Fresh cracks may be emerging within political ranks in the Oke-Ogun Community of Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State following a recent meeting of community and party leaders, an undercover investigation has revealed.
As reported, the meeting which was said to have been attended by several political leaders, and party faithful from different wards in the Oke-Ogun area, reportedly exposed deep-seated grievances over political representation, distribution of political appointments and the next House of Assembly race in the constituency.
Sources who attended the meeting who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that the gathering, initially convened to discuss unity and political direction within the community, but many of the attendees perceived the gathering as a strategic move aimed at rallying Oke-Ogun leaders behind the second term ambition of the lawmaker, representing Abeokuta North in the House of Assembly, Hon. Tunde Tella.
Information had it that some leaders claimed the gathering looked like an attempt to win leaders over with money, which they said Hon. Tella had not been used to support grassroots political activities in the community in the past three years, therefore turned into a heated debate as some members openly questioned the leadership and political ambitions of the lawmaker, Hon. Tunde Tella.
According to insiders, some members alleged that the interests of Egba indigenes in the Oke-Ogun community had not been adequately protected in the allocation of political appointments and empowerment opportunities, accused the lawmaker of adopting what they described as a “divide-and-rule” approach to politics within the Oke-Ogun Community.
A source present at the meeting claimed that the situation became more intense when a female participant, identified as Funke Obasami, reportedly voiced strong objections and insisted that members should openly express their concerns rather than accept what she described as attempts to pacify aggrieved stakeholders.
Despite efforts by some leaders to calm tensions and persuade members to maintain unity, sources disclosed that the meeting also witnessed subtle declarations of interest by some individuals believed to be eyeing the Abeokuta North State Assembly seat.
One participant from Ward 15 was said to have hinted that he might support an aspirant from another Egba community if consensus could not be reached within Oke-Ogun.
Insiders further alleged that discussions during and after the meeting also touched on concerns about changes in party structures at the ward level, with claims that some executives had been replaced with loyalists particularly from the Egbado extraction of Oke Ogun against the Egba's, a development that some stakeholders reportedly described as highly disciminatory and controversial..
Sources also hinted that several aspirants from communities including Gbagura, Oke-Ona, Oke-Ogun and Owu may soon join the race for the Assembly seat, suggesting that the political contest in Abeokuta North could become more competitive in the coming months.
