Ogun ACN Primaries: Abiola’s Son Dropped for Osoba’s

By Timothy Odedina

There was pandemonium at the state secretariat of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as the party’s proposed primaries for the House of Representatives seat in the Odeda/Abeokuta North/Obafemi Owode Federal Constituency ended in a free-for-all.

The crisis erupted shortly after the son of former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Mr. Olumide Osoba, was announced as the party’s candidate for the constituency.

Osoba’s emergence came at the expense of Mr. Jamiu Lekan, son of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, who had earlier been tipped to contest the federal constituency on the platform of the party.

Trouble started when the state chairman of the ACN, Alhaji Tajudeen Bello, announced that the party would not conduct a primary election but would adopt a consensus arrangement.

The announcement was immediately opposed by some party members, particularly those who had recently joined the ACN and insisted that the party should allow members to determine its candidates through a proper primary election.

The disagreement soon degenerated into violence as irate youths believed to be loyal to one of the governorship aspirants from Ogun Central Senatorial District reportedly went on the rampage.

Furniture was reportedly thrown around while the public address system and other facilities at the party secretariat were damaged.

Party leaders and supporters reportedly scampered for safety as the situation worsened, while some party chieftains were held hostage for several hours.

The arrival of policemen at the secretariat failed to immediately restore normalcy as some of the youths continued to threaten to set the party secretariat ablaze.

Meanwhile, three members of the Ogun State House of Assembly who had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ACN were handed the party’s tickets to contest the 2011 election.

The defectors were Mr. Remi Hazzan, Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly; Mr. Pelumi Olusola; and Mrs. Adijat Adeleye.

They were to contest the Odogbolu, Remo North and Ifo II State Constituencies, respectively, on the platform of the ACN.

Soyinka promises to rebuild Ogun

In a related development, an ACN governorship aspirant, Mr. Kayode Soyinka, has pledged to rebuild Ogun State and restore what he described as its lost glory.

Soyinka made the declaration while formally announcing his intention to contest the governorship election, assuring that he was committed to providing purposeful leadership in the state.

He said his administration, if elected, would build on the achievements of previous administrations while introducing a new vision capable of positioning Ogun State to meet the realities of the modern world.

«“My dream is to build on the successes of the past with a new vision aimed at bringing back the lost glories of our dear Ogun State and keep it abreast with the reality of the new world.”»

Soyinka also acknowledged the contributions of past leaders of the state, including former Governor Chief Segun Osoba, to the development of Ogun State.

He appealed to progressive forces in the state to support his aspiration and the ACN, saying his administration would focus particularly on the transformation of the education, housing, health and agricultural sectors.