alias, “ R.A. Jojolo”, said the vacuum created by his death would take a long time to fill.

    Seriki described him as “a good man, highly principled, a man of strong philosophy and a man full of ordinary.”

    Obanikoro  said the late Gbadamosi was an “ extraordinary man blessed with extraordinary records of achievements. A mentor, trailblazer and an excellent Lagosian”.

    President Oriwu Club, Ikorodu, Alhaji Shafari Aremu Sule, said the deceased served three tenures as president of the club because of his goodness and the fact that he was morally upright.

  • Journalism is in danger, says Osoba

    Journalism is in danger, says Osoba

    •Babarinsa seeks  strong media 

    Former Ogun State Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba yesterday lamented the damage caused to print media journalism by what he described as the unbalanced writing of untrained internet reporters.

    Osoba, who chaired the presentation of a book: One day and a Story written by Mr. Dare Babarinsa, co-founder of Tell Magazine, said these “internet invaders” as well as declining interest in regular newspapers had put journalism in danger.

    Guests at the event,  held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Lagos, included former Ekiti State Governor Niyi Adebayo, Erelu of Lagos Chief Abiola Dosunmu and Odua People’s Congress (OPC) founder Dr. Frederick Fasheun.

    Others were the former Daily Times Editor Dr. Adinoyi Onukaba, media scholar Prof. Tunji Dare, Prof. Ibidapo Obe, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, House of Representatives members Bola Famurewa and Akeem Gbajabiamila and others.

    Osoba, who is a former Daily Times editor, stated that non-professionals were being used to blackmail and malign innocent people through their online platforms.

    He said: “Our profession is in danger, because there’s a serious invasion of non-professionals, who know nothing about the ethics of journalism and who are not trained to balance their stories. I’m talking about internet invaders.

    “Our profession is being invaded by people, who have no training whatsoever; they don’t even ask for the other side of the story. They have become tools in the hands of people like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), blackmailing people and maligning people’s character,” he said.

    Osoba advised trained journalists to take over the internet from charlatans by maintaining an active internet presence.

    “We too must invade the internet. I want to appeal to all professionals in this industry, the future of a newspaper as we know it today is fizzling out and it will soon be dead. There will still be newspapers, as I always insist, but it will be distributed free as it is done in London.

    “I want to appeal to media houses to counter-invade the internet. Those of us, who are trained and know the ethics of the profession, let us not leave it to untrained internet journalists,” he added.

    The book reviewer, Onukaba, said One Day and a Story with 276 pages, 30 photos and 18 index pages, was woven together seamlessly, “like the handiwork of a master craftsman. The prose is deliciously simple.”

    He said it richly documented Nigerian and African history, including the lives of leaders such as President Ibrahim Babangida, Houphouet-Boigny of Ivory Coast and Zairean dictator Mobutu SeseSeko.

    He added: “Babarinsa writes with affection, respect and admiration for his superiors, colleagues and juniors in the profession. He is generous in his praise and merciful in his criticism. Even where he has cause to point out human foibles, he does so with sympathy.

    “Babarinsa is truly well brought up; what the Yoruba people call an Omoluabi. His pen has the fear of God. He treats disagreements with colleagues and bosses without malice. He is humble enough to admit his faults and misjudgments.”

    The late Newswatch Editor Dele Giwa, Onukaba said, called Babarinsa “the in-house biographer” at Newswatch magazine, because he wrote “with such feeling that men and women, dead or alive, ancient and contemporary, stand before our readers in flesh and blood, with their strengths, weaknesses, warts and all. Few writers are able to do this. We salute you.”

    “One Day and a Story also profiles leaders, who inspired us,” Onukaba added, such as the lives of veteran labour leader Michael Imoudu, Babangida’s Health Minister for eight years Prof.  Olikoye Ransome-Kuti.

    He said: “There was also the case of Prof. Ishaya Audu, who after serving as vice chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria and Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Shehu Shagari, returned to his small town of Wusasa, Zaria, to heal his people.”

