BY OGUNPAIMO OLAIWOLA
One of the things I have learnt not to do in life is never to underrate the actions of a determined man. He goes the extra mile or does anything to achieve his aim or learn a lesson from his failure. Recently, a video of former Governor of Ogun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (SIA), emerged online wherein he was saying that the present Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun (PDA) must be removed, indirectly connoting that the current Governor of Ogun state must not be allowed to win his second term election. Following this, I expected that necessary strategic formations of the government would be directed to counter the imaginative actions that may follow suit. But No! What I saw were the usual subjective reactions and individual opinions that lack an audacious tone. I want to believe that those who are close to the Governor are truly showing him the real picture of things in Ogun state. For me, I take those statements from Senator Ibikunle Amosun seriously, and I looked beyond the words but focused more on the tone, and the reactions that follow afterwards.
As a matter of fact, what is contained in that video shows that all is not presently well in Ogun state APC and I stand to be corrected on this assertion. To date, the national body of APC has remained mute on those utterances. In the same manner, Governor Rauf Aregbesola was made to go scot-free with his pre-Osun election public utterances and actions against the party. Actions like that question the internal disciplinary measures of the party.
While Senator Ibikunle Amosun has emphatically declared that the current governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun must not be allowed to return for a second term, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun and his strategic team have continued to remind us that man is a mere mortal, and no man should behave like God. In my view, those reactionary tactics are not enough to overwhelm that high level of audacity. Again, it is important to remind the governor that the current PDP in Ogun State appears to be more formidable now than before, and the results from the field are not currently in the favour of APC, hence, it is important for the party to take every humanly steps to resolve the avoidable crisis within the party in order to win the forthcoming elections in Ogun state.
With deep reflections on the recent Osun state governorship election, one may not think for so long to conclude that PDP did not win that election, rather, it was APC that won against itself. The ensued rancour between the former and current governors of Osun state was needless and avoidable but the two leaders refused to yield to the call of caution and the rest is now history. Even though many people argue that Senator Ademola Adeleke would have won that election, but I insist that the results validate the strength of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the state of Osun. Similar to this is the present political situation of my dear state, Ogun state.
To be honest, it is only a political neophyte that will underrate the influence of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun in the central and Ogun state in general. Based on this and other obvious facts, I call on the leaders of the party to quickly intervene to resolve the avoidable issues before it further degenerate.
In a nutshell, I must say emphatically that the humility of Prince Dapo Abiodun should be recognised, and the boldness of Senator Ibikunle Amosun must be acknowledged too. This time around, I foresee that it will take the boldness of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and the humility of Prince Dapo Abiodun to defeat the current formation of PDP and win the presidential election for APC in Ogun state. To this end, it is my belief that the leaders of APC at all levels will urgently do the needful if they sincerely want the party to win the 2023 general elections.
