Ex-envoy seeks end to hostile succession in Ogun

The immediate past Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Isola, has said unity among leaders is needed to enable a transition in governance for sustainable development.

He explained that eight years was insufficient for any comprehensive state development hence the need to bridge “political division and hostile succession.

Isola, stated this on Tuesday while speaking with newsmen after receiving an Outstanding Nigerian Diplomat award at the 2024 World Radio Day celebration organized by the Ogun state chapter of Freelancer and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria.

The ex high commissioner, while calling for unity noted that Ogun should be commended for being politically conscious, adding that money has never influenced elections in the state as the “highest spender always loses in elections.”

“ Let us all be an apostle,  I am appealing let us have peace in this state so that the peace will lead to a sustained development like I said eight years is not enough to develop any society talk more of a state but a sustainable development where this one would come spend 8 years and the next would come and continue from where they stopped and before you know we have a twenty four years of sustained development.

“ I implore everyone both indigenes and residence should rise up and look for a way to close the political division and ensure that hostile succession becomes a thing of past in our state.

“ We must appreciate one thing Ogun is highly sophisticated In Ogun money has never influenced election in Ogun state the highest spender has always lost election in Ogun so to me the people are politically conscious and highly enlightened.

 Speaking about the importance of radio, he stressed its reach, particularly in rural areas, highlighting its influence as a potent medium for spreading messages throughout Nigeria.

As a guest speaker at the occasion, former Deputy Inspector General of Police DIG Johnson Kokumo emphasised that many forms of insecurity, like as kidnapping, banditry, murder, piracy, cultism, and bombings, are present in every region of Nigeria. 

He urged communities to take responsibility for combating crime and called on radio presenters to use their platform in the fight against criminal activities, and highlighting the pervasive nature of insecurity across the nation. 

Others in attendance are the wife of Ogun state governor, Bamidele Abiodun, represented by the wife of Permanent Secretary of state Ministry of Health; The Akarigbo and Paramount ruler of Remo land, HRM Oba Babatunde Ajayi, the senator representing Ogun West at National Assembly, Sen. Olamilekan Adeola, represented by his media aide, Dr. Yemi Bamgbose; DIG Rtd, Babatunde Kokumo; Chairman Fresh FM Nigeria, Dr. Yinka Ayefele, represented by the Deputy GM Fresh FM Abeokuta, Adeyinka Adegbite; the Registrar of College of Broadcasting Abeokuta (COBAB) Fatahi Akinbola, Media Experts and others.