    Prof. Dare lauded Babarinsa for being an exceptional student of his while at the University of Lagos. He said the author was dedicated and always willing to learn.

    Babarinsa, in his response, stated that only a strong media can protect democracy.

    He said: “We need a stronger press now more than ever, now that even those in the judiciary are being called to account.

    “A country can’t be great if it has no history, no knowledge; just a large population of ignorant people.”

     

     

     

  • Osoba, the ‘recurrent comeback kid’ at 77

    On Sunday April 3, a most momentous event took place at the Bourdillion, Ikoyi residence of Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former two time governor of Ogun State. In attendance were the leading lights of current progressive politics in the South-west and indeed Nigeria that were instrumental to midwifing the first time an opposition party electorally took over power from a ruling party since 1999. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, a host of sitting governors and their representatives and other diehard progressives all converged in the house of Osoba with a singular aim: Bring Back Osoba into APC.

    At the end of the day, the aim was achieved and Osoba is back in APC that he helped midwife before local politics of his home state, Ogun, forced him to briefly sojourn in SDP. The details of the forces and events that led to his surprising exit from APC may rightly be situated in the merger of sometimes strange bedfellows that produced the APC and the dilution of progressive politics with individuals that hardly shared the ideals of progressivism. And of course there were issues of personal animosities and clash of egos with some agenda to demystify if not erase the political stature of Osoba from the landscape of Ogun State politics once and for all times.

    Any intelligent political observer can readily see that the come-back of Osoba into APC is about one of the most important political developments in 2016, not only in Ogun State, but in the South-west and indeed our national politics as by all standards, Osoba is an elder statesman that has paid his dues adequately in national development, first as a renowned journalist, then as administrator and politician. Indeed, in the trajectory of his life, Osoba has had many successful comeback bids in the past with the man passing through some trying times that nearly snuffed out his life in the struggle for a democratic Nigeria. In his home state of Ogun, there are probably no political leaders alive outside former President Olusegun Obasanjo that has had a more chequered political history over the years than Osoba.

    As the democratically elected successor to the first elected governor of the state, Chief Bisi Onabanjo, Osoba continued to build on the solid foundation laid by Onabanjo but the continuation was cut short barely two years after by a military interregnum that led Osoba to join the democratic struggle to free Nigeria from military rule. His roles in NADECO under the regime of General Sani Abacha nearly cost him his life on more than one occasion and he had to go underground at some point at a great cost to his personal and family life. The stories of his life during these periods are in the public domain and do not bear rehearsing here. But suffice to say that at the end of that era, Osoba made a comeback as the third elected governor of Ogun State in 1999 under the Alliance for Democracy, AD. The next four years saw him executing perhaps the best rural development strategy in the history of the state in the areas of provision of rural electrification, water and rural roads. Till date, the rural areas of the state sill see his administration as a reference point.

    The year 2003 saw him leave the centre-stage again as he ‘lost’ his re- election bid in the “capture politics” that saw the conservative ruling PDP at the federal level sweeping the poll in South-west with the singular exception of Lagos State. It was from Lagos that progressive politics was re-launched into the South-west including Ogun State. Osoba left the centre stage in Ogun to the progressive enclave in Lagos where he plotted his comeback to political relevance in Ogun State. The first attempt floundered in 2007 with his party then Action Congress fielding Otunba Dipo Dina who came third in the election that saw Otunba Gbenga Daniel of PDP defeating Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Dina for a second term. Apparently it was then no easy task unseating an incumbent with a divided opposition.

    But by 2011, Osoba’s progressive party that has now metamorphosised  to Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN was in the clear reckoning to present a winning candidate with Asiwaju Tinubu playing the yeoman’s role of a catalyzer. At the end of the day, by the logic of using an opposition figure on a popular platform, ACN fielded Senator Amosun as its candidate with Osoba as undisputed leader. It was easy for ACN to defeat the fissiparous PDP that fractured in PDP and PPN. Once again, Osoba’s political come back in Ogun State was assured. Or so it seems. For as it turned out, Senator Amosun began to play exclusive politics that saw the then ACN divided between Osoba group and SIA group. That division underlies the division in APC that led to the exit of Osoba’s group from APC to SDP to contest the 2015 election.

