Ogun 2027: Why Yewa-Awori Must Produce Next Governor

By Olanrewaju Fatunmbi

In a couple of days, the second term administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State will be one year. As preparation for the celebration of its modest achievements in the last five years gradually reaches top gear, the state must begin to reflect on the succession plan based on the principles of fairness, justice, and equity. That way, it will be much easier to build a consensus around a credible candidate with the requisite knowledge to continue the good work of the administration and ultimately take the state to the next level in its path to sustainable development.

Over the years, the aspiration of the Yewa/Awori people in the Ogun West Senatorial District axis to occupy the exalted position has always been met with opposition. In this current dispensation, the issue is still at the front burner of discourse, especially now that everybody is looking forward to 2027 for a change of guard. More than ever before, the agitation for power shift has assumed a louder resonance among the power elite who feel concerned about the perceived marginalization of that particular section of the state in the scheme of things. 

Therefore, the time is now auspicious to look into the complaint and apply the appropriate remedy. All that is required to right the wrong of the past is the fair, just and equitable sharing of power among different interest groups in the state in consonance with Section 14 (3) of the 1999 constitution which clearly states the need for zoning and power rotation to ensure national cohesion. The objective of the framers of the Constitution in advocating power sharing is to ensure that there is no dominance of a particular ethnic group or tribe over the other.

At the national and sub-national levels, the power rotation convention is a necessary lubricant that oils the principles of equity, fairness and justice. To that extent, it is lawful and consistent with the Constitution to listen to the agitation of the Yewa/Awori people to produce the next governor after the successful tenure of our performing Governor in 2027. In all his dealings, Prince Abiodun has demonstrated a genuine sense of fairness to all sides knowing fully well that harmony is the only bond that unites the various constituents that form the building block of our peaceful virile state.  

Of course, there has always been a debate between the pro and anti-power rotation forces as to whether or not the idea of zoning aligns with democratic norms. Some are often too quick to arrogate the monopoly of the best candidates to a particular section of the state. That is a fallacy of over-generalization which can only be found useful for the purposes of academic exercise. When put into a thorough debate, it will fall flat in the face of a superior argument. The truth is that there is no section of the state where we cannot find ‘the best person’ with the requisite competence, capacity, and character to be the governor. We must, therefore, purge ourselves of such an unfounded ethnocentric prejudice and begin to give serious consideration to the rightful agitation of the people of Ogun West to produce the next governor. In terms of human endowment, intellectual refinement, industry, and entrepreneurial spirit, Yewa/Awori people are not pushovers. Neither have they ever been found to be content with playing second fiddle because they are second to none. They have a galaxy of stars that have excelled in all fields of human endeavours.    

Acceding to their renewed demand for the governorship slot in the coming dispensation will not only assuage them of the perceived feeling of marginalization but also foster unity and political stability among the stakeholders in the state.

For the benefit of hindsight, Ogun West is the only senatorial district that has not had a taste of power as governor since the creation of Ogun State on February 3, 1976. From the advent of this present political dispensation in 1999 to date, none of the sons or daughters of the Yewa/Awori people has governed the state. Ironically, Yewaland remains the largest in land area and most populous sub-ethnic group in Ogun, which is why the state is called the Gateway State. With its vast expanse of land that straddles the Agbara Industrial Estate and as the agricultural backbone of the state, it is also arguably the proverbial goose that lays the golden eggs.

To be sure, Ogun West is made up of five local governments, Imeko-Afon, Yewa North, Yewa South, Ipokia, and Ado-Odo/Ota, while the constituent sub-ethnic groups include Awori, Eyo, Egun, Ketu, Anago, Yewa, Ohori etcetera.

Regrettably, one of the excuses the two other political zones, Ogun East and Ogun Central, have always given for the exclusion of Ogun West from the power equation is the perceived lack of capable and qualified persons to manage the affairs of the state. This can no longer stand the test of a logical argument.

In our recent political history, some feeble attempts have been made by two past successive governments under Otunba Gbenga Daniel and former governor Ibikunle Amosun to present candidates of Ogun West extraction for the governorship election. But on those two occasions, the candidature of the individuals concerned could not fly because they were products of imposition. Because the selection process did not follow thorough scrutiny of the powers-that-be within Ogun West, they could not enjoy the support of the majority of the Yewa-Awori people.

While Otunba Daniel single-handedly picked Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (aka GNI), a Yewa man, as his anointed candidate for the 2011 governorship election, former President Olusegun Obasanjo picked and supported the late Gen Adetunji Idowu Olurin, another Yewa son. So, it was like the case of the unpatriotic cultivating the unpopular, hence the overwhelming victory of Amosun, the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).   

