From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
A socio-political group, Yewa Youth Pacesetters (YYP), has called on political leaders in Ogun West senatorial district, to close ranks and work in unity for the senatorial district to produce the next governor of Ogun State in 2027.
The group, in a statement by its President, Dapo Fasola, yesterday, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said Ogun West needs to come together now more than ever to ensure the successor of the incumbent governor of the state emerges from the senatorial district.
Fasola, who recalled that divisions among the political players in the zone have been a major factor militating against it to produce governor since 1976 when the Ogun State was created, however, declared that the incumbent senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, otherwise known as Yayi, remains the best bet of the senatorial district to emerge as the successor of Governor Dapo Abiodun in 2027.
While noting that 2027 is the brightest opportunity the senatorial district would have to ensure the next governor comes from the zone, he urged the political players and leaders to rally round the senator in his ambition to break the jinx of inability of Ogun West to produce a governor.
He said any political crack must be mended ahead of the next general election.
According to him, apart from closing ranks, the political players and leaders should guard against agent provocateurs from infiltrating their ranks and truncating the ambition of Ogun West to produce a governor for the first time.
While expressing dismay at the ruckus during the recent grand finale of Odun Omo Iganmode Festival in Ota, as a result of what he described as “palpable political rivalry,” the YYP president cautioned the politicians of Ogun West extraction to avoid unnecessary rivalry, but keep the focus on the big prize in 2027 and support Adeola.
The YYP president said instead of showing disdain for the political stature and national reach of Adeola, Ogun West politicians should fully embrace the senator and support his efforts at putting Yewa-Awori land on a solid socio-economic and infrastructural pedestal.
Fasola said YYP as a pan Yewa-Awori youth group will embark on rigorous marketing of gubernatorial ambition of Adeola within and beyond Ogun West, insisting the senator remained the only person capable of gaining support and cooperation of the people of Ogun East and Ogun Central.
He, however, urged the political players to sacrifice their personal interests and ambition, and work towards achieving unity, cohesion and team work ahead of the next general election, with the sole aim of making Ogun West clinch the elusive governorship seat, which he said, could only be achieved by making Adeola as the sole candidate.