    Now Osoba is back in another comeback bid with his political structure backed by the progressives of the South-west. There has been grumbling and uneasiness in some quarters in Ogun State about his return. However the game of democratic politics is a game of numbers where every political group works to gain the most numbers among the electorate. Only selfish and exclusionist politicians would not welcome new members, more so members that they once co-habited with and benefitted from their membership and support. Indeed, we are daily regaled with opposition PDP members decamping to APC and being welcome.

    Now the question on the mind of many is would this be yet another successful comeback bid for Osoba to be politically relevant in Ogun State? Would he be part and influential in the process leading to selecting a candidate for APC as the incumbent serves out his eight-year mandatory two terms? Only time will tell but from the realities on the ground, there is no way Osoba will not be a factor in the event leading to 2019 election in Ogun State. Certainly like all great politicians that are not flash in a pan, he has had his ups and downs. At present one can only see him going up again in not only local politics but regional and national in a truly comeback fashion that is now traditional to him.

    Born to the family of Pa and Madam Jonathan Babatunde Osoba at an Egba settlement, Egbatedo, in Osogbo on July 15, 1939, Osoba attended African Church School, Osogbo, Methodist Boys High School, Lagos. He was at University of Lagos for his Diploma in Journalism. He took courses at Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom, Indiana University, USA and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Beginning a career in journalism that spanned 25 years at the Daily Times and moving from the bottom rung to the pinnacle of the profession, Osoba naturally identified with popular causes and advocacy for the downtrodden that the profession of journalism entails in addition to its enlightening role. Osoba is accepted as a role model in the profession of journalism from his days as a reporter in Daily Times, to his managerial position at Nigerian Herald, Sketch newspapers and Daily Times, all of which flourished under his management. Internationally, Osoba practiced the profession with BBC, Times of London, Newsweek Magazine of USA, UPI News Agency and is a prominent member of the International Press Institute (IPI) being the second African to be a member of the Executive Board of the prestigious international professional body after Alhaji Lateef Jakande, another prominent journalist and former governor.

     

    • Chief Odunaro, was former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Governor Osoba.
  • Amosun, Osoba and challenge of harmonisation in Ogun APC

    Amosun, Osoba and challenge of harmonisation in Ogun APC

    The return of former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown up the challenge of harmonisation in the chapter. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the implications of the retracing of steps for the divided political family.

    Aremo Olusegun Osoba, veteran journalist and two-time governor of Ogun State, was bitter. At the meeting of his supporters held at his Abeokuta, Ogun State home, he was fuming. Many of his supporters, who formed the Matagbamole Group, including Senators Olugbenga Kaka, Akin Odunsi and Gbenga Obadara; former Deputy Governor Segun Adesegun and Muyiwa, son of the leader and former member of the House of Representatives, were up in arms against Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    That was shortly before last year’s general elections. The Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) had been polarised by the rift between the former governor and Amosun. The bone of contention was the distribution of elective offices among the blocs in the chapter. The Osoba camp alleged that Amosun was waxing stronger because the national leadership of the party sided with the governor, who it accused of politics of marginalisation and seclusion.  Amosun’s men were combative. They fired back, saying that the old politician was troubling the governor without justification.

    When reconciliation failed, the two camps went their separate ways. Osoba and his supporters defected from the APC and sojourned in the less popular Social Democratic Party (SDP), led by former Secretary to Federal Military Government Chief Olu Falae. Following their exit, an embattled Amosun consolidated his hold on the chapter, campaigned vigorously during the polls and won. Osoba’s men, who contested for various offices against APC candidates lost at the election.

