Daud Olatunji
Stakeholders across Ogun State on Tuesday rallied behind a former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Tunji Isola, endorsing him for the 2027 governorship race and pledging support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid.
The endorsement, held in Abeokuta, the state capital, drew political leaders, grassroots mobilisers, and traditional figures from the three senatorial districts, as various support groups backing Isola dissolved into a single structure to strengthen his emerging political front.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that more than eleven support groups across the state were represented and harmonise to one now tagged Sarafa Support Group to begin working for the realization of the governorship ambition of the former UK high commissioner.
Addressing the gathering, Isola said the convergence was not a formal declaration of his governorship ambition but a move to harmonise support bases and build cohesion ahead of future political engagement.
“We are not here for any governorship declaration. What we have come to do is to harmonise our positions and formalise our endorsement. The declaration will come at the appropriate time,” he said.
He expressed concern over persistent political divisions in the state, warning that “hostile succession” among political actors had continued to undermine Ogun’s development.
“We are too politically divided, and from one administration to another, it has always been a tug of war. Are we going to continue like this? My concern is to stop hostile succession in Ogun State so that we can all come together for the state to realise its full potential,” he added.
The former envoy stressed the need for unity across party lines and local government structures, noting that strategic alignment among stakeholders would be crucial to achieving sustainable development.
Highlighting his public service experience, Isola recalled his roles as a local government chairman, Special Assistant at the federal level, Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, and later as Nigeria’s envoy to the United Kingdom.
He said his career trajectory had equipped him with the capacity to serve the state at a higher level, adding that he remained committed to giving back to Ogun.
“I have benefitted immensely from Ogun State, and I will not take that for granted. My service at various levels has prepared me for greater responsibility,” he stated.
Isola also disclosed that he had consulted widely with key stakeholders, including traditional rulers and former governors, in a bid to promote unity and stability in the state.
On national politics, the former diplomat threw his weight behind Tinubu’s administration, describing ongoing economic reforms as necessary and urging residents to support the President’s re-election.
Earlier, an All Progressives Congress chieftain, Chief Joju Fadairo, said he had embarked on consultations with political leaders and elder statesmen, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to garner support for Isola’s governorship ambition.
Fadairo said Isola’s track record, leadership style, and performance as High Commissioner—where he reportedly united Nigerians in the diaspora—made him a suitable candidate.
“If you want to serve, you will not be desperate. People will stand by you. That is why we are supporting him,” he said.
The motion endorsing Isola for the 2027 governorship race was moved by Prince Asegun Ogungbayi from Ado-Odo/Ota and seconded by a former Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Olalekan Adebanjo.
The event also featured a unanimous endorsement of Tinubu’s second-term ambition by the coalition of support groups and dignitaries present.
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