They used to be best of political allies. But anymore, no thanks to ambition and political self-interests.
That is the story of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Senator Gbenga Daniel, also a former governor of the state.
The genesis of the frosty relationship is still a hushed secret, but it may not be unconnected to the 2027 battle for the Ogun East senatorial seat, currently occupied by Daniel.
Speculations are rife that Abiodun, now serving his second term as governor, is allegedly interested in contesting for the Senate in 2007 and with Daniel, almost certain to recontest for another term, he remains the major stumbling block to the realisation of Abiodun’s ambition.
Within the political circles in Ogun State, it was no secret that Daniel allegedly worked against the re-election of the governor in the 2023 general elections. The governor lost in his hometown, Iperu Remo and the entire Ogun East zone to Mr. Ladi Adebutu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The governor’s camp hold Daniel responsible for this loss.
Daniel’s camp appears ready for the battle ahead. It accused the governor of throwing the first shot by surreptitiously working behind-the-scene to stop the former governor from winning the APC senatorial ticket in 2023.
A source familiar with the politicking that played out revealed that the incumbent governor felt having Daniel occupy the Senate seat, could prove fatal to his plan to take-over the seat in 2027.
“The gameplan is simple: the governor knows that OGD (as Daniel is popular addressed) would not stepdown for him in 2027. He wanted a lackey to get the Ogun East senatorial ticket in 2023, but lost the plot to Daniel, who would most certainly go for another term in 2027.”
Same scenario played out during the tenure of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who as sitting governor, supported Dr. Lanre Tejusoho for the APC senatorial ticket for Ogun Central in 2015 against his then Deputy Chief of Staff, Salisu Shuaib, in the hope that Tejusoho, a not-too-strong politician, would pave way for him (Amosun) to take-over the seat in 2019 after the expiration of his tenure as governor.
That calculation worked according to plan. Tejusoho served for one term before ceding the seat to Amosun in 2019, who also served for one term and gave way for Shuaib.
In 2015, Abiodun had taken a shot for the Senate as the candidate of the APC, but lost to Buruji Kashamu of the PDP.