In his inauguration speech barely two decades ago, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, didn’t mince words about the governance direction and political paradigm of his government. When he chose the slogan”building our future together,” lots of individuals probably took it with a pinch of salt and felt that the watchword was merely another empty proposal or gimmick typical of power-seeking politicians.
Abiodun, that rode to power after a tortuous and tumultuous gubernatorial travel, had sworn to premise his government on the framework of inclusiveness, cooperation and collectivism. Perhaps, he went this road judging from the events leading to his emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard-bearer.
Remember that it had been 16 years later he’d aspired to become governor his dream eventually became a reality. Steering throughout the tempest triggered by the stiff opposition in the then incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who sponsored another candidate and openly vowed to not encourage his own ambition, Abiodun strategically positioned himself as the candidate to beat in the polls and went on to spring a surprise.
As someone who’d triumphed in boardroom politics and built up multi-billion businesses from ground zero, the APC candidate appeared to have the experience, skills and know-how to browse tricky terrains and he sure demonstrated these skills while seeking the number one seat in his home nation.
Based on results of the 2019 governorship election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abiodun polled 241,670 votes to defeat his fiercest challenger and candidate of Allied People’s Movement (APM), Adekunle Akinlade, who’d 222,153 votes. Even the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship offender, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, came by polling 110,422 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard-bearer, the late Senator Buruji Kashamu, scored 70,290 votes to emerge fourth.
On the other hand, the governor isn’t one inclined to a winner-takes-all mindset. From the beginning, he gave his words on conducting a broad-based regime; a government that could actualise the eyesight to”provide Ogun State concentrated and qualitative governance and to create the enabling environment for a public-private sector partnership, which will be fundamental to the creation of an enduring economic development and individual prosperity of their people”.
“The job of building our future is a collective job,” the Governor had announced in his address to the mammoth crowd that gathered in the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta on May 29, 2019, to witness his own swearing-in ceremony. “It’s beyond what I can the group which will work together with me in government”
Assuring the authorities under his watch would be people-oriented, Abiodun had said the pre-inauguration composition of financial Transition Committee and Work Groups containing stakeholders from varied professions and political persuasions, geared toward developing a routine and an implementation roadmap for the state, will continue to underpin the conduct of his government affairs.
“My strong belief is that our nation will benefit from the collective wisdom, wisdom and passion of citizens that are in prosperity across different regions of the state and the political parties and classes,” the Governor submitted. He added that his decision to extend hands of fellowship to co-contestants, leaders and members of other parties wasn’t to achieve political correctness but a genuine commitment to inclusiveness.
Really, Abiodun’s inclusive governance isn’t by lip service in any way.
In recent times, top politicians from opposition parties and different power blocs have moved en masse into the APC. Interestingly, all the former democratically elected governors of this country, former deputy governors, former speakers along with other political bigwigs are presently in the governing party under Abiodun’s leadership.
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Some leading figures which have united the train comprise former two-term governor and Director-General of their Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation at 2019 election, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole; erstwhile ADC governorship candidate, Prince Gboyega Isiaka; gubernatorial candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Otunba Rotimi Paseda; and key associates of the late Senator Buruji Kashamu.
Interestingly, also, all of the state House of Assembly members elected on the platform of opposition parties like ADC, APM and PDP have defected to the APC, thereby making the 26-member state legislature a one-party event.
But beyond the frenzy that this has generated, the influx to APC which appears to be altering the political arrangement of the nation was really a masterstroke pulled by the Governor. Even though it whittles down opposition and tends to push the state towards one-party, pundits posit the development portends a good omen because there is strength in togetherness.
Furthermore, if various colours of pursuits are gravitating towards his celebration and administration, some observers believe definitely there has to be something right being done by the Governor to attract converts.
Upon accepting the mantle of leadership, Abiodun has left no one in doubt of his determination and resolve to alter the state. He set out to achieve this through numerous initiatives encapsulated under ISEYA, the acronym for the five developmental columns of the administration that include Infrastructure, Social Welfare and Wellbeing, Education, Youth Development and Agriculture and Food Security.
Even though the worldwide epidemic of coronavirus pandemic that ravaged economies across the globe slowed down the speed at which his administration had planned to move, it is incontrovertible that the nation has made substantial progress under the present administration within the available limited resources.
In terms of roads reconstruction and rehabilitation across the three senatorial districts of the state, health care delivery, education industry revitalisation, affordable housing projects, agricultural growth, electronic and technological revolution, better athletics development, and enhanced welfare of workers, the Abiodun-led administration has redefined the Gateway State.
