Chances of GNI, Yewa in Saturday guber poll

As Ogun State gets set for the March 9 governorship election, caught in the frenzy of last minute campaign, candidates of major political parties have been flaunting what factors they think would work for them. STEPHEN GBADAMOSI examines some of those of Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in this piece.

 

Governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in weekend governorship election in Ogun State, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI) needs no introduction in the politics of the state and, indeed, the entire nation. Being a two-time governorship candidate, he has been around on the political landscape for long. With the array of brilliant candidates being paraded by virtually all the major political parties in the state, there is cause for any of the candidates to worry about victory.

However, there seem to be certain factors that will work in favour of Prince Isiaka. First, GNI’s party, the ADC, is believed to be one of the strongest parties in the contest. It is a party of established politicians, being a potpourri of break-aways from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and other tested platforms.

Besides, according to political analysts, the dominant argument at the moment is in favour of Isiaka’s senatorial district, Ogun West. Instructively, it appears to be a consensus that the next governor of the state should come from among the Yewa people of the old Egbado Division, in the interest of justice and equity. Though, there other contenders of Yewa extraction, particularly, Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), supported by the sitting governor, Ibikunle Amosun, there are indications that most elders in the state and the senatorial district, who are also advocates of power shift to Yewaland, are in strong support of Nasir Isiaka. A formidable force like former President Olusegun Obasanjo hinted of this recently.

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The former president, who spoke recently during the presentation of Prince Isiaka and his running mate, Mrs Bolade Okeowo, as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the ADC, in what seemed like an endorsement, had said that the Yewa-born administrator-turned-politician had the quality to become the next governor of Ogun State.

“I will continue to do what is good for the country till I die. I am not a man of ADC; I am just a guide and adviser also to PDP, APC and SDP. Whoever comes around, my doors are open.

“GNI, I believe you are a good product and your running mate; but don’t sleep. You have to work hard. We have a peculiar situation in Ogun State since creation and the situation is that the East has democratically produced governors twice. Also, the Central has. But the West has not produced any. One of the things I usually hear is that they have no people. How dare you say that?

“No section of this country has monopoly of good people. I have maintained that it is time for the people of the West senatorial district to be given the opportunity to provide the governor,” Obasanjo was quoted as saying.

Similarly the Olowu of Owu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu, recently described GNI as the next governor of the state, when the latter visited his palace.

“I am foreseeing that GNI is going to represent Ogun State well at all levels, if he becomes governor. I respectively call him our governor. By God’s grace, he will be the next governor of Ogun State. I will continue to pray for you. Take note, whoever receives prayers in Owu Palace is always successful.

“Wherever you go, you will be loved dearly and people will work towards your political success. Gboyega Isiaka is a known successful man who is also competent. His consistent wish to rule is an indication of his love for the state. We should consider his consistent struggle,” the traditional ruler said.

Besides the foregoing, some of the alignments and re-alignments being witnessed in the state in recent time look in favour of GNI. Of recent, the leadership of another notable political party in the South-West, Accord, adopted Isiaka as its governorship candidate for the March 9 election.

Led by its secretary, Elder Amusa Sodipo; and three senatorial chairmen, the state executive council of the party said it was ready to work with and ensure victory for GNI and the ADC in the election.

Sodipo also invited other political parties to “join hands with Prince Isiaka and the ADC to bring life more abundant for Ogun people.”

Equally more strategic was Prince Isiaka’s endorsement, as early as January, by major stakeholders and elders of Ogun-West senatorial district.

The elders, under the umbrella of Ogun West Stakeholders’ Forum, were the Asiwaju of Aworiland, Senator Ayodeji Otegbola; a former deputy governor of the state, Alhaja Salmot Badru; the Ekerin of Ota, Chief Bamgboye Osunlabi; Otunba of Ilaro, Dr Samuel Ibikunle; Iyaloja of Yewaland, Mrs Yemisi Abass; Asiwaju of Yewaland, Professor Anthony Asiwaju; a PDP chieftain, Mrs Iyabo Apampa; Mrs Mary Ogunjobi, Chief Bisiriyu Popoola, Chief Lisa Adejobi; a former Minister of National Planning; and Mrs Ebun Oyagbola.

“We have five sons of the soil gunning for the same seat and they include, Gboyega Isiaka (ADC), Abdulkabir Akinlade (APM), Oluseyi Olowookere  (AD), John Agboola (AAP) and Adewale Omoniyi (ANRP).

“In terms of structure, grassroots penetration, clear identity, visibility, national spread and internal cohesion, we asked ourselves which of these political parties was best suited for this all important journey and we discovered and agreed that it is Gboyega Nasir Isiaka,” coordinator of the forum, Dr. Kunle Salako, had said.

Those who are close to the GNI campaign organisation have vowed that the group and its candidate are not leaving any stone unturned in the effort to enlist the support of more critical stakeholders in the state to firm up existing structures of the ADC.