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From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and the Ogun State governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, has declared that his ambition was not borne out of desperation, but a sincere desire to serve the people of the state.
He disclosed this while addressing political support groups at a stakeholders’ engagement yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, adding that he was aspiring for the governorship seat in 2027 in order to ensure equitable development across the state. The former Minister of Steel Development explained that the event was not a formal declaration of his governorship aspiration, the stakeholders’ engagement was organised to harmonise his support groups across the three senatorial districts in preparation for the gubernatorial race.
Isola, who bemoaned hostile handing and taking over of successive administrations in the state, declared that he remained the best qualified and most politically experienced person to succeed the incumbent governor of the state.
According to him, his political trajectory from being a local government chairman, a Special Adviser to former Minister of State for Finance, late Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) during the administration of former Governor Gbenga Daniel, former Minister of Steel Development and the immediate past Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, had prepared him to become the next governor of Ogun.
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He added that apart from his political exposure, his understanding of the dynamics of politics in the state puts him in a good stead to emerge the governorship flag bearer of the APC.
He disclosed that he had consulted far and wide, particularly past governors of the state, expressing optimism that his candidacy would be widely supported and enjoy acceptance across Ogun Central, Ogun West and Ogun East.
He, however, dismissed the agitation for the zoning of the Ogun APC governorship ticket to a particular senatorial district of the state, noting that individual competence, political experience and sound knowledge of Ogun politics, should rather be given priority. He informed the gathering that he would soon make a formal declaration of his intention to run for the governorship in 2027 and commended the support groups for agreeing to merge into one formidable group, submitting that he would not take their support for granted.
Earlier in his remarks, the former Ogun State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Elder Joju Fadairo, described him as the best person to emerge governor of the state in 2027.
Fadairo, who is now a chieftain of the ruling APC in the state, said that major political bigwigs in the state have endorsed the former minister’s aspiration, urging party faithful to rally support for him ahead of the next general election.