    Earlier, Third Republic Deputy Governor Rafiu Ogunleye had called it quits with the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), led by the governor. He alleged that his group, Imole, was marginalised in the  distribution of appointments. Ogunleye is the former Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He was said to have left for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out of frustration.

    Osoba’s defection was not an isolated case. During the merger talks, former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa called it quits, saying that he could not accept the leadership of former Governor Aliyu Wamakko. In Borno State, the war of attrition between former Governor Modu Sheriff, who lost out in the national chairmanship race, and Governor Kashim Shetima reached a climax. Sheriff defected to the PDP.

    However, keen watchers of the Ogun drama had predicted that Osoba will return to the fold after the poll. When the APC presidential campaign train rolled into Abeokuta, the state capital, chieftains fired salvos at the defectors. Supporters of the governor were full of bravado. But, top party leaders were in sober reflection. They acknowledged Osoba as a man of high political stature, whose political career spanned through the media when he was among the “three musketeers”, the Constituent Assembly and the State House, to which he was elected twice, and the formative stage of the APC when he served as a member of the party’s Constitution Committee. Besides, two foremost monarchsin Ogun State; one from Egba and another from Ijebu; have been on Osoba’s neck to return to his political family.

    When Aremo Osoba attended the 64th birthday of the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the hope of an end to the crisis in the Ogun chapter brightened. A source said some national leaders and Southwest chieftains held a brief meeting with Osoba to formalise his return to the fold. Last Sunday’s meeting at the Ikoyi, Lagos home of the former governor, according to sources, was the second leg of the unity meeting.

    Between the last elections and the unity meeting, a lot of water has passed under the bridge in the Southwest. “Certain circumstances have created friction, making re-strategising very compelling in the Southwest,” said a source. Indeed, there have been a slight shift in allegiance, and Southwest APC has had to contend with rebellion, mistrust and distrust.  For example, during the Southwest leaders meeting with Osoba, Amosun was absent. Neither did he send any representative. “It is possible that the governor was not aware of the meeting or there was no basis to invite him, at least for now,” said a source close to the meeting.

    At the meeting were Asiwaju Tinubu, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, his Oyo State counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Southwest APC leader Chief Pius Akinyelure, Chief Bisi Akande, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Adesegun, Obadara, and Alhaji Bimbo Awofeso. After the meeting, Osoba declared: “There is no more quarrel, ther is no more war.”

    To analysts, the Lagos meeting notwithstanding, the Ogun APC crisis is not over. As a source put it, “it was evident that the gap between Osoba and Southwest progressive bloc has been bridged, but there are more hurdles to cross in the Ogun chapter.

    There has been no love lost between Osoba and Amosun, who defected from the PDP to the ACN, ahead of the 2011 elections. According to party insiders, it has been difficult for Osoba to overlook the role played by Amosun when his second term bid was truncated in 2003. Amosun teamed up with Otunba Gbenga Daniel to pull off the rug off Osoba’s feet. Amosun defected to the ACN under that prevailing atmosphere of suspicion. When senator was ticked for the governorship ticket, the move was naturally opposed by Osoba. To pacify the former governor, he was allowed to nominate Amosun’s running mate, Adesegun, despite the resistance of the governorship candidate. His supporters also emerged as senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates. There was relative harmony and the party sacked the PDP from power in the Gateway State. During the electioneering, Amosun managed to ride through the turbulence.

    However, a crisis broke out over appointments. It was evident that the former governor and Amosun were locked in a supremacy battle. Amosun alleged that Osoba attempted to impose a list of commissioners and special advisers on him, unmindful of the fact that he, as the chief executive, is strengthened by the constitution to form his executive council. He alleged that he did it without consultation with him. When some of those on Osoba’s list got wind of it, they kicked as the governor drafted a new list which excluded them. Not all the people nominated by Osoba made the final list. Amosun was infuriated by what he described as a deliberate attempt by Osoba to run the government for him, stressing that the former governor would not have tolerated that when he was in the saddle.

