By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
ABEOKUTA: Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, has advised politicians in Ogun State to shun politics of bitterness and divisiveness, saying no meaningful development will take place in an atmosphere of bitterness and acrimony.
•Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola and a section of the Ogun Women-in-Politics on Wednesday.
Isola also called on all critical stakeholders to work in harmony and not to give room to hostile succession or takeover of power again regarding the governorship seat, positing that it does not allow for continuity of development.
The former Minister of Mines and Steel Development spoke on Wednesday while addressing leaders and members of Ogun Women-in-Politics who organised a – 64th birthday ceremony for him.
The women who extolled his leadership quality and maturity in politics, received him at the GRA Ibara residence of former governor of Ogun State and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aremo Olusegun Osoba.
Isola noted that Ogun state is blessed with illustrious and astute politicians who have contributed greatly to the development of the state and the nation, urging Ogun politicians not to engage in politics that could endanger its bond of unity, peace, love and harmony.
According to him, politics must be played without throwing caution to the wind, maintaining that “divisive politics brings nothing but retrogression.”
He noted that Lagos has continued to be the bedrock of development and a state others want to benchmark due to its steady friendly succession and continuity, emphasizing that Ogun must develop the same political template to espouse development and growth.
“We can’t continue with this hostile succession and hope to have a development like Lagos. From Governor Segun Osoba to Governor Gbenga Daniel, from Daniel to Governor Ibikunle Amosun and from Amosun to the incumbent governor, Dapo Abiodun, it had been a successive hostile handing over. And this has not helped our state to develop to the desired level.
“To correct this anomaly, I have visited Senator Gbenga Daniel in Abuja, Senator Ibikunle Amosun in Lagos and Governor Dapo Abiodun at the Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta..
“Also, I visited the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, to express my concerns. We need to work on this so that our state can fare better and achieve its full potential.
Responding to the question on the 2027 general election, the former High Commissioner to the UK, said that the popular opinion among the Egba people is that Ogun Central is the senatorial district to produce the next governor.
According to him, “this is the first time that the Egba people will unanimously agree that the governorship position should be zoned to Ogun Central.”
He disclosed that he found out during his various consultations that since 2019, Egba people have not clinched key political and government positions such as the deputy governor, Secretary to the State Government and the Head of Service, hence the need for the zone to go for the position of governor come 2027.
He, however, corrected the erroneous impression often created that Egba people always thwart the aspiration of the Ogun West to produce a governor.
He said the politicians of Egba extraction have always been championing the move for the Ogun West to produce the number one citizen in the state.
“The Egba people have been a political ally of the Yewa people. Each time a Yewa person aspires for the governorship, you will find a strong Egba person as the main backbone. Former Olusegun Obasanjo threw his all behind the late Tunji Olurin in 2011 and I served as his DG Campaigns.
“In 2019, he supported Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, while the then governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun wholeheartedly supported Adekunle Akinlade, and I also served as the DG Campaigns. In 2023, Senator Amosun who is an Egba man equally supported Biyi Otegbeye, a Yewa man against the incumbent governor. If you analyse my chronicle, you will see that Ogun Central has always rallied behind an Ogun Central person to become governor,” he stated.
He, however, appreciated the Women-in-Politics for its show of love and support, urging members to continue to preach the gospel of politics without acrimony, to engender development and progress in the state.
