04/06/2017
AMOSUN'S DECLARATION AS ACID TEST FOR OGUN EAST'S LOVE FOR OGUN WEST.
Within two months,two major political icons from the Ogun Central Senatorial District,a former President,Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the incumbent governor,Senator Ibikunle Amosun have openly declared support for the Ogun West to produce the next governor of the State.They have both hinged their position on equity,fairness and perhaps,sympathy.It is sufficient to feel that the opinion of these two leaders is a true reflection of the opinion of majority of the people of Ogun Central.Of course,one can understand why the Egbas now feel free to support the Ogun West or Yewa people.They have been governor twice,and Yewa has never had one.Even when in 2011,the slogan was Yewa lokan,the Egba leaders have bluntly said they could not wait for sixteen years to become governor again.They therefore twisted the slogan to their desire,to wit; Yewa lokan,Egba lo ma a se.Now,that the ego of the Egbas has been boosted and satisfied,they seem to be ready and are willing to help their brothers in the defunct Abeokuta Province to at least have a consolatory go at the governorship.But if the Ogun Central now seek to right the wrong of many years and openly support the ambition of Ogun West after producing two governors,what is the position of the Ijebus and Remos of Ogun East who have also produced two governors for Ogun State?Is it not ironical and disappointing that some politicians from Ogun East want to have a third go,while Ogun West,which assisted Onabanjo to win the governorship in 1979 and OGD to win in 2003 have not had any.Yet,our elders keep telling us that there was an understanding or a covenant between our leaders, Senator Odebiyi/Otegbeye and their leaders, Awolowo/Onabanjo.We have also been cajoled and innundated with the idea of existing love between Yewa and Ijebus.Yet, political realities, over the years,have shown that such love is actually one-sided.Even as Governor Amosun had cleverly said he would not support but would not campaign against Ogun East's ambition,methink it would be unfair and amount to back-stabing for the Ogun East to field any candidate,challenge or attempt to prevent Ogun West from having the governorship seat come 2019.This is the time to know who really loves Ogun West or at the least have any sympathy for the Yewa people.The present silence of the Ijebu's,to me,is quite uncharitable and self-seeking.The time is now for the Yewa people to know who their real political friends or allies are;is it the Egbas or Ijebus.
Femi Dokunmu.
