The same old story is about to repeat itself again in Ogun State over the appointment of new commissioners in the state. There might be a possible crisis in the state party of APC over the list of commissioners drafted by Governor of the state Dapo Abiodun which was sent to the state house of assembly but rejected by the Aremo Segun Osoba’s political camp.
The loyalists of former Governor Segun Osoba said they were not only dismayed that the commissioners’ list negated the promise of Governor Abiodun to “run an all-inclusive” government, but also disturbed that the policy has turned out to be a ploy to ease Osoba political family out of the present administration in the state.
In a statement made available to The Nation and signed by Alhaja Yemisi Ayinla, Mrs Toyin Usifo, Pastor Matthew Oladele, Mr. Jelili Onayemi, Chief Labeth Abodunrin and 12 others on behalf of Osoba’s camp, they alleged that greedy politicians who were responsible for the poor governance of the Gateway State in the past had “hijacked the soul” of Dapo Abiodun’s administration.
The Osoba political camp, therefore, called on the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, National leaders of the Party, including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Akande, Chief Adeniyi Adebayo, South-West caucus leaders and other well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on Abiodun to do the needful and correct the imbalance perceived so far in Ogun State.
The statement reads: “We the undersigned and members of All Progressive Congress, APC, Ogun State Chapter, hereby want to express our reservation and rejection of the Commissioner- Nominees’ list submitted to the Ogun State House of Assembly for screening and possible inauguration.
“The list does not represent the proclamation made by His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, that he will run an all-inclusive government in Ogun State.
“The Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, after his victory at the poll, promised to run all inclusive government that will represent the interest of blocs that worked for his victory and other groups interested in contributing positively in running the affairs of the state.
“However, to our dismay, the words of the Governor were reduced to stillborn on the face of the list of commissioner nominees and other appointments made by the Governor so far.
“We have observed that the slang “all-inclusive”, is a ploy to specifically ease out the Osoba Political Family from the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun and which was sold to the Governor by some power mongers and unscrupulous elements who participated actively in the misrule of the State in the past and are now surrounding the Governor like hyenas, ready to pounce on anyone who does not belong to their camp or pay homage.
“Meanwhile, Osoba Political Family has patiently observed the activities of these individuals who are conservatively greedy businessmen and hijackers of power who have succeeded in hijacking the soul of the present administration in Ogun State.
“These power manipulators were part of past government in Ogun State that people in their wisdom rejected but stealthily walked back into the realm of Government through the calm approach to governance by Prince Dapo Abiodun and are ready to wreak further havoc to the dreams and aspirations of the Progressives in the APC and the State who worked tirelessly for the emergence of the Governor.
“It is on record and we challenge any of the hijackers to contradict the fact that Our Leader, Akinrogun Olusegun Osoba, against all odds stood solidly by Prince Dapo Abiodun, from the point he decided to run for the office of the Governor and put his hard-earned reputation and goodwill at stake to surety Prince Dapo Abiodun before Labour Unions and PMB.
“He allowed everything he has, including but not limited to his abode to be used for anything positive for the victory of Prince Dapo Abiodun at the polls. Chief Osoba to our knowledge, stood as guarantor for the person of Prince Dapo Abiodun being a perfect gentleman in many places including but not limited to Palaces of prominent traditional rulers in Ogun State, where the integrity of these power grabbers cannot open the doors talk less of putting their goodwill at stake.
“Chief Olusegun Osoba who is a renowned journalist, a progressive and astute politician who is known for his untainted integrity and always stand for what he believes in; he never looked back when the former Governor of Ogun State threatened fire and war against the aspirations of Prince Dapo Abiodun because he believed in the genuine intentions of Prince Dapo Abiodun to serve the people and turn around the fortune of the State for the best.
“Akinrogun Olusegun Osoba in his sincere way of life expended his time, resources and made huge financial contributions to the victory of Prince Dapo Abiodun at the polls, to the glory of God.
“It is on record and also an uncontroverted fact that followers and members of the Osoba Political Family were harassed, shot, macheted, beaten, and dehumanised by the former Governor of the State before the election in order to create fear in the minds of people to truncate the process to the Victory of Prince Dapo Abiodun but the Political family being progressive-minded remained unshaken and irrevocably committed to the aspirations of Prince Dapo Abiodun.
“We all fought to actualise the reality of this administration with other groups of common intention and dream. But it is now shocking to the members of the Osoba Political Family that these power mongers and manipulators are condemned to destroy the good relationship that exist between Prince Dapo Abiodun and Osoba Political Family by intentionally and gruesomely relegating anyone known to belong to the Family in the course of appointing persons to position of service to deliver dividends of democracy to the populace that will support in the actualisation of good governance in Ogun State.