About Dapo Abiodun’s Dwindling Popularity In Ogun Politics
By merely mentioning his name, Dapo Abiodun was not a name that could independently win a governorship election in Ogun State. Dapo Abiodun was and he’s still a failure by default in terms of governance and general politicking in the Gateway State.
The Iperu-Remo born politician is yet to get his acts right after almost 4 years of his narrow escape win against Senator Ibikunle Amosun backed APM Candidate, Abiodun Akinlade.
It could be recalled that he once contested the Ogun East senatorial election in 2015 under the APC but lost to late Senator Buruji Kashamu. Abiodun claimed that after losing the election, he had an unwritten agreement with former Governor Ibikunle Amosun that he would get a ministerial slot as compensation but he was left in the cold while his party shared the gains of its victory in 2015.
The governor lost popularity just 3 years into office, given the high expectations that weighed on his government.
Before the governorship election of March 18, indigenes most especially the civil servants were praying against his re-election, considering the backlog of unpaid deductions, marginalization of promotion beneficiaries, and other allegations bordering on anti-workers policies.
Despite his last-minute empowerment programs and fence mending, the determination of the electorate to vote him out showed in the slim margin with which he defeated the PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu
Abiodun defeated Adebutu by whiskers at his polling unit at the Ogun governorship election conducted on Saturday, March 18, 2023, with five votes in his polling unit scoring 147 votes to Adebutu’s 142 votes.
In a loss that ridicules Mr. Abiodun’s boast of public support for his re-election, the incumbent scored 9,133 votes to trail his rival Mr Adebutu, who polled 12,472 votes in Ikenne Local Government Area of the state where both candidates hail from.
In the same local government, Mr. Adebutu also floored Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, giving credence to the public disapproval of the Abiodun-led administration.
Dapo Abiodun’s colossal loss at the polls and most especially on his home turf speaks volumes about his personality amongst his kinsmen.
If a Governor is not accepted in his catchment area, which is supposed to be his sphere of influence, how would he be accepted by other people, especially the people of Ifo Local Government, Ado-Odo/Ota who he had abandoned to bad roads and lack of attention since the beginning of his administration?
The State has continued to witness cases of harassment, voter intimidation, and public disorder by political thugs loyal to Abiodun according to several sources.
Read Also: Dapo Abiodun did not win Ogun State elections, here’s why he couldn’t
Indigenes have also claimed that members of the Transport unions are more powerful than Local Government Chairmen, and sadly LG Chairmen take directives from the leadership of these unions.
The Chairman and Publicity Secretary of the government-controlled transport union, Efele, and Danny, were arrested leading criminal squads to disrupt polling units only to be released within one hour on election day.
Steve Oliyide, a political analyst described the election where Abiodun was elected for a second term in office as the climax of a lingering compromise of electoral integrity in the state capable of creating a political monopoly and threatening sustainable democracy.
“Whatever is stolen can never be yours, DA will battle the issue of legitimacy till the mandate is reclaimed from him. Ogun State has been mourning, those who are in Abeokuta can tell, Sagamu is worse off, Ijebu Ode appears cut off from civilization, Ota and Ifo ostracized and excised from Ogun State, only tapping from the little breath of fresh air and succor that the reelection of Babajide Sanwoolu can blow in their direction. DA is an affliction that should not be allowed to rise like COVID-19 again in Ogun State.”
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
