A spontaneous outpouring of affection greeted Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, on Thursday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as residents openly endorsed him for the 2027 governorship race.
What began as a routine drive to an event quickly turned into a celebratory procession when locals recognised Isola’s vehicle and surrounded it with chants and songs of praise.
The crowd’s chorus, rendered in Yoruba, rang through the streets: “Ẹ jáde, kẹ wá bá wa gbé Sarafa ga; àt’ọ̀nìlé pẹ̀lú àlejò, ẹ gbé ga; àt’ọmọde pẹ̀lú àgbà, ẹ gbé ga!” — calling on both indigenes and visitors, the young and the old, to “lift Sarafa high.”
Moments later, the mood shifted from praise to politics, with a clear electoral message: “Daddy, Mummy, Sarafa ni kẹ dibo fún!” (Daddy, Mummy, Sarafa is the one you should vote for).
The chants underscored the former Minister’s image as a grassroots politician, with one supporter declaring him “the Humble Governor” — a title some say captures Ogun’s yearning for a relatable and service-driven leader.
Observers noted that the warm reception appeared entirely unplanned, contrasting with the staged rallies common in Nigeria’s political scene.
“This is 100% organic love, not purchased loyalty,” said a witness, describing the scene as an unfiltered show of public trust.
Isola, who holds the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), is widely regarded for his ability to engage both at high-level diplomatic tables and in the informal warmth of his home community.
While he has yet to formally declare his ambition for 2027, Thursday’s events suggest that sections of Ogun’s electorate are already making up their minds.
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