Ogun 2027: When Hatred Becomes A Strategy 

TAYO OYEKANMI 

During political seasons, all kinds of anomalies are always on display, oddities in conversations and permutations. Unfortunately, this tends to reveal the innermost parts of some of our political leaders.

It is already that season in Ogun State, and all kinds of knives are showing up upon the death of the proverbial elephant. It is a case of, during calm waters, every captain is a good sailor. The APC has been built to a solid level by real progressives, and every “joiner” now wants to be Governor. Unfortunately, civility and decorum are being thrown to the dustbin.

I think Richard Nixon captured this better when he said politicians campaign in poetry but govern in prose. That was exactly what came to my mind when my attention was drawn to the attached billboard with the images of Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, Engr. Noimot Salako Oyedele, Hon. Gboyega Isiaka, and Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, with the caption: “OGUN 2027: THE CHOICES OGUN PEOPLE WILL NEVER REGRET AS A GOVERNOR.”

This collectivism is nothing but obfuscation of ambitions and will not lead to anything good, if history is anything to go by. First, the concept on the billboard is not novel, at least on paper, in Ogun State, but putting it out for public consumption is. I have never seen four people interested in a governorship seat doing a joint billboard. It is unheard of. The underlying message is a lack of individual capacity to confront certain perceived powerful elements. Of course, this is definitely not unity in diversity, but more of being united in hatred and an induced gang-up. Anywhere in the world, hatred is never a strategy but merely a bellicosity against someone obviously doing better in all ramifications. Hatred is never a road to success but that of perdition. In any case, four people cannot be Governor at a time, but only one. This means the temporary gang-up is doomed to scatter. The Holy Book attests to that.

Historically, we have witnessed this kind of gang-up among the dramatis personae, except for Engr. Noimot Salako Oyedele, who, by the benevolence of God and the support of good leaders in APC, came into the political arena in 2019.

During the period leading to the 2015 election, three of the individuals mentioned above left their respective political parties and moved to the Labour Party under the management of Bode Simeon, Olaposi Ogini, and Abayomi Arabambi. They hibernated and engaged in a cat-and-mouse game for a while, with the agenda of wrestling power from Senator Ibikunle Amosun. However, not long after the ineffective coalescence, they individually ran tail between their legs to seek shelter in the PDP, looking for the blessing of Prince Buruji Kashamu. Hon. Gboyega Isiaka eventually picked the ticket, to the consternation of the others, but the result was stillbirth afterwards.

In 2019, the gang-up reared its ugly head again, but the same result followed. In 2023, the gang-up came in different forms and dimensions against the emergence of Sen. Yayi, but Yayi triumphed over them all.

Of a fact, hatred can never become a strategy. If Sen. Yayi is the reason for the present gang-up of a joint governorship ambition being advertised on the billboard, then it is a failed mission. First, he whom God has blessed, no one can curse. Yayi is God-blessed. Secondly, and more profoundly in a democracy, Yayi is enjoying unprecedented love from the people. That, in itself, will always count for something. The collective aggregation of hatred cannot dwarf the love of the general populace of Ogun State.