Also, Amosun, following the same pattern of candidate imposition, unilaterally presented Hon Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade, a Yewa son, as his successor. Like his predecessor, the choice failed to command the respect of the majority of the people of Ogun West. At the heights of the intrigues that culminated in the widespread disaffection within the rank and file of the APC in the run-up to the 2019 governorship election, Akinlade jumped ship and contested on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). In the end, all the scheming and permutation ended in a fiasco, as Prince Dapo Abiodun, a Remo man (Ogun East), won the election with a landslide victory. The rest is history. 

This time around, Ogun West people are united and more prepared to confront the challenges ahead. They are prepared to harness the potentials within and outside the zone to achieve the political objective of clinching the governorship seat in 2027.

In furtherance of this desire, the stakeholders recently converged on Oranmiyan Hall, Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on May 11 to do a thorough introspection of the past political activities in Ogun West and why power had always eluded the zone.   

Charity, they say, begins at home. While emotion ran wild among the enthusiastic participants, one speaker after the other harped on the need for collaboration to build a consensus around a credible and competent person who will be the candidate for the 2027 governorship election.    

Felix Bajomo, erstwhile President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) who represented Ogun West Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, speaking as the Chairman of the day, insisted that it was the turn of Yewaland to produce the next governor. He was, however, quick to point to mistakes of the past, urging Yewa/Awori sub-ethnic groups to close rank and present a common front ahead of the next election.

Bajomo in his lecture titled: “Yewaland: Harnessing Our Potential and Opportunities Towards 2027 and Beyond” said: “We are talking about 2027, which is a transitional period. Time is key. We must not be careless.

“We tried before, but there were some hinderances. We are looking for someone who will take us to the Promised Land.

“We are the next in turn. We are the ones to do it. We will do the first term, and we will do the second term.

“We shall achieve our goal; we can do it.”

Also, the President of the Yewaland Development Forum, Wasiu Fagbohun, in his opening remarks, called for collaboration from the illustrious sons and daughters of Yewaland for more life-changing interventions.

The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako, who was the Guest Speaker, on his part, tasked all Yewa people at home and in the Diaspora to work in synergy to harness their potential for achieving a seemingly elusive political agenda and laying the foundation for accelerated socio-economic development of Yewaland.

He also emphasised the need for the Yewa people to build bridges of understanding, accommodation, collaboration, and cooperation across all the social, political, and political divides to achieve their governorship ambition in 2027, stating that “Elections are not won by sentiments or bravado but through hard work, strategic planning and putting the right candidate forward.

His words: “As the Gateway to Ogun State, an average Ogun State citizen wants a Yewa man as Ogun State Governor but regrettably, we have not been able to properly harness these potential and opportunities towards achieving our goal.

“Judging the pivotal role played by Ogun West in determining the success of the APC-led government in the 2023 governorship election and having broken the ministerial jinx, blessed with other political appointments at the national and sub-national levels, and occupying a strategic political position in Ogun State, 2027 provides yet another opportunity for us as a people to reset and re-strategize to clinch the coveted governorship seat”.

“This can only be achieved through adequate consultation, setting achievable internal agenda, avoiding total dependence on incumbency factor, mustering adequate financial strength, building on past experience, putting a competent candidate forward, be prepared to make the required sacrifice and creating necessary alignments and cooperation beyond South West Senatorial District”.

While urging prospective aspirants not to allow their selfish interests to override the collective interest of all, he expressed confidence that concerned paramount rulers within Ogun West would be ready to dish out the stick to any outlaws and saboteurs who might want to truncate the collective dream of the people of Yewa/Awori amid thunderous applause.

“We need to synergise within and without; we just need to re-oil all relationships be it marital, business, social, religious and otherwise, more importantly with our brothers and sisters in Ogun East and Ogun Central Senatorial districts,” irrespective of what our fathers have historically told us that a particular senatorial people are Yewa peoples’ friend.

“When we truly synergise, we can all progress. 2027 is the year for Ogun West to reset and be set free. Divisions and confusion can end our agenda. If we work together,  there is nothing we can’t achieve,” he rightly quipped.   

The event drew participants from across the five local government areas that made up of Ogun West Senatorial District. From Ipokia to Imeko; Ota to Ayetoro and back to Ilaro, and indeed Yewas in Abeokuta North area of Imala, Ilewo- Orílẹ̀, Isaga-Orile and over the world, they came and emptied themselves into the bowel of Oranmiyan Hall to brainstorm on the challenges facing these knitted sub-ethnic groups. The event was the 8th edition in a series of Yewa Talks.

Some eminent scholars in attendance included the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Rahman Bello, and Emeritus Professor of History, Prof. Anthony Asiwaju, among others.   

No doubt, 2027 is still a long time away. But the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. To actualise the ambition of producing the next governor, the time to act is now. Time is of the essence.

Fatunmbi wrote from Oke-Elego Quarters, Okeagbede in Imeko-Afon LGA of Ogun State