The Ogun State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dapo Abiodun, has revealed that he was the brain behind Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s win as he helped him with a whopping $1million.
He made the shocking revelations in a now viral video which captured him addressing some party leaders and supporters in the state.
The oil mogul, and a known friend of Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, spoke in Yoruba language and described Amosun as a betrayer, who has acted like an ingrate despite all he did for him.
Abiodun recalled that after he lost the 2015 Ogun East senatorial election to Senator Buruji Kashamu of the PDP, Amosun promised that he would nominate him for a ministerial slot to compensate him for his contributions to federal and state campaigns.
His words:
“Before the campaign, I facilitated electricity for some areas in Ogun waterside. I bought buses for traditional rulers, Christian and Muslim leaders. You would think I was running for governor.
“But I did this because party members were not receiving support; they were getting tired and needed encouragement. As it happened, we lost. Everyone was surprised; we worked hard, we spent money.
“We went to the Tribunal and won but Kashamu went to see them at the top. So we lost the appeal. Amosun made no contribution; never showed care or concern while we were struggling to win back my mandate.
“After that, Amosun told me not to worry that I will be the minister from Ogun state. It later became clear that he simply made that comment just to send me away.
“At this time, his (governorship) election was two weeks away. I asked him what he would give House of Assembly candidates to assist their campaigns as well as to help him mobilize the grassroots for victory. We have 11 Assembly positions in my district (Ogun East).
“Amosun replied that he would send them N1million each. I protested. I told him that would not achieve anything but he didn’t listen. I personally gave those 11 candidates N10million each.
“Then I, despite losing my own election, I personally gave Amosun $1million which was N220m then. We were up against a powerful PDP and I didn’t want APC to be disgraced.
“Amosun won election and abandoned me. He did not offer me any slot in his government. He didn’t even say ‘Dapo, bring sweeper or cleaners for employment’. He made someone else (Kemi Adeosun) the minister.
“Recently, he begged me that I should come and take senatorial ticket. I said but he knows I have governorship ambition. I then asked who he had in mind to succeed him. Amosun said he was still thinking but that he wants to bring someone from CBN.
“I asked why would he do that. You want to bring someone who doesn’t even know party people to lead them? He is fighting me now because I want to be governor.”
It may be recalled that the APC National Working Committee (NWC), last week, affirmed Abiodun as the winner of the Ogun governorship primaries.
The announcement came hours after Adekunle Akinlade, member of the House of Representatives (Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency), was declared as the winner of the primary by Ogun APC.
Akinlade was the preferred candidate of Governor Amosun, who has been cleared to contest the Ogun Central senatorial election in 2019.
