Ogun Guber 2027: Senator Yayi And The Destiny Of APC In Ogun State

ISIAQ OLOJEDE MUSTAPHA FCA

It is no longer news that for over four decades, Ogun West Senatorial District has endured political marginalization not only in terms of producing the Governor for the State, but in the area of governance. In terms of physical infrastructure and human development, the district has very little to show for being part of Ogun state. Until very recently, thanks to the relentless efforts of Senator Yayi that led to the conversion of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro to University of Technology, all the Universities in the State were either in Ogun Central or Ogun East. Same with all major infrastructures in the State. It has been a long story of neglect and as if that is not enough, Ogun West gets ridiculed from time to time as undeveloped by the same folks responsible for its underdevelopment. What an irony! So, today, saying Ogun West should be supported to produce the Governor in 2027 is repeating the obvious. There is a consensus by majority of Ogun State indigenes across the three Senatorial districts that Ogun West deserve to produce the next governor in 2027.

Destiny as they say, can be delayed, it cannot be denied. Winds of change are blowing across the land and in 2027, history beckons. We have before us in Ogun State, a rare opportunity to rewrite history and enthrone justice, fairness and equity. Luckily, we do not have to go far looking for who is the best fit. At the centre of this opportunity is a man who has proven to be not just a politician, but a friend to all parts of Ogun State, a builder, reformer and leader with vision. The records set by Senator Yayi over the past two years representing Ogun West Senatorial District speaks for itself. His love for the people across the State generally, his humility, respect for elders and constituted authority, his kindness and capability stands him shoulder high as we inch gradually towards 2027. In a spate of two years, Senator Yayi has transformed Ogun West beyond imagination and demonstrated clearly what purposeful governance is all about. Of course he is not the longest serving member of the Senate, neither is he the first person to chair the Senate Committee on Appropriation. Unlike what some detractors will like us to believe, it is not about the position, it is about the man, his intellect, his competence and uncommon kindness towards the people. Amongst his peers past and present, Senator Yayi is an outlier.

However, as the agitation for Yayi continues to reverberate across Ogun State and even beyond, it is apposite to call on major stakeholders in the political ecosystem to align with the yearnings of the people. One of such important stakeholders is the All Progressive Congress (APC) which is the Political Party to which Senator Yayi belongs and has contributed so much as a leader, particularly the APC Ogun State chapter. As of today, APC in Ogun State enjoys peace and cohesion, factors that have contributed in no small measure to its continued success at the polls including the recent House of Representative by-election in Remo constituency.

Ahead of general elections in 2027, it is important for APC to go into the polls as a united, cohesive Party without rancours and disaffection amongst members and more importantly, to avoid dissatisfaction and rebellion by the voting public, the people of Ogun State. Given that popularity and general acceptance is what hands victory to Political Parties and candidates in elections, there is no gainsaying that the only individual whose name as the candidate of the APC in Ogun State for the Guber position will elicit wild jubilation across the land and whose name will automatically guarantee satisfaction, peace, cohesion and victory to the Party in Ogun State seamlessly in Governorship and all other positions including Presidential elections is Senator Yayi. Across various strata of the society in the State, Senator Yayi is strongly viewed as the right man for the job, the acceptance is massive and unprecedented in the annals of elections in the State. If there was any iota of doubt, his 56th birthday celebration that took place across the three Senatorial Districts of the State, organized by the people themselves even in the Senator’s absence bears eloquent testimony to the wide acceptance of the man and the expectation of the people that Senator Yayi is indeed the best man to pick APC ticket in Ogun State ahead of 2027 general elections. It is therefore important to state that for the sake of unity and cohesion of APC in 2027, the natural and easiest path to take by the Party in Ogun State is to hand the gubernatorial ticket to Senator Yayi, of course through the normal political process which incidentally includes consensus. With this, the election would have been won on election day by 12 noon by APC with massive, unprecedented votes, and same for Presidential and other elections. APC Ogun State chapter needs to note that the Yayi movement has acquired a life of its own, it is no longer in the hands of Senator Yayi himself. It is now about the people, the teeming masses across all the Senatorial Districts. It has become a hurricane that should not be blocked but leveraged to the advantage of the Party itself. Under the present climate, it is unimaginable to contemplate APC denying Senator Yayi the Governorship ticket in Ogun State for any reason. One does not need to be a prophet to discern that such a move would be counterproductive for APC in the State to say the least. As a matter of fact, the level of disaffection that is bound to engulf the Party and the potential negative reactions from the citizens will certainly be too much for APC as a Party to contain and handle. And with opposition Parties trying to align together to present a formidable candidate, APC needs to be careful not to throw away its chances which obviously has never been brighter in Ogun State more than it is today with Senator Yayi. This is therefore, a clarion call on APC Ogun State to please read the room correctly and tow the easiest path to victory in 2027 elections. Yayi effect across the length and breath of Ogun State both at the grassroot and across every strata is real, potent and massive. Without mincing words, it can only be likened to the MKO Abiola movement of 1993. APC Ogun State should therefore avoid a repeat of June 12, 1993 election crisis at State level by not denying the popular choice of the people of Ogun State the ticket. That could be fatal.

– Isiaq O. Mustapha FCA is an indigene of Ayetoro, Yewa North Local Government of Ogun State.