Otunba Segun Showunmi, a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Alternative, has told people in Ogun state to reject what he calls “state capture” that is being sold as political consensus.
On Monday, Governor Dapo Abiodun and other leaders of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) agreed on Solomon Adeola (Yayi) as the party’s candidate for governor in the next election.
The APC strategic caucus meeting at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta made the decision known.
Showunmi wrote a piece on Tuesday called “From Magbon to Now: We Will Not Be Conquered. Ogun’s Line in the Sand: Resistance to State Capture.” He warned that a crude tool of control is destroying the state’s long-standing reputation for independent thought.
He questioned the validity of the political system, saying that “consensus” is a valid way for a party to make decisions, but it becomes an act of imposition when it lacks honesty.
Showunmi called the political process that was happening a “humiliation” for the voters. He said that the arrogance of those trying to impose their will must be met with a renewed resolve from the grassroots.
The Odofin Keesi were worried that the people who are trying to control the state right now don’t have a clear record of public service or private behavior.
He said, “Yes, a political party has the right to choose how it works internally, even if that means using “consensus” as its main way of doing things. But in every serious political system where consensus is respected, it is built on one thing: integrity. If that doesn’t happen, consensus turns into imposition.
“That’s exactly the problem we have. People who are now trying to force this deal on Ogun State have no proof of honesty in their private lives, public service, or any clear understanding of what it means to be a good governor. In these situations, what is being called consensus is really a rough tool for control.
“This is how the state gets taken over.” And it must be fought against. So we face a defining test: not just the arrogance of those who want to force their will, but also the determination or complicity of a people who were once known for their independence.
The PDP leader said that Ogun State’s history is defined by its ability to challenge established systems, from the fall of the Oyo Empire to the present day.
“We can’t accept the status of a conquered people in this generation, especially in a democracy.”
He said, “No reason of political convenience, party loyalty, or made-up inevitability is enough to force a free people back into slavery.”
