The gale of endorsement that has poured in for Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State in his re-election bid must have left his opponents reeling and punch-drunk. Initially slated for March 11, the governorship election now holds Saturday, March 18. Riding on a wave of widespread popularity hinged on his sterling performance, Governor Abiodun seeks a second term to consolidate his achievements and efforts to build a new future for Ogun State.
In what has come as no surprise, Governor Abiodun’s re-election campaign continues to be buoyed and boosted by the robust endorsement of prominent politicians from different parties. Despite its growing popularity across the nation, which saw its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, coming third in the presidential election, executive members of the Labour Party in Ogun State have declared their support for the governor, stating that their support was based on the impact of his administration on the lives of the people in the state.
Responding, Governor Abiodun stated, “The executive members and leadership of the Labour Party in Ogun state have endorsed and declared their support for our re-election bid. This is a BIG Win for us and our great party, the APC in Ogun State.” He continued, “Crucial as it is, this total endorsement by leaders of the frontline opposition party is a clear statement on how well the projects, programmes, and policies that have shaped Ogun State under our administration sit well with all and sundry, even across party lines. We are not ungrateful for this public, unreserved, and objective thumbs-up that will further project the popular acceptability of our inclusive governance approach.”
Also, members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, from Ipokia Local Government and also Hon Gbenga Akinwande of the Action Democratic Congress, ADC, and his supporters from Ifo Local Government decamped to the APC and expressed their support for Governor Abiodun’s second term bid. Perhaps even more resounding was the public endorsement of Governor Abiodun by Johnson Fatoki, the Ogun State party agent of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the just concluded Presidential Election, and other chieftains of the party from Ogun Central who dumped their party to support the governor. The list is endless.
Noteworthy is that opposition party members who had carried on very far with their party’s campaign but later saw in Abiodun a man who symbolises greatness and carries the aspiration of the generality of the Ogun electorate, have entered a pact with him to deliver the votes on election day. Such is the awe-inspiring belief people have in Abiodun. It is safe to say that from the east to the south and everywhere in between, Governor Abiodun has evolved into the beautiful bride of all parties going into the March 18 governorship election.
For these people and parties, they believe that Governor Abiodun has neither deviated nor dithered from exploring every avenue to attract growth and progress to the state and that he has been hands-on and virtually omnipresent in all areas of the state’s life with laudable policies and visible projects dotting its landscape.
Indeed, Governor Abiodun’s relentless bid to turn the fortunes of the state around has seen him summon his faculty of vision to navigate its course across stormy terrains. Silently, but steadfastly, he has redefined the art of governance. What many of his predecessors and peers make a song and a dance of, mount billboards, and take advertorials in newspapers to celebrate as achievements, Governor Abiodun sees them as all in a day’s job.
Reacting to the outpour of endorsement for his re-election, the governor said, “As an administration with enviable track records of excellent performance, it is not surprising to be witnessing a massive influx of notable individuals and supporters from across various political parties in Ogun State”.
“We are excited with this development and as a party and administration known for all-inclusiveness, we assured our new members that they won’t be discriminated against in every ramification.” He assured the decampees that they will be incorporated at the ward, and local government and state levels because, “in our party, there are no new or old members, we are all one.”
