Ogun State Is Not Ondo State, Ladi Adebutu Is Not Eyitayo Jegede – Deji Babington-Ashaye

What they are doing in Ogun State was what they did in Ondo State in 2016. In Ondo State, they worked against the interest of the party and the gubernatorial candidate, Barr Eyitayo Jegede.

They presented through compromised judiciary, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim as the candidate of the PDP in Ondo. The INEC obliged and published the name of Jimoh Ibrahim against validly elected Jegede. The court processes began.

They applied all methods to frustrate the flow of court proceedings. Just like they are doing in Ogun state, they marshalled all manner of nonsense arguments claiming Jimoh Ibrahim was the rightful candidate.

Jegede was well loved by the people and they wanted him. But Jegede made a mistake. He stopped campaigning because he was not sure he would feature in the election. He sought the judiciary to return to him his candidacy. He was uncertain what the outcome of the legal abracadabra engineered Jimoh Ibrahim who belonged to Buruji Kashamu group would be.

By the time the judiciary gave its final judgement, it was too late for Jegede to campaign. The judgement was delivered 48 hours to the gubernatorial election. Where would he go to. Who would he talk to. What would he do? No doubt, it was too late for campaign.

When the court gave its ruling in favour of Jegede, Jimoh Ibrahim and his fellow Judases from Ogun State declared support for Rotimi Akeredolu and APC.

That act immediately confirmed the information at party leaders disposal that these people are APC agents of destabilisation.

Consequently, Jegede and PDP lost the Ondo guber election to Rotimi Akeredolu and APC.

What was Jimoh Ibrahim and his camp’s reaction to the loss? After PDP lost the election, Jimoh Ibrahim confessed that they intentionally wasted efforts of PDP and Jegede by dragging them into court issues. Can u imagine?

They threw a party to that effect. They were happy they played their part successfully. They were happy PDP lost Ondo. They rejoiced endlessly.

That is exactly the scenario they want to repeat here in Ogun State.

They instituted legal frustration into the PDP political process. They caused inec through the active connivance of Professor Yemi Osibajo and Dapo Abiodun to publish Buruji Kashamu’s name and his men from Cambodia instead of Hon Ladi Adebutu and other candidates who were validly elected at the primaries duely conducted by the national body and witnessed by all necessary agencies.

Kashamu is not a member of PDP neither did he and others in his group participate in the party primaries held in 2018.

But Ladi Adebutu is wiser than them. Even though in court to get his mandate back, he has not stopped campaigning. Other legitimate candidates too are campaigning vigorously. They placed their hope in the judiciary. They are certain they will get justice. And they will surely get justice.

The illegal jungle camp is in disarray right now. They couldn’t believe Lado and others would maintain their campaign tempo. They wished Lado to stop campaigning and lose hope like Jegede.

They missed it. Ladi is not Jegede. This is Ogun State and not Ondo State. Ladi is a brave and bold lion leading a park of equally bold and brave lions. Justice can only be delayed, it can’t be denied. We will surely get justice.

Our campaign continues. Our political activities have further received orheptal boost. We can’t be intimidated. We can’t be suppressed. We can’t be oppressed. We can’t be distracted. We wont allow distraction. We will forge ahead. The project is not Ladi’s, its God’s project.

Ogun people should not waiver in their faith in Lado. Party faithfuls should remain steadfast. Artisans, traders, students, okada riders, workers, transporters, traditionalists, sports lovers, sports men and women, teachers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, bankers, unemployed youths should tarry and maintain an unshakeable article of faith in the emergence of Adebutu as the governor of Ogun state. Lado is the rightful choice.

Its just a matter of time, we shall overcome these agents of APC. God being on our side, we will, certainly, laugh last.

For me and family, we trust in God. We hold on to the candidacy of Ladi Adebutu as the governor of Ogun State in 2019.

So shall it be.

Adedeji Babington-Ashaye writes from Ogere Remo, Ogun State.