 |
| R-L: Amosun and Osoba |
One governor facing a difficult time is the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, The state has been factionalized by various angry members who are claiming the Governor is trying to control the party single handedly. This is coming few years after Senator Ibikunle Amosun overwhelmingly defeated a very strong incumbent PDP/PPN government, led by factional leaders, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Gov Gbenga Daniels and PDP billionaire financier, Buruji Kashamu.
Upon joining the defunct ACN from ANPP, Senator Ibikunle Amosun started his campaign with a strong grassroots base, with the help of various strong party members; Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s grassroots base was second to none prior to the April 2011 election. Amosun toured the nooks and crannies of Ogun State with a large troop of supporters behind him everywhere he went. This supporters were recruited by the over 200 aspirants, who eventually contested for the Party’s Local government Chairmanship tickets in the 2012 Local government elections ,Some mobilized their supporters whenever Amosun is coming to their area to campaign, Some went the extra mile of financing and providing logistics enough to cater for at least 100 persons and followed Senator Ibikunle Amosun to every nook and cranny of the state, Some printed posters , handbills , calendars and some financed local musician to produce a musical cd’s in support of Senator Ibikunle Amosun which was shared freely among the populace . A move that boosted the eventual victory of Senator Ibikunle Amosun in the April 2011 elections.
Three years on, In spite of Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s developmental strides, SIA, as his fondly called by his loyalist may have lost the Support of the grassroots and the government is daily loosing popularity among the people of Ogun State. The government in Ogun state today is far from the people, this can be connected to the composition of administrators of local councils who have failed woefully in getting close to the grassroots. This might not be unconnected with the fact that most of the Candidates chosen by the Governor did not campaign or even spend their own resources to win the July 21 ,2012 Election . Those that spent their money to campaign and lost out have not been duly compensated by the Governor and the Party instead they have been neglected.
Ogun local government councils are now revenue making outlets, the only relationship between local council executives and the people is tax and levies connection. A visit to Abeokuta South Local Government, showed that 90% of visitors to the LG came to reposes a seized item or to complain about lock-up of shops by council touts. There was no single empowerment or sensitization activity in the council. A further visit to Abeokuta North LG was not different.
We searched further to know what caused the disconnect between the Government of Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the people, and what we discovered was amazing.
An
APC member , Jamiu from Ward 9 , told us that , he is a member of
Adebayo Abdulsalam Ayorinde,(Triple A) Campaign organization , who was
an aspirant for the Last local government chairmanship election of
Abeokuta North Local Government, and his group were wholly bankrolled by
Prince Adebayo Abdul-Salam Ayorinde to campaign with the Governor all
over the state pre 2011 Election of the Governor , he further told us
the violent encounter they witnessed at ifo-ota while on Amosun's
campaign train. He further explained how their AAA campaign van was
damaged and they had to flee, abandoning the van. He said since the
ticket wasn't given to their candidate who invested a lot in the party’s
success in 2011 and the current chairman is unwilling to attend to them
because they worked for his rival, the state government has created no
avenue for them to express themselves, they have to enter their shells
and wait on their candidate’s next political move , Asked if they are
willing to follow their candidate to another party if he decides to
move, He said he will definitely follow the Prince on whatever moves he
decides but they are still loyal to the Governor and does not think his
candidate is even thinking of decamping .
Adeyemi of Obafemi /Owode LG, said he worked for Samuel Shodiya during the local council campaign He said since Shodiya lost out, and wasn't compensated by the party, it was hard for them(Shodiya’s supporters) to make a living in the council.
Adeyemi of Obafemi /Owode LG, said he worked for Samuel Shodiya during the local council campaign He said since Shodiya lost out, and wasn't compensated by the party, it was hard for them(Shodiya’s supporters) to make a living in the council.
In a chat with a contestant for council chief in Sagamu, Arole Azeez Bello, The neglect of aspirants of the July 21, 2012, local council election in Ogun state is the reason of the death of Amosun's grassroots supports. He further highlighted how the governor neglected the local council contestants after the election. He said the entire candidates accepted the list submitted by the Governor and promised to work for the chosen flag bearers as directed by the Governor. He said the promise was never kept by the governor, and several of their supporters suffered rejection by the elected council bosses. The lack of empowerment from them to their various supporters is now exposing them to the idea of jumping ships. The opposition in the state are spending lavishly and also using the presidency to woo our supporters, they’re hungry and losing faith in us.
A call put through another contestant, Prince Adebayo Abdul Salam Ayorinde, was eventually answered after several weeks, He highlighted the Governors good gesture and appeased with his supporters to stay strong and have faith in the governor, he said the capital projects around the state is the first of its kind that will benefit majority grassroots people, as all access to the town from villages are now motorable. He declined to comment about what we tagged neglect of grassroots and he said his supporters are firmly behind the state governor in the person of Senator Ibikunle Amosun. Some other aspirants declined to comments.
An aspirant from Yewa , who begged not to be named said the party collected N200,000 from them for forms and they also bought forms from party’s local government executive , he also said various money was collected from them by local government executives for financing the governor’s campaign. He said since the local council election, he has never for once had an audience with the chairman elect, local Government Executives nor the governor. He said worst of it all is the fact that he cannot secure any contract in his chosen field from any ministry , he also said the commissioners do not recognize them , that rather than consider him , all contracts are given to politicians from Lagos who did nothing to ensure the victory of Senator Ibikunle Amosun .
He said majority of their followers and other aspirants are now decamping to labour Party because of the incentives and promise given to them. He said he can’t control these people when he and numerous former aspirants are finding it hard to make a living, let alone cater for their large followers.
The lack of cohesion at the wards has now gone beyond the walls of their meeting rooms, other party members now mock them of living in wretchedness despite been in power. Various party leaders are now been mocked by the community, wondering what happened to the enthusiasm they showed the governor and the party during the May 29, 2011, election.
With few months to election, the roots in Amosun's grass may gradually die, and he may not be walking on green pastures in 2015. Will he pick up the watering-can and save his redeemable pastures? Will his hungry soldiers Like Prince Ayorinde remain loyal? Time they say, will tell.
Femi Ogunmefun
No comments:
Post a Comment