Deputy Governor’s Remark About Senate Leader’s Lecture On Ogun West 2027 Governorship Ambition: An Act Of Desecration Of Our Collective Struggle

RAHEEM AJAYI 

What else could have shown the whole world that Engr. Noimat Salako-Oyedele, the Deputy Governor of our dear state never participated in our age long agitation and struggle to have an Ogun West person elected as Governor of the State if not for her open letter to the Senate Leader, Dr. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, CON.

Ogun West Professionals, a non-political group, invited the leader of the 10th Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Opeyemi Bamidele, to speak on “ A Roadmap to Achieving Ogun West Governorship in 2027” at an event organised by the association in Ilaro on Sunday, February 1, 2026. The event was not only applauded across the nooks and crannies of Ogun West, but also by lovers of equity, fairness and justice throughout the state. The well researched lecture has been adjudged to have deepened the discourse on power shift to Ogun West after 50 years of the creation of our dear state.

The event was a continuation of the age long agitation of our quest to have one of us elected Governor of the state. This struggle was started in the 70s by our leaders, some of whom are now late.

Senator Bamidele, a lawyer and whose past activism as Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Students Union at the them University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University and later as the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in 1985 and 89 respectively decimated the military regimes did justice to the topic.

As a resource person of international repute, comrade Bamidele enumerated the challenges which have made the number one seat unattainable for us and he offered logical suggestions which can help us to achieve our agelong ambition.

Her Excellency, the Deputy Governor, someone who is supposed to be at the vanguard of the struggle for the actualisation of this lofty dream gleefully played the ostrich. Instead of appreciating the efforts of these professionals, many of whom had spent their time and resources for this course in decades, Engr. Salako-Oyedele wanted to be politically correct. In her open letter, she accused Bamidele of interference in the politics of Ogun State. How does being a speaker at an event for the purpose of education and enlightenment on invitation become an effort to interfere in the local politics?

Pa Jonathan Odebiyi, Sen Ayo Otegbola, Pa Tunji Otegbeye, Mama Ebun Oyagbola, Sen Olabimtan and Pa YAB Olatunji who fought this struggle until their last days on earth would be turning in their graves now.

From my days as an undergraduate even as President of the Students’ Union, and later Secretary General of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS zone D), along with many committed young men and women under the aegis of Yewa Youth Assembly (YYA), Yewa Awori-Youth Agenda Forum (YAYAF) and other organisations, have not stopped to fight for the actualisation of this agenda.

Engr. Salako-Oyedele in desecrating our struggle suggested that such effort was to undermine the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun. A man who has demonstrated his desire to see power shift to Ogun West in the spirit of justice, equity and fairness. An action which didn’t start with him. In fact, Governor Abiodun’s predecessors, Senators Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun did more than him in this regard. They not only desired power shift to Ogun West after their second term in office, they demonstrated it with verifiable political and human resources as well as other forms of support. Lack of internal cohesion among us in Ogun West was largely responsible for our inability to achieve this in 2011 and 2019 respectively. The same subject matter Bamidele spoke extensively about while proffering solutions and roadmaps that would make our 2027 Governorship Ambition a reality.

If Her Excellency had been part of our effort before being entrusted with her current position or had read the history of our struggle, she would not have been roundly dismissive of intervention such as that of the Senate Leader. This is akin to dancing on the graves of our leaders who started the movement and died while fighting for the actualisation of Ogun West Governorship Ambition.

The Deputy Governor wouldn’t have brashly branded the Senate Leader as someone interfering in our local politics or undermining the Governor if she knew the antecedent of Senator Bamidele.

This kind of intervention didn’t start today, he has fought for justice, equity and fairness across states. I was with him in his days as National Director of Publicity, Alliance for Democracy (AD) and later as Special Adviser, Political Affairs to then Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2002. I was also his aide between 2003 and 2006 when he served as Hon. Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development during the second term of Tinubu as Governor. I remember how vocal he was during this time on why power must shift, not only in Ogun but also Oyo State. Which aspirant was he campaigning for during that time?

The Deputy Governor’s response to the Senate Leader’s lecture on Ogun West’s 2027 governorship agenda leaves a sour taste in our mouths. The event aimed to further the long-standing quest for an Ogun West representative to hold the office. The Deputy Governor’s reaction undermines this effort. This lecture contributed valuable insights, building on decades of advocacy for Ogun West representation. The Deputy Governor’s stance was counterproductive to the collective goal.

This underscores the complexities of navigating political ambitions and regional representation. However, we shall continue to fight for our right with the support of genuine believers of democracy, rule of law based on equity, fairness and justice from other parts of Nigeria.

Raheem Ajayi,

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs (2018 to 2019)

Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Sports (2007 to 2011)
Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Affairs, Ogun West (2006 to 2007)
Personal Assistant to Governor on Special Duties (2006)