ILARO – A fierce political firestorm has erupted in Ogun State following scathing remarks by Deputy Governor Engr. Noimat Salako-Oyedele regarding a recent lecture on the 2027 governorship transition. Critics are now labeling her stance a “desecration” of a half-century-old struggle for equity.
The controversy stems from an open letter written by the Deputy Governor, in which she accused the Senate Leader, Dr. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (CON), of “interfering” in local politics. Bamidele had been invited by the Ogun West Professionals to deliver a keynote titled “A Roadmap to Achieving Ogun West Governorship in 2027” during an event in Ilaro last Sunday.
A Legacy Under Attack?
Raheem Ajayi, a former high-ranking state official and veteran activist, issued a blistering response, suggesting that the Deputy Governor’s comments prove she was never a part of the “age-long agitation” to see an Ogun West indigene elected governor.
“What else could have shown the world that Her Excellency never participated in our struggle if not for this letter?” Ajayi questioned. “Instead of appreciating professionals who spent decades on this cause, she chose to play the ostrich for the sake of being ‘politically correct’.”
Ajayi argued that by dismissively branding a resource person of Bamidele’s stature as an interloper, the Deputy Governor is “dancing on the graves” of legendary leaders like Pa Jonathan Odebiyi and Sen. Ayo Otegbola, who died fighting for the same cause.
The “Interference” Argument
The Deputy Governor’s letter suggested that Bamidele’s lecture was an attempt to undermine the incumbent, Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun. However, supporters of the Ogun West agenda were quick to point out the irony.
“How does being a speaker for the purpose of education and enlightenment become an effort to interfere?” the group queried.
The lecture focused on resolving the lack of internal cohesion that saw the region lose its bid for the top seat in 2011 and 2019—challenges that Bamidele, a veteran of the NANS struggle and a former commissioner under Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is uniquely qualified to address.
The Road to 2027
The backlash highlights a growing rift within the state’s leadership regarding the 2027 succession plan. While Governor Abiodun has expressed a desire for justice and equity, the “Ogun West Professionals” insist that outside intellectual perspectives are vital to breaking the 50-year jinx.
“This intervention didn’t start today,” Ajayi noted, citing Bamidele’s history of advocating for power shifts in both Ogun and Oyo states as far back as 2002. “The Deputy Governor’s response leaves a sour taste in our mouths.”
As the political climate heats up, the people of Ogun West remain resolute. The message to the corridors of power is clear: the quest for the 2027 governorship is no longer just a political ambition—it is a “collective struggle” that will not be silenced by claims of administrative protocol.
