IJEBU-ODE — In politics, there are those who show up to do the work, and those who show up to be seen doing something. What played out at the gate of Adeola Odutola Hall during the APC stakeholders’ meeting in Ijebu-Ode was a textbook example of the latter.

By now, the viral videos are everywhere: a convoy halted at the gate, raised voices, a suggestion of exclusion. It is a compelling visual—carefully framed, emotionally charged, and entirely misleading.

Because the real story is far less dramatic, and far more instructive.

I was there.

I arrived before 10:00 a.m., well ahead of the scheduled 11:00 a.m. meeting. The rules were already clear and being enforced without exception: no vehicles inside the premises. Everyone—regardless of status—parked outside and walked in. Simple. Orderly. Respectful.

Then came the convoy of Gbenga Daniel.

What followed was not a denial of entry, but a refusal to comply.

Protocol officers did not bar the Senator. They did not exclude him. They offered a straightforward option: step out of the vehicle, walk in with a limited number of aides, and take your seat among other stakeholders. It was the same condition accepted without fuss by figures like Tokunbo Talabi, Senator Lekan Mustapha, and Senator Gbenga Kaka.

But compliance, it seemed, was not the objective.

The insistence was not just on entry—but on spectacle. A full convoy. A crowd. A moment.

And conveniently, cameras were already rolling.

This is where the incident shifts from misunderstanding to strategy. Because what unfolded at that gate bore all the hallmarks of political theatre: a pre-arranged audience, a predictable script, and a ready-made narrative of victimhood.

The timing alone raises questions. Why arrive more than an hour early with a large entourage for a stakeholders’ meeting? Why escalate a situation over a rule that everyone else had quietly obeyed? Why ensure that the cameras captured every second of the standoff?

The answer is as obvious as the videos now circulating online.

If you cannot control the outcome inside the room, you attempt to control the narrative outside it.

And inside that room, the outcome was decisive.

While the drama played out at the gate, stakeholders within the hall conducted their business—calmly, deliberately, and without distraction. When the issue of the 2027 Ogun East Senatorial seat arose, the response was not fragmented or contested. It was unanimous. Governor Dapo Abiodun received the collective endorsement of party leaders.

That is the story that truly matters.

Not the optics of a gate, but the substance of a consensus.

This is not even an isolated pattern. A similar episode reportedly occurred during the visit of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Ogun State—again involving early arrival, crowd pressure, and questions around protocol. When repetition becomes a pattern, it ceases to be coincidence.

It becomes method.

None of this diminishes the stature of Senator Daniel. But stature in politics is not measured by the length of a convoy or the volume of a crowd. It is measured by the ability to work within structures, build consensus, and command respect among peers.

On that count, the contrast in Ijebu-Ode was stark.

At the gate, there was noise.

Inside the hall, there was decision.

At the gate, there was performance.

Inside the hall, there was politics.

And in the end, it is not the loudest moment that defines the future—it is the quiet agreement that follows.

The next chapter of Ogun East politics was not written in front of cameras. It was written where it has always mattered most: among those willing to sit, engage, and decide.

Everything else was just a show.

Abiodeye is a member of Youth for Good Governance, Ogun State Branch.

PRESS STATEMENT
From: Okun Development Association (ODA)

The Okun Development Association (ODA), on behalf of Okun sons and daughters worldwide, extend sincere appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
GCFR, for the appointment of Prof. Joash Amupitan SAN, as Chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission. (INEC). We receive this decision as a clear
endorsement of competence and character, and as a call to national service, anchored on
merit. The confidence reposed in Prof. Amupitan SAN, is an honour to Okunland, to Kogi
State, and to every Nigerian who believes that public office should reward integrity and
capacity.

ODA declares, without reservations, our unflinching support for Prof. Joash Amupitan
SAN, as he assumes leadership of INEC at a defining moment in our nation’s democratic
journey. His public and academic record reflect uncommon discipline, fidelity to due
process, and abiding respect for institutions. In every assignment he has handled, Prof.
Amupitan SAN, has shown the temperament, intellectual depth, and moral courage
required to manage sensitive national duties with fairness and firmness. We are assured
that these qualities will guide his stewardship of the Commission.

