Ogun West Not Learning From Its Political Past
The Geographical in by entity called Ogun State was created by the military Government in 1976 having twenty Local Government Areas, three Senatorial Districts namely; Ogun Central, Ogun East and Ogun West. Ogun State also have nine members in the Federal House of Representatives three in each Senatorial district of the state with four divisions Ijebu division, Remo division, Egba division and Yewa division.
The state had produced five civilian Governors namely; Late Bisi Onabanjo, form Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Chief Segun Osoba, from Abeokuta South Local Government, Senator Gbenga Daniel, from Sagamu Local Government, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, from Ewekoro Local Government and Governor Dapo Abiodun from Ikenne Local Government.
It Is on note that during the military interventions in the country, the state had its share of military Governors, such as; Olofin Moyin, Daniel Akintonde, Oladipupo Diya among others.
It is very sad to note that forty-nine years after the creation of the state, one Senatorial District out of the three Senatorial Districts has not produced Governor while Ogun East Senatorial District has governed the State for twenty years, Ogun Central Sixteen years and Ogun West has zero record. Not that the West idly folds its arms in the unfolding governance in the State. Several efforts were made in the past by Ogun West to produce their governor, but due to tribal imbroglio, political divisions and inability to speak with one voice, greatly shattered their dreams from seeing the light of the day.
Records showed that some personalities from the District struggled towards actualizing the lofty dream, like Late Chief Otegbeye, made frantic efforts to emerged as Governor of the State, but destiny denied the vision.
Circumstances responsible for that will be discussed later when time permits.
In the year 2011 former Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, took a bold political step towards ensuring that Yewa produce a governor, the struggle failed as the region could not agree on a sole candidate and speak with one voice in actualizing the vision, this led to its shameful collapse.
During this period Hon. Gboyega Isiaka, contested under the platform of the PPN while late Gen. Olurin contested under the platform of the PDP but both of them lost the poll to Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun Central.
In the year 2019 Senator Ibikunle Amosun, personally took upon himself that a candidate from Ogun west must emerged as the Governor of the State. Hon Akinlade from Ipokia Local Government, under the platform of the APM, but lost to Governor Dapo Abiodun from Ikenne Local Government of the State.
With all these political lock horns, the region is experiencing, prompted some political analysts to conclude that Yewa may be under a festering curse or that Yewa river is not in support of seeing any indigene of Yewa emerging as the governor of the State.
Historically, the people of Ogun west have diverse tribal groups, tapestried with esteemed culture, tradition, norms and values. For example, there are Aworis in Ogun west, Ketu, Egun, Anogo among others and this as being a major factor threatening unity of purpose of the people and is causing the Senatorial District to remain backward in the area of infrastructural presence.
Economically, Ogun West parades the high numbers of industries in Ogun State, some of these fast growing industries are located in, Ota Industrial Estate, Agbara Industrial Estate, Igbesa Free Trade Zone. As a matter of fact, Ogun West is the economic hub of Ogun state, but when it comes to political power, Ogun west is nowhere to be found, as political leaders in the region seemed to have been crippled with disunity.
Two years to the 2027 General Elections, four candidates in Ogun west have been flexing muscles with one another stating their competencies as the best candidate suitable for the office of the Governor.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan popularly referred to as Yayi, joined politics in 1999 under the AD and served in the State House of Assembly in Lagos State Federal House of Representative in Lagos State, Senator to Lagos West before he transfers his polling unity to Ogun West and contested for the Senate and emerged.
In the history of Ogun West,Yayi is the first personality that has organized empowerment programs worth billion of Naira, to make life more meaningful for the people. Yayi's vision is evident for all to see sincerity in his passion towards improving the wellbeing of the people.
Yes, Yayi is not as perfect as Jesus Christ, he has his shortcomings but he is a politician who must be respected in Ogun west politics, two years in the Senate, he constructed road networks, Town Hall, donated transformers, organised scholarship scheme for indigents among others.
There are unconfirmed reports that, Hon Gboyega Isaika, is also interested in 2027 governorship race. Hon. Isaika came to limelight in Ogun State in year 2004 when former Governor Daniel appointed him as the GM Gateway Holdings, he is a first class product at the great University of Ife, yes he is a technocrat and very prudent when it comes to spending he contested as governor in 2011, 2014, 2019 before he aspired for the Federal House of Representatives in 2023.
He is currently in the green chambers making contributions on the flow of the House.
Hon. Isaika Akinlade, is also interested in becoming the Governor of the State in 2027, he is an indigene of Yewa South Local Government, Owode precisely. He has represent the people of Yewa South in the Green Chamber for sixteen years, stating that he is fully prepared to govern the gateway state. He was able to attract Federal Government presence to his domain and a grassroots man to the core.
Engineer Noimot Salako Oyedele, is the current Deputy Governor of the State, although she has not made her intentions known publicly but unconfirmed reports revealed that she is interested in emerging as the first female Governor of the State.
She is humble, very prudent, religious and very diplomatic, people in her Local Government are not happy because of the fact that they produce a Deputy Governor and yet they don't have access to good motorable roads, due to water submerging the whole of Ado-Odo Ota Local Government when it rains without concrete solution.
The people of Ado-Odo Ota believe if she emerges as Governor, she will have capacity to construct drainage, canals and construct additional drainages for easy passage of water to prevent flooding among other developmental projects in the area.
The question Is, has Ogun West actually learn any lesson from its past experiences in the political landscape of Ogun State? Time will tell.
