Can Dapo Abiodun Break Away From Godfathers?

To whom much is given, much is always expected. This illustrates what may likely happened in Ogun State politics, particularly in this dispensation when the people of the state are looking up to the new governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

The new government will have different meaning to the people of the state considering what they have gone through with the Ibikunle Amosun led government.

The workers want a governor who will pay their salaries on time and promote them without delay. The people in the political class want a governor who has listening ear; that will pay attention to the party and the people in general. While the people who are into business or willing to go into business want a governor who will provide enabling environment for business to grow. This and many more are yearnings of the people of Ogun State.

But we cannot say out rightly that all these wish can or will come to pass when we try to look at the powers that brought the new governor into office. For the purpose of clarity and understanding, we shall analyse them one after the other.

Firstly, it was very difficult to penetrate the political circle led by Ibikunle Amosun. Senator Adeola Solomon (YAYI) attempted it but to no avail. Thereafter, Prince Dapo Abiodun emerged as the choice of the party, though with strong support of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Another key player that cannot be underestimated this time is Chief Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun State, who is also a chieftain of the party. He personally handed Amosun to Tinubu of in 2011 when they were looking for the right candidate, but Amosun outsmarted him by hijacking the party structure from him. He tried to fight back in 2015 through another party but he was just unlucky. He however played a lot of roles on how Prince Dapo Abiodun eventually emerged as the governor.

It is pertinent to give credit to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona for bringing the people of Ijebu together to support Prince Dapo Abiodun, who is also the son of the soil. So, no matter how, the royal father will continue to be a factor to reckon with in this new government. He may not leave his palace to attend political meetings, but certainly he will have influence in who becomes what in the area of appointment.

Prince Buruji Kashamu will continue to be a factor in the politics of Ogun East and the State in general, considering his antecedents in the political history of Ogun State and how he plays his politics. Call it politics of money or anything; he will continue to be a factor. He played a major role by making sure APC candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun won the governorship election by carpeting People Democratic Party, PDP when he declared his intention to support Abiodun who hails from his constituency.

It is a known fact that Otunba Gbenga Daniel asked his supporters to support the new governor few days to the election. He is also a former governor and political godfather in the politics of Ogun State, which makes him a factor too.

Will all these godfathers turn to become idols for the governor? Would they allow the governor to choose the right persons who can work with him? Are they not going hijack the Assembly and the party from the governor? Are they not going to be factors that will navigate directions to go for the governor on what to do for a community and what not to do? If all these godfathers fail to remain united, it means there will be crisis both in the party and the governance of the state.

We should not forget in a hurry that the godfathers who brought the governor to limelight are from different political parties with different ideologies. Can they put their interests aside to develop the state? This is a very big question people are asking. The power that brought the governor to power are just too many, meaning there will be instructions from all directions which can distract him from his original plans.

Ibikunle Amosun also saw all the powers, but he broke away from them which led to crisis in the party and among the political godfathers. Can the new governor act like his predecessor who only visited Bola Ahmed Tinubu a few times at his resident in Ikoyi and parted ways with him? Many people argued that since Prince Dapo Abiodun resumed work that he is too soft and cannot act like Amosun.

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