Olaniyi Ajibola
According to Astrological account, those who are born between 21st May and 21st June are GEMINI, with zodiac symbol of the Twins and characterized as Witty, Charming, and highly social individuals. They are naturally intellectual and adaptable, who thrive on communication and variety.
Having born on 29th May, Prince Dapo Abiodun, is a Gemini, with distinct innate qualities of wittiness, charmingness, intellectualism and adaptability, coupled with his enviable social exposure among others; the Governor distinguishes himself as a leader who prioritises effective communication through diverse channels.
Obviously, these special virtues Governor Dapo Abiodun possesses have guided him in his journey of life as he continues to triumph and succeed where many of his kind had failed woefully with high degree of ignominy, making them a reference for historical failure in the political history of Ogun State.
Of course, not many people are aware of the inherent talent in Governor Dapo Abiodun , hence, the propensity to underrate him at first instance, especially in the political landscape. However, it was not long that many of his adversaries came to realise their errors of thoughts with his unprecedented performance and rare leadership capacity.
At the dawn of the fourth republic in 1999, with full- blown democratic government in Nigeria, unlike the diarchy of the aborted third republic, it became practically imperative for vibrant and clear-headed Nigerians to showcase their mettle in leadership, and Prince Dapo Abiodun was among those young and critical minds who resiliently expressed interest to govern and contribute their quotas in the development of Nigeria, having participated actively in the past democratic experiment in the early 90s.
As his efforts to bring his robust leadership skills to bear in governance of Ogun State eventually paid off in 2019, the administration started with distinct style that brought about a total and convincing departure from the past, as Governor Dapo Abiodun led from the front with vision, from the middle with compassion and from the back with courage, making governance to permanently resides among the people.
His penchant to break historical jinx and change dynamics in the state remains highly exceptional, as he firmly stands on his pledge to his people to develop every part of the state evenly without fear or favour.
The people of the state can never forget the indelible flag-off of the reconstruction of 81km Abeokuta-Ota-Lagos express road in August, 2024, which formally constituted a nightmare for motorists for decades and adversely affected economic activities in that corridor without respite from previous administrations.
Governor Dapo didn’t stop there, he provided succour to the residents of Akute-Ajuwon-Alagbole and it’s environs, an environment adjudged to be heavily traversed border community between Lagos and Ogun States, by constructing different roads which had been abandoned since 2003 and remained dangerously deplorable.
The Gateway International Airport is indeed recent, where the Governor turned a thick forest formerly inhabited by wild animals and birds to a project of pride for Ogun State and Nigeria, as a world class Airport with longest runway in West Africa sub-region was commissioned by Present Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 4th April, 2026, fulfilling the dream of the people of the state in the last two decades.
Then, come another unprecedented feat of Governor Dapo Abiodun, as he confidently and triumphantly announced Senator Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi as a consensus candidate of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.
Strictly speaking, the event of Monday, 13th April, 2026 is first of its kind in the political history of Ogun State, where an incumbent would announce a consensus candidate for his party as a likely successor. While the second republic ended abruptly in 31st December 1983, with Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo as the first executive Governor of the state on the platform of Unity Party of Nigeria(UPN), Chief Olusegun Osoba, a member of Alliance of Democracy (AD) lost reelection bid in 2003 to a candidate of opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel also could not produce a candidate as the flag bearer of his party, the PDP in 2011 as his possible successor and was forced to use another political platform for his annointed candidate in which the rest remains history.
It was the same fate that befell the ‘charismatic’, ‘powerful’ and ‘all-knowing’ Senator Ibikune Amosun. The popular Ajiri unfortunately failed to produce a candidate from his party, the APC as possible successor in 2019, and like his predecessor, he was forced to seek for alternative platform for his preferred candidate, who eventually lost to very strategic but noiseless Dapo Abiodun.
So, where all these aforementioned leaders had failed, Dapo Abiodun gracefully succeeded and made history with pride. Because he combines his zodiac qualities with decent family background, the Prince of Iperu frontally emerged as a natural leader of enviable sagacity in Ogun State.
Governor Dapo Abiodun’s speech at the APC’s strategic caucus meeting of Monday speaks volume of his intellectual prowess that is firmly rooted in native intelligence.
He said”, Today, those I considered as front-runners in Ogun West have given their consent and bought into the idea.
“The reason Ogun West has not been able to produce a governor until now is due to a lack of cooperation. I am proud to say that I have spoken to Hon. Biodun Akinlade, Hon. Gboyega Isiaka, and I can confirm that they are fully on board with having a single Ogun West candidate.
“Nothing will give me more joy than to break the 50-year-old jinx. Nothing will give me more joy than to fulfill the aspirations of my predecessors and ensure that Ogun West produces the next governor of Ogun State.
“On that note, permit me to unveil the person we have decided will be the next flag bearer of our great party in Ogun State—Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola.
”A lot of discussions have taken place behind the scenes, and these discussions did not just start a month or two ago. I must confess that they began about six months ago.
“The President called Chief Olusegun Osoba, who in turn reached out to me and a few others. He expressed satisfaction with what we are doing and indicated his interest in having a say in who would work with him in Ogun State in the next election.
“He asked me which zone I preferred for the next governor to come from, and without hesitation, I said Ogun West. When he asked why, I told him it is the only senatorial district that has not produced a governor in the history of the state.
“I also told him that this position aligns with the aspirations of my predecessors. We may disagree on other issues, but on this, we are in agreement”.
The late American Army General, Diplomat and Statesman, Colin Luther Powell, once posited”, Great Leaders Are Almost Always Great Simplifiers”.
As I congratulate Senator Olamilekan Adeola Yayi on his unanimous endorsement as the standard bearer of APC in the gubernatorial election of 2027 in Ogun State, and as well wish him victory in the poll, I want to heartily rejoice with our principal of inestimable value, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, a man of history and notable importance. Witty, charming and strategic, with enviable social exposure.
Congratulations, Your Excellency.
Ajibola is a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Strategic Communications
