Ogun 2027: Why Egbas should not claim ‘Awalokan’ – Segun Sowunmi

 

A political leader and former spokesperson of Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Chief Segun Sowunmi, has said the people of Egba should not be the ones claiming Awa lokan in 2027.

Sowunmi said this on Monday while addressing newsmen at his Ibara residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The 2023 governorship aspirant said it is irresponsible and annoying for the Egbas or any other race to give the impression that it is superior to others.

“I mean this and I want you to report it, I consider it the most irresponsible and annoying 2027 narrative for any race or any tribe or any section, especially the Egbas, to give the impression that they are a super race within this state. They are not. This state is a state that mostly came about as a result of migration,” he said.

He proceeded that the Egba people are only enjoying the administrative convenience of being made the capital. 

“As much as I am an Egba man, I do not like this idea that the Egbas are approaching 2027 in an unnecessarily entitled manner. I believe that if anybody would be entitled or even be screaming entitlement, it is the prerogative of the Yewa people who have never been governor for almost 50 years.

“We are not under obligation to dash them the governorship. No! We gave them tickets many times, but they didn't make it. Nobody stopped them from voting for their children. But you have to balance society. I am an Egba man. I want to be governor; I definitely want to be governor. I want to even subject them to the ideas of what they want to do in governance. But I don't believe that we will have to convert the Egbas into the Fulani of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because of carelessness in saying Awa lokan, Awa lokan, as if anybody has ever deprived them. 

“Osoba was governor here, the baton passed. Ibikunle Amosun was governor here. The baton is now with Dapo Abiodun. Now we should be talking in a way that accommodates all of Ogun. And if the Yewa people can negotiate, persuade, encourage and demonstrate readiness, why not?” Sowunmi disclosed.

The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain stated that it offends him to his soul some people are using their private ambition to put a target behind the back of the Egbas.

“If you do an internal census to date, anywhere you have put a state capital, they cannot comfortably be sure that the people that are living in that state capital and the voters of that state capital are uniquely their people. Therefore, we will discuss 2027 by the end of 2025, so that the governor can even have a good two years to work. No man will be governing a state and the only thing you'll be hearing is, Egba lokan, Yayi lokan, and you will not be distracting him. Because politicians, being who they are, will start creating unnecessary camps. If you greet Yayi now, you are their enemy. If you shake Dapo Abiodun, you are their enemy. How can we be doing that when the fundamental issues of development requiring attention in the state are there for us to see? So, that is my honest, genuine, absolute, well-considered answer there. 

“Anybody who wants to be governor in Ogun State should please let us give the state one more year. You can be preparing on the inside. After all, you are planning and God is planning and God is the best of planners. But after one year, we would have had two years of correct governance without distraction. Then we can start talking about it.

“A man who does not know whether he will last until next week is acting as if he has already sold the garment to be governor in 2027. Do you know what can happen in the next few minutes? So, if we get to that bridge, we will cross it. But may God let Ogun State win,” he submitted.