Ogun 2023: Aspirants battle for gubernatorial seat amid promises

As the race for the governorship seat in Ogun State, South-West of Nigeria intensifies, more contenders are showing interest in becoming the number one citizen of the state come May 29, 2023.

Former House of Representatives, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, formally declared his intention to contest the 2023 governorship poll on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akinlade, was former Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s anointed candidate in the 2019 election, he however had a fierce battle with Governor Dapo Abiodun, as the APC candidate in the last election.

He lost the APC governorship ticket to Abiodun and dumped the party for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in 2019 where he contested the election.

He returned to the ruling APC after he lost the gubernatorial election to Abiodun.

The former House of Representative member, while declaring his intention to run for the governorship, vowed to “reset the state for a greater height.”

 Akinlade’s six-point agenda includes security, agriculture-driven human capital development, strategic Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) modules, healthcare, social justice and urban renewal. He told party stalwarts that “No matter what form or mode of primary the party adopts, the power to decide resides entirely in your hands as well as the destiny of millions of our people.”

He said: “My dear compatriots, I stand before you today, with all sense of humility and honour to seek your support and prayers as I formally declare my intention to contest the 2023 Ogun State governorship election on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Thank you all for believing that this is possible, and for believing in the vision that Ogun State needs a new Sheriff to steer its affairs and destiny now.

“As we prepare to elect the next flag bearer of our party on Thursday, the 26th of May 2022, I call on all delegates and party faithful regardless of the faction you belong to, to be mindful of who you cast your vote for, because this singular process, will determine who leads and governs our dear State for the next four years.”

Similarly, Olubiyi Otegbeye, on Monday, May 23, 2022, also declared his intention to contest the governorship seat under the platform of APC with a pledge to fight poverty.

Otegbeye noted that if elected as the Governor of Ogun State in 2023, his government would lift 4,800 households out of poverty and also pledged to unify the State through purposeful leadership.

Otegbeye lamented the high rate of poverty in the State, which according to him has prevented the people from reaching their potential.

His words: “If by the grace of God and the wisdom of our distinguished delegates here present, I win the nomination of our party, I will be offering the unifying political leadership that Ogun State urgently needs and which our great party will be proud of.

“Today, I offer myself as a catalyst in breaking the cycle of poverty in Ogun State. With my experience, I intend to lead a state-wide effort to mobilise the private, public and nonprofit sectors together to create solutions that are innovative, practical and relevant to our people.

“Every policy and project we put forward as a government will have an immediate Poverty Alleviation Content.

“As Governor, I will lead the fight against poverty in Ogun State because poverty has a widespread impact, contributing to issues like crime, unemployment, poor health, domestic violence, social vices, isolation and depression.”

Both aspirants promised to work hand in hand with whoever emerged among themselves during the state primary coming up on Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Abeokuta.

The ruling All Progressives Congress in Ogun State has five aspirants jostling to be the number one citizen of the state come 2023, including the sitting governor, Dapo Abiodun. Others are Modele Sarafa Yusuf, an ace sportscaster and Owodunni Opayemi, an architect.

Meanwhile, the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state with three governorship aspirants, Ladi Adebutu, Segun Sowunmi and Jimi Lawal would be holding its primaries on Wednesday in the state.

Before the PDP governorship primaries, the party had conducted primaries for Assembly, House of Representatives and the Senate, which was marred by confusion and the emergence of factional candidates.

Nnenna.O