Dapo Abiodun: How we reclaimed Ogun from warlord playing God during 2019 polls

Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, says it was a “life threatening journey” to reclaim the state from a “warlord” when he contested the governorship election in 2019.

Although he didn’t mention the name of who he was referring to as a “warlord”, in the buildup to the 2019 governorship election in Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun, who was concluding his second term as governor, had refused to support Abiodun’s candidacy.

Amid the crisis in the party, Amosun had supported Adekunle Akinlade, who left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and secured the governorship ticket of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) — after which Amosun was suspended from the APC at the time.

After losing the election, Akinlade rejoined the APC.

Meanwhile, in what appears to be a continuation of the crisis, Amosun, still an APC member, has thrown his weight behind Biyi Otegbeye, governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), for the 2023 election.

The former governor, however, has said he will support Bola Tinubu of the APC for the presidential election.

Speaking on Saturday at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign council in the state, Abiodun, who is seeking re-election, said despite the odds he faced in the 2019 polls, he is grateful for how the party has grown.

“Let me remind you, that three years and three months ago, we embarked on a herculean and life-threatening journey to reclaim Ogun state for the people from the hands of a warlord, who was playing God in this state,” he said.

“There was an avalanche of threats, harassment, intimidation, attack by others and their miscreants against us, just because they believed that the collective patrimony of our people belongs to only them.

“We were beaten out of the stadium at an APC flag-off rally by members of another party — unprecedented and unheard of. But by the grace of the almighty God who is sufficient for us, He proved himself.

“Despite all odds, we are in firm control of our dear party. Our party is very stable. Our party has grown bigger.”