Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Isola, has lamented the recurring hostility that trails every governorship succession in Ogun State, warning that the pattern risks trapping the state in a cycle of stagnation.
Isola made the remarks during a Twitter Space session on Wednesday, where he spoke on governance, politics, and national issues.
He said Ogun State had suffered repeated setbacks because successive administrations failed to build on their predecessors’ achievements, describing the state’s transition pattern since 1999 as “hostile and counterproductive.”
“What we need in Ogun State is continuity of policy and an end to hostile succession,” he said. “Wherever one government stops, another should continue, building on the foundation already laid. This hostility every eight years is taking us backwards.”
He noted that no sitting governor in Ogun had since 1999 handed over power smoothly to a successor, adding that the absence of continuity had hindered long-term planning and sustainable development across key sectors.
“There is a good plan in Ogun State, but what truncates it is hostile transition,” he said. “That is why I want everyone—Muslims and Christians—to pray that Governor Dapo Abiodun becomes the first governor to hand over peacefully to his successor. Since 1999, no governor has done that. No matter how beautiful a development plan is, you can’t complete it in eight years. If we don’t end this hostility, we’ll never move at the pace we should.”
The former envoy expressed hope that a peaceful transition in 2027 would mark “a new chapter in Ogun’s political history” and strengthen public trust in the state’s leadership process.
He also cautioned against divisive political slogans such as “Ijebu lokan, Egba lokan, and Yewa lokan”, describing them as dangerous to unity.
“Leadership should not be based on sentiment,” he said. “It should be based on character, capacity, and capability. Ogun needs leaders who are fair-minded and godly, not those driven by primordial interests.”
Isola, who hails from Abeokuta, urged political actors to embrace a “collaborative political culture” where leaders of different blocs work together for the state’s collective progress.
“Every ongoing project is funded by Ogun State’s resources,” he said. “So, there must be continuity and completion of such projects. Even if you rule for eight years, can you fully develop a village in eight years, let alone a state?”
The former diplomat also spoke on his efforts to address infrastructure challenges, particularly the deteriorating roads in Ogun West caused by heavy-duty trucks engaged in cross-border trade.
He revealed that, as High Commissioner, he initiated discussions on a proposed rail network to ease pressure on the roads and stimulate regional commerce.
“A feasibility study has been conducted, and I had briefed both the late former President Buhari and President Bola Tinubu on the project,” he said. “The rail line will reduce the burden on Ogun West roads and open the area to further development.”
Isola’s comments come amid growing political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 elections in Ogun State, where rival blocs within the All Progressives Congress are already positioning for succession.
While some analysts see him as a potential contender in the coming race, Isola maintained that his concern was not personal ambition but the need for good governance and sustainable development.
“We are not talking about who becomes governor,” he said. “It’s about ending Ogun’s culture of hostile succession and ensuring the state continues to grow.”
