OGUN DEPUTY SPEAKER REMOVAL AND MATTERS ARISING

Written by Tayo Oyekanmi 

Yesterday, the removal of Ogun State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, Hon Oludare Kadiri from office signals the beginning of internal conflict that might implode and render the claim in some quarter that Ogun State is now a one party state useless. The political coalescence that officially brought  Otunba Gbenga Daniel the erstwhile Governor of the State, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka who contested against the sitting Governor Dapo Abiodun and all elected public officials of ADC to APC has brought about a new lexicon to Ogun State political space that Ogun is now a one party State under APC. Earlier, those elected on the "party of circumstances" (Allied People's Movement) has returned to their original house in line with the resolve to come back win or loose. Their team captain in Hon Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade has led the way since December 2019 aftermath of loosing the electoral litigation at the Supreme Court. 

For the moment, the new swing song of One Party's State can be momentarily and theoretically correct albeit on paper. But Ogun State political turf has always been fluid. It will be a kind of otiose to take the prevailing configuration as a sign of conquest on the part of APC and Governor Dapo Abiodun. Utmost sagacity is needed to manage the conflict of interest. During the tenure of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, he tactically avoided the banana peel that reared its ugly head in the House of Assembly that resulted in open confrontation among members, the result of which the House now has a broken maze. Amosun knew the implications of allowing the festering fist to fester. Maybe history was a guide to him. 

In 2003 the People Democratic Party was the reigning champion in the state with OGD as the captain of the lot. For some intractable political misunderstanding, SIA pulled out before the 2007 election. The death kernel of PDP started from then on. The internal distraught and self immolation graduated to the crisis in the House of Assembly that gave birth to G15 and G11. From that imbroglio PDP lost it all and became history in the helm of affairs in the State. 

Can the ruling APC avoid this bubby trap of banana peel? Can the party navigate the landmines of intra groups and intra party conflicts? It remain to be seen. But if the emerging development is anything to go by, there's serious ominous dark clouds hanging around. The Party's registration and revalidation exercise has brought to the fore the fragility and lack of cohesion within its fold. While the Deputy Speaker is the first casualty. That does not say the whole story. Too many fire are being kindled underneath. Not too long ago, the maze of the House was allegedly stolen and latter recovered somewhere in Lagos by the police. It tells of a House divided against itself. The Akinrogun Osoba camp is suffering and smiling in marriage of convenience going on within the Dapo Abiodun"s political configuration. We have seen musical video singing of neglect in the sharing of spolis of victory. Just as we have seen newspaper's advert complaining  of neglect in the ongoing registration process by the same camp. Can they maintain that posture of suffering in silence till 2023 election? The answer is in the womb of time. 

Another distinct group within the party led by the political warrior in Senator Ibikunle Amosun ably supported by another political juggernaut in senator Lekan Mustapha with the ever capacious Triple A in the midst has also tried to cope with various kind of ocherstrated scheming of ostracization in the party's registration process by Governor Dapo Abiodun"s team. This group is no less formidable, blessed with nearly all the federal appointments from the state. This group has been maintaining a calm demeanor even in the face of needless scheming and expression of the fear of unknown by Dapo Abiodun"s team. Can they all bury their hatchet and work together towards the 2023 for the same purpose and agenda? You never can tell but the signs are not too good. 

In Ogun West, can Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, Senator Tolu Odebiyi, GNI, Hon Abiodun Akinlade, Biyi Otegbeye, Ayo Olubori work together along with the West to West team in 2023 or are we likely to see another speed of "to thy tent O'Isreal? We can only wait and see. For now, the removal of the Deputy Speaker might be the beginning of an unpredictable end particularly within the various teams jostling for Governor Dapo Abiodun"s imprimatur.