Society Gists

By Akogun Kola Onadipe

Reading through a recent salient message on the power sharing amongst major zones in Ogun State, one cannot but attempt to setting the record straight…as i still wonder on why this controversy sef?

Individual decision to aspire and throw one’s hat into such political battle ring, as interest to govern a politically sophisticated State like Ogun State, comes with all sorts of deep consideration for success….except if such person wants to test water for “seresere” or remote motives based on his or her own faint readings.

Let’s start by reviewing the list (as below) of past Military Administrators and democratically elected Governors of Ogun State since its creation on Feb 03/1976….in order to understanding the “koko”:

• Saidu Ayodele Balogun
  Military Governor
  Mar 1976 – Jul 1978.
• Harris Eghagha Military Governor
  Jul 1978 – Oct 1979
• ONABANJO OLABISI Governor
  (Ijebu/Remo)
  Oct 1979 – Dec 1983 .
• Oladipo Diya
  Military Governor
  Jan 1984 – Aug 1985
• Oladayo Popoola Military Governor
  Aug 1985 – 1986
• Raji Alagbe Rasaki Military Governor 1986 – Dec 1987.
• Mohammed Lawal Military Governor
  Dec 1987 – Aug 1990
• Oladeinde Joseph Military Governor
  Aug 1990 – Jan 1992
• OLUSEGUN OSOBA Governor
  (Egba/Egbado)
  Jan 1992 – Nov 1993
• Daniel Akintonde Military Administrator Dec 1993 – Aug 1996
• Sam Ewang
  Military Admin
  Aug 1996 – Aug 1998
• Kayode Olofin-Moyin Milad
  Aug 1998 – May 1999
• OLUSEGUN OSOBA Governor
  (Egba/Egbado)
  May 1999 – May 2003
• GBENGA DANIEL Governor
  (Ijebu/Remo)
  May 2003 – May 2011
• IBIKUNLE AMOSUN Governor
  (Egba/Egbado)
  May 2011 – May 2019
• DAPO ABIODUN Governor
  (Ijebu/Remo)
  May 2019 Incumbent

For purposes of equitable power sharing amongst major homogeneous indigenes of the State, the founding fathers may have conveniently adopted a sacred Pendulum Shift Power Sharing-PSPS arrangement (for peaceful and smooth transition, every 8yrs (2 terms election cycle) barring disruption from military intervention via forceful appointment of Military Administrators to replace democratically elected Governors.

The pendulum stated swinging from Ijebu/Remo on 1979 when Chief Olabisi Onabanjo (Ijebu/Remo) won land slide election victory and got sworn in as Governor of Ogun State in 1979.
He successfully completed his 4yrs 1st Term and was represented and elected again in 1983 and also won with landslide victory.
His 2nd term was short lived due to Military intervention of Jan 1984, as all democratically elected administration were sacked and replaced with Military Administrators across the country.

The Military were in charge of the Country’s/States until Jan 1992 when another democratically elected Governors were installed.

At this time, the PSPS was effected, and power shifted to Egba/Egbado area of the State, to produce the Governor.

Recall that the political understanding instituted by Chief Awolowo and his Team pre-1979 elections, cut across the whole former Western Region, and especially the “sharing pendulum” in Ogun State was always between Ijebu/Remo on one side and Egba/Egbado on the other side of Ogun State.

And so between Jan 1992-Nov 1993, Chief Olusegun Osoba (Egba/Egbado) was sworn in as the Governor of Ogun State.

Again the Military struck in Nov 1993…and was in power till May 1999.

On May 29 1999, another democratically elected Governor-Chief Olusegun Osoba (Egba/Egbado) was sworn in for his 2nd term in line with constitution.
He completed the 2nd term in May 2003…..to complete Egba/Egbado PSPS.

Though he attempted to regain the Governor seat for 3rd term via his firm control of his AD party then, where he lost woefully in the subsequent general elections, for defying the “Pendulum Shift Power Sharing” arrrangement instituted by Poli-Governance forebearers in the State.

Consequently the PSPS again shifted to Ijebu/Remo axis with OGD becoming Governor for 2-terms (2003-2011)

By this time, everyone seems to have learnt the bitter political lesson and as such, the PSPS shifted to Egba/Egbado once again, where Sen Ibikunle Amosun got elected and sworn in as the Governor (2011-2019)..completing his 2-term tenure allowable by the Constitution.

Sharperly sharperly the PSPS came back to Ijebu/Remo again where Dapo Abiodun was elected and sworn in as the Governor.

Now that the PSPS may be gradually moving back to Egba/Egbado axis once again in 2027…..it may not be early to caution, those who may not know about this very salient and sacred PSPS arrangement…..not to disrupt the pendulum of peaceful and smooth transition.

However such people deferring on the PSPS, may secure their respective party ticket in desperation, but their election result at general election may be devastating and sink their respective political career forever.

By all indications, Gov Dapo Abiodun in 2027 will complete the PSPS arrangement in Ijebu/Remo term axis….and as such the Governorship seat will go back to Egba/Egbado….in line with sacred and unwritten tradition-PSPS.

However it important to state that the Egbado people have never succeeded in tasting the Governor seat, anytime the pedunlum shifted to the zone, but the onus rest on the Egbados (now known as Yewa/Awori) to strategise with their fellow Egbas in order to get the required support to the seat this time around.

Indeed the real negotiation is between Egba and Egbado people.
Fair is fair the Egbado deserve the seat….however such coveted seat is never served alar-carte…but it is surely doable, and if all department of the political game is activated to success.

On the other hand, the Remos have been very lucky to have served 2-terms in full every time the pendulum comes to Ijebu/Remo axis.
The Ijebus only served 5yrs….but will not complain because of strong ties-brotherhood existing between the two-Ijebu/Remo.
It is important to add that in the scheme of political calculations, the following three ingredients are required for any individual’s victory, who is presenting himself or herself forward as Governor, despite compliance with the PSPS arrangement:

• Structure (Party and Non Partisan)
• Perception on Vision/Blueprint proposed, Community service, Health, Education, Oration, Intelligence, Moral/Family Values, previous experiences in governance etc.
• Funding.

It is apt to mention that as the principle of PSPS seems to be adhered on Governorship seat, the same spirit of arrangement affect where the Senators come from within each Sub zones at every election cycle.
For example:
If in a party, the Governorship candidate is zoned to Yewa, the Senator will emerge from Awori section of the zone.
Same in Ijebu Remo, if Gov come from Remo, the Ijebus will produce the Senator.
Though certain exceptions may be admitted by party members and general electorates, if such aspiration interest has paternal and maternal birth roots, incubated as dual acceptability within the two sub zones, then a general waiver plus past achievement may suffice for such individual interest pick as successes at party primaries and general elections.

I stand to be corrected.

Akogun Kola Onadipe
National Coordinator
The TruthSayers