Prof. Joash Amupitan SAN, personifies the values Okunland holds dear: honesty, hard
work, humility, and service above self. As a scholar, he has raised generations of
Nigerians who today serve in critical sectors of our society. As an administrator, he has
built systems that outlast individuals.

His commitment to strong, impartial institutions is exactly what INEC requires to
consolidate public trust. We are confident that under his leadership, the Commission will
discharge its constitutional mandate without fear or favour, and that his tenure will
strengthen the credibility of our electoral process.

ODA is mindful that the office of INEC Chairman will always attract intense public
scrutiny. While such scrutiny is part of democracy, we respectfully remind all
stakeholders, political actors, and concerned citizens that Nigeria’s constitutional order
provides established channels for resolving disputes. We therefore urge any aggrieved
parties to ventilate their concerns through the appropriate legal and institutional
mechanisms. We call for restraint in public commentary and ask all Nigerians to grant
Prof. Amupitan the calm and institutional space needed to serve the nation with neutrality,
courage and desired result.

The Okun Development Association reaffirms its commitment to national unity,
democratic stability, and the success of the Tinubu administration. We assure the
President and the Nigerian people that Prof. Joash Amupitan SAN, will discharge his
responsibilities with honour, will bring credibility and candour to his office, to Okunland,
and to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We request the prayers and goodwill of all citizens
as he undertakes this solemn duty for the nation.

God bless Okunland.
God bless Kogi State.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Signed:

Amb. (Chief) Akenson Rotimi
President General,
Okun Development Association.
President-General: Amb. Akenson Rotimi
08075259447

Former Chairman of Agege Local Government, Hon. Kola Egunjobi, has emerged as a strong contender for the House of Representatives, with his extensive record of road construction and rehabilitation projects widely cited as a key reason he deserves to represent Agege Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber.

During his tenure in Agege, Lagos State, Egunjobi initiated and delivered a broad range of road projects aimed at improving connectivity and stimulating local economic activities.

These projects, executed through new construction, rehabilitation, and interlocking stone paving, were strategically spread across the council area to address critical infrastructure gaps and long-standing community needs.

Notably, his administration constructed several new roads, including: Awori/Adesokan Street, Union Road in Dopemu, Alagbigba Street with streetlights, and Taiwo Street, also equipped with streetlights.

Similarly, Oniwaya Market Road, Sanni Omomeji Street, Abudu Oladejo Street, Shodipo Street, Ishola Yusuf Street, and Ogunjobi Street were completed, thereby easing movement and enhancing commercial access within key parts of the locality.

Furthermore, the administration rehabilitated Ashade Ogba Road, while also extending development to: Majaro Street, Oshungboye Keke Road, Humani Street, Onibeju Street, Imam Ojoku Street, Alowonle Street, and Ajibose Street. In the same vein, projects such as Elicana Phase 1, Ajakaiye Street, Arigidi/Sonaya Street, Adegbola Street, Adeniyi Street, Onilude Street, Okanlawon Street, Old Union Street, Onafuwa Street, and Abolore Phase 1 were successfully delivered.

In addition, construction works covered Anuoluwapo Street, Ashafa Street, Oredapo Street, Mayaka Street, Sarumi Alawo Street, Akerele Street, Ashiata Street, Abeje Street, Ashaolu Street, and Kosoko Street.

Significantly, Adebari Street was both constructed and interlocked, while Olowo Street benefitted from a combination of construction, installation of streetlights, and the provision of a security house, reflecting a comprehensive approach to infrastructure and safety.

Residents and stakeholders have continued to acknowledge the impact of these projects.

A community leader noted that the roads “greatly improved accessibility and supported economic activities across several neighbourhoods,” adding that many previously inaccessible areas have now been opened up.

Consequently, political observers maintain that Egunjobi’s infrastructure footprint underscores his administrative capacity and grassroots appeal.

They argued that his performance in office provides a solid foundation for legislative representation.

As the contest for the Green Chamber intensifies, supporters insist that his track record in road development remains a defining factor, positioning him as a candidate capable of attracting meaningful progress and sustained development for Agege at the national level.