The elders and stakeholders in the Ogun West Senatorial District in Ogun State have announced the favoured governorship candidate of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Gboyega Isiaka, as their consensus candidate.
Isiaka is a governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADM who is enjoying the backing of Obasanjo, ahead of the March 2 governorship election in the state.
Five governorship candidates are from the districts which have not produced a governor in the state since its creation 42 years ago.
Apart from Isiaka, others are Abdulkabir Akinlade of the Allied People’s Movement, APM, Oluseyi Olowookere of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, John Agboola of the Action Alliance Party, AAP and Adewale Omoniyi of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party, ANRP.
The elders, under the aegis of Ogun West Stakeholders Forum, included, the Asiwaju of Aworiland, Senator Ayodeji Otegbola; Asiwaju of Yewaland, Prof. Anthony Asiwaju; the Ekerin of Ota, Chief Bamgboye Osunlabu, Otunba of Ilaro, Dr. Samuel Ibukunle, former female Minister of National Planning, Ebun Oyagbola; Iyaloja of Yewaland , Mrs. Yemisi Abass and a former deputy governor of the state, Salimot Badru.
Others were a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mrs. Iyabo Apampa; Mrs.Mary Ogunjobi; Chief Bisiriyu Popoola and Chief Lisa Adejobi among others.
The leaders made the announcement at a summit of indigenous people and stakeholders of Yewa/Awori Senatorial District held in Ilaro, Yewa North Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.
The co-chairman of the summit, who is also a historian of Yewa/Awori land, Prof. Asiwaju, said it had become imperative to endorse a governorship candidate in the forthcoming election so as to avoid a repeat of the past.
He said, “We also held a meeting in Lagos where we agreed that GNI (Isiaka) should be our candidate and since we have agreed, I am saying it again that GNI (Isiaka) is our consensus candidate and by the grace of God, he will be our next governor.
“As a result of this, everyone of us must be ready to work for the actualisation of this dream.”
While explaining his effort in realising an Ogun West governor, the academic recalled that there was a cordial relationship between him and the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, until he advised him to support the candidature of Isiaka.
He said, “The going was good between myself and the governor because he said he would support an Ogun West candidate for governor. In fact, a meeting was held in Ota and I decided not to say anything, but the governor insisted that I should talk alongside three others.
“But when what happened in APC happened and I heard that he would remain in the APC, while Akinlade would go to the APM, I wrote to him. I told him that I didn’t think that things would go as expected with the APM development. It seems that was where I offended him.”
Also, the Coordinator of the forum, Dr Kunle Salako, who spoke about the Yewa/Awori agenda, stressed that the struggle was not for any political party, but it was aimed at a governorship candidate from the district in 2019.
His words, “Let me call your attention to the fact that this summit is not about a political party, but to actualise our long time struggle of producing an Ogun West governor.
“The struggle for an Ogun West governor is going through its eighth circle, numbering 43 years, since the creation of the state. But, despite the huge investment materially and emotionally, the goal of the struggle remains unachieved.
“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 “ Dr. Salako said.