By Olaniyi Ajibola
The remarks of Governor Dapo Abiodun during the inauguration of the State Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general elections on Thursday, clearly indicated the degree of preparedness of the ruling party in the state, to sustain power at that sub-national and even win convincingly the presidential election to re-elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Governor was explicit and assertive; his years of experience in political arithmetic and mobilization have sharpened and broaden his thoughts on electoral process and paths to victory, especially in a very sensitive political environment like Ogun State with highly sophisticated electorate.
As a leader of impeccable pedigree, Governor Abiodun understands the dynamics of power and it’s intricacies, he recognises the fundamental value of unity and cohesion as well as deeper and constant communication at the grassroots for intrinsic engagement.
There is no doubt that all politics is local, the choices make by voters and the successes recorded by politicians at every election solely predicate on how well political players address immediate and everyday neighborhood and community concerns beyond the euphoria of rallies and campaign jingles.
The Governor was very selective in his choice of words and equally direct in his message, he spoke eloquently as a politician and assertively as a leader who is saddled with the responsibility of leading his party to landslide victory. He expressed so much readiness to sustain what he vehemently fought for in 2019 and wanted every member of the party to follow suit.
Though, the political atmosphere appears less volatile and dicey as it was during Abiodun’s struggle for power in 2019 and 2023, due to the landmark achievements of his administration in all strata of the state’s economy and human development, however, politicians like Dapo Abiodun don’t fall for complacency in any form, always on guard in all seasons.
That level of mental alertness and political consciousness is really expected of a good leader who knows his onions and possesses the capacity to lead from the front with courage. Sincerely, the dual task of sustaining political power at the centre and in the state is enormous, but clearly surmountable with the strength of character of leaders like Governor Dapo Abiodun, former Governor Olusegun Osoba and the gubernatorial candidate of APC in the state, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly called Yayi.
Moreso, the body language and responses of members of the campaign council at the venue reflected total commitment and readiness to hit the ground running and secure victory for the party in the forthcoming general elections without blemish.
The Cultural Centre, Kuto, venue of the event was full of enthusiasm and fascination from every participant, there was an evidence of consensus on the need for unity of purpose, proper coordination, massive mobilization and conscientization, as well as robust engagement at the grassroots, in the way the Governor conceptualised it.
“Let consultations and campaign begin now, elections were not won merely through political reputation or the size of rallies, but through scientific, deliberate and intentional preparation, organisation, vigilance and sustained engagement with the electorate.
“Our campaign must be based on ideas, achievements and a credible vision. We must reach every Local Government Area, ward, polling unit and community. Unity is not the absence of differences. It is the wisdom to ensure that our differences do not become greater than our common cause”.
According to the late Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill,” Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts”. Despite the conspicuous and huge achievements of the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun in the last seven years, he still insisted on constant communication about these great projects at the grassroots to prevent misinformation.
The Governor is confident of his performance in infrastructure, education, agriculture, healthcare, security, investment promotion and social intervention, industrialization and human capital development, urging members of the party to continue talking about these legacies in all communities across the state.
He specifically mentioned the Gateway International Airport as central to the state’s vision of developing an integrated aviation, agriculture, industrial and logistics hub, while other interventions had contributed to improving the business environment and positioning Ogun as a leading industrial and investment destination.
“These are not abstract promises. They are visible on our roads, in our schools and hospitals, in our agricultural communities and in businesses expanding across our state.
“Good work that is not effectively explained may be misunderstood, while falsehood repeated without challenge may begin to appear credible”.
The Governor further emphasized the need for clarity of purpose and united front, that the campaign council must as a matter of duty work as one coordinated political machinery, with leaders providing direction, committees translating strategy into action and grassroots structures sustaining engagement with voters.
Knowing the inherent danger of fragmentation and factionalism, Governor Abiodun strongly advised members of the council to eschew indiscipline and sabotage as result of parochial and selfish tendencies, saying that priority should be placed on prompt reporting and early identification of challenges and resolution of emerging issues.
In the same vein, the governorship candidate, Solomon Adeola called for an inclusive grassroots campaign, as he charged party members across the state to regard the 2027 election as a collective responsibility and assured those whose names were not included in the campaign council that they remained part of the party’s mobilisation structure.
He stressed that the campaign council was established to provide coordination and direction, rather than to exclude other members of the party, urging all APC members to remain active in their wards and local government areas.
Adeola called for sustained consultations and grassroots engagement, urging party members to take the party’s message to communities and work collectively for all APC candidates, from the presidential election to the governorship and legislative contests.
Obviously, the time for action has come, this is the time members of the ruling APC in Ogun State have been patiently waiting for to again showcase their mettle and dexterity in political mobilization and consultation. Let the action begins immediately.
Ajibola is a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Strategic Communications