    Both camps began to work at cross purpose. The crisis engulfed the House of Assembly, following the split loyalty. Ahead of last year’s election, it was evident that the APC would go into the poll as a divided house. Complaints about marginalisation of Osoba’s supporters in government filled the air. Adesegun cried that his boss had sidelined him in the running of the state. Adesegun alleged that his allowances were withheld by the governor. He said in spite of the efforts by the governor to reduce him to a spare tyre, he would not abandon his leader, Osoba. Up to the time the deputy governor defected to the SDP, he did not resign. When Adesegun left, Amosun picked another running mate from Ijebu, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, who is now deputy governor.

    The SDP picked Odunsi as its flag bearer. But, he kissed the dust before the more formidable APC arsenal. SDP candidates also lost in other elections. The party lacked strong structures across the wards, local governments, constituencies and districts. It also lacked funds to prosecute the electoral project.

    The campaigns, nevertheless, were hot. Osoba justified his departure, saying he had not crossed the bridge from the progressive bloc to the conservative wing. Before he defected, he said: “I will remain a progressive. All the training that Papa Awolowo gave to me directly, his philosophy, his political beliefs that I believe in, I will continue to remain in that line. I will never go to the right wing, conservative wing of politics. I will never go the oligarchy way.”

    Amosun was widely acknowledged as a performing governor, owing to his laudable projects. But, Osoba described him as a sectional governor, pointing out that he concentrated the projects in Abeokuta and its environs to the disadvantage of other parts of the state. He chided Amosun for abandoning the Ago-Owoye bridge project, which his administration initiated, while the governor was building bridges in Sapon, Itoku and Iyana Mortuary, Abeokuta.

    Apparently, Osoba was also not comfortable with the romance between the governor and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who plotted his electoral defeat in 2003.

    The former governor decried what he called the maltreatment of Adesegun by Amosun. He said: “We gave Adesegun as Amosun’s deputy because of his experience as Commissioner for Works. We had expected that the governor would tap from Adesegun’s wealth of experience in governance, but the governor chose otherwise and started constructing bridges where there is no water.

    “Amosun really dealt with Adesegun; he maltreated him. Ijebu people should not see the insult meted out to Adesegun as that of Adesegun alone. They should see it as a collective insult. Therefore, it is time for Ijebu to fight back with their votes. I am begging you to stop the maltreatment  of the Ijebus with your votes.”

    Amosun returned the missiles. Describing Osoba’s allegations as baseless, he said he has refused to play a politics of facts.

    He said: “I will urge our leader, Chief Osoba, to let us play politics of facts. I have vowed not to engage in politics of sentiments and frivolities, but that of facts. But, because that allegation has been made, it is important to clear the air to our people. We should not be playing such politics. To gain what? We have bridges in Abeokuta, Ijebu, Sagamu, Ota. Others are also coming up at Ijebu-Igbo and Ilaro. We have our model schools in all the sections. In fact, that of Ogun East is more than other sections.”

    With Osoba’s return, Ogun APC will brace up for the challenges of reconciliation and harmonisation. Unless the national leadership comes to its aid, the Osoba camp’s integration may be hampered by its apparent weak bargaining power. It may continue to be the minority in the chapter. Today, no member of the camp is a commissioner, special adviser, minister and member of board and parastatal.  A party official, who spoke on a condition of anonymity said while reconciliation is relatively easier, harmonisation may not be an easy task. He said Amosun and the party leadership have noted Osoba’s return. But, he added that Osoba and his supporters should come to Abeokuta for a formal defection.

    The official added: “There are challenges. The mood of the party welcomes Chief Osoba. But, we note that, during the last election, he and his supporters worked against the APC. That is bygone now. But, some people will still believe that he is returning to reap where he did not sow. The election is over. It has been fought and won. Chief Osoba did not return to the party in Ogun. He returned to the party in Lagos. When he defected, he defected in Ogun. As he returns, he should return in Ogun.”