The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, was denied Ibikunle Amosun's support yesterday because "he has taken the state back from the development path his administration laid." Amosun is the former governor of Ogun State and the current senator for Ogun Central.
Amosun urged voters to cast their ballots for Biyi Otegbeye, the African Democratic Congress's nominee for governor and a native of Ilaro in the Ogun West senatorial constituency (ADC).
At the beginning of an ADC campaign rally in Abeokuta, the state capital, the former governor made the appeal at Ake Palace Ground.
Amosun, a longtime buddy who had become a political foe, stated last year that he supported Otegbeye and would seek to defeat him.
"This is my anointed candidate," Amosun said to the throngs of ADC fans as he raised Otegbeye's hand. Even though I belong to the APC, I'm going to support and work tirelessly for Biyi Otegbeye and Tunde Awonuga's candidature in the governorship race.
According to Amosun, the Ogun West senatorial district, which has been without a governor since the state's founding, should provide the next governor of the state.
He expressed regret that his successor had abandoned the development strategy that had been established by his administration. He claimed that Otegbeye was the only person who could put the state back on the great course that his government had established.
Amosun said, “The good works we started during my tenure must continue, and this is why I’m supporting Biyi Otegbeye. Everybody knows me; I don’t hide behind one finger, as evil thrives when good men refuse to talk, so you know me. I’m in APC, but in this coming election, I support the presidency coming to the South. That is why I’m supporting Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is why all the Amosun political family support Tinubu.
“There are two reasons why I’m doing what I’m doing. The first one is based on equity, justice, and fairness. Ogun State is almost 50 years now, and since the creation of the state, nobody from Ogun West has been governor. Some characters are saying Yewa don’t have good people, I know they have. Yewa has good children who can do it. He (Otegbeye) is a lawyer, and has been tested and trusted.”
The senator added, “What we are here to do today is to take Ogun State back to that great position. I’m not the only governor, so it is not about Amosun. Amosun has done his bit, but Ogun State must go back to that positive trajectory and one person that I know can do the job very well is Biyi Otegbeye.”