… Urges End To Hostile Transitions, Prayers For Peaceful Handover in 2027
Daud Olatunji
Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, has warned that Ogun State may continue to suffer developmental setbacks unless the recurring pattern of hostility between successive administrations ends.
Isola, who spoke during a Twitter Space session last week Wednesday, said the state had been trapped in a cycle of political vendetta since 1999, preventing continuity in governance and frustrating sustainable development efforts.
According to him, no Ogun governor has ever handed over power peacefully to a successor since the return of democracy, a trend he described as “unhealthy and retrogressive.”
“What we need in Ogun State is continuity of policy and an end to hostile succession,” Isola said.
“Where one government stops, another should continue. But this hostility every eight years is taking us backwards.”
The former Secretary to the Ogun State Government lamented that the absence of cooperation among successive administrations had hindered long-term planning, stalled infrastructure projects, and discouraged investors.
He expressed optimism that the incumbent governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, could make history by becoming the first Ogun leader to hand over power peacefully at the end of his tenure in 2027.
“There is a good plan in Ogun State, but what keeps truncating it is hostile transition,” he said.
“That’s why I want everyone, Muslims and Christians alike, to pray that Governor Abiodun becomes the first to hand over peacefully at the stadium. Since 1999, no governor has done that.”
Isola added that a peaceful transition would signal a new chapter in Ogun’s political history, restore confidence in leadership, and promote inclusive governance.
He also acknowledged the internal wrangling within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) but expressed confidence that Abiodun would overcome the crisis and ensure stability ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ogun State has had a history of strained transitions — from the fallout between Segun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel, to the friction between Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, and later the rivalry between Amosun and Abiodun.
Isola said his concern was not about political ambitions but about the future of governance in the state.
“We are not talking about ambition. It’s about governance, fairness, and sustainability. Ogun has been good to me, and I want the best for the state,” he said.
He called for a collaborative political culture, urging leaders to work together irrespective of party or regional affiliation.
“Ogun money belongs to Ogun people, not individuals. Let’s have harmony and unity. Even in eight years, you can’t fully develop a village,” he said.
The former minister also cautioned against ethnic and religious politics, warning that divisive slogans such as “Yewa Lokan” could deepen disunity in the state.
“There are two sentiments that are not good for politics — ethnic and religious,” he noted. “Leadership should be based on character, competence, and courage, not where anyone comes from.”
Isola, who once served as Secretary to the State Government and Minister of Mines and Steel Development, said his experience taught him the value of inclusive development.
He further revealed that he had once initiated a proposal for a rail network in Ogun West to ease traffic and spur industrial growth.
“I carried out feasibility studies with Portuguese investors and briefed President Buhari,” he said. “The British were ready to fund part of it. Such infrastructure would have opened up our western corridor.”
Isola’s remarks come amid growing political tension and jostling within the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, as stakeholders debate the direction of Ogun’s next leadership chapter.
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