By  FEMI AKINLADE
As early as 9 a.m. last Tuesday, the Ilaro venue of the political rally organized by the elders of the Ogun West Senatorial District for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Chief Adetunji Olurin, was filled with a crowd of party supporters and people of the area who trooped out in celebration of a dream about to be fulfilled.

Political rally organized by the elders of the Ogun West Senatorial District for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Gen Adetunji Olurin

Party members  from the two other senatorial districts – Ogun Central and Ogun East – also trooped to the multi-purpose hall, Ilaro to give their  support.

Since  the creation of Ogun State over 30 years ago, the Ogun West Senatorial District,  populated by the Yewa/Awori people, has remained the only zone  that has not  produced a governor for the state. This development has  since 2003 heightened agitation in the area.

The emergence of Olurin, a former military administrator of Oyo State and a former Commander of ECOMOG, as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun for  the forthcoming general election, was, however, seen by the people as a dream on the path of fulfillment. It was, therefore, not surprising the ecstasy and wild jubilation that pervaded the environment as the people of Ilaro and  environs awaited the arrival of their son. Ilaro  is the headquarters of the Ogun West Senatorial District and the former ECOMOG commander is one of the illustrious sons of the area.

Notable PDP leaders that spoke at the rally, organised  by the Ogun West Elders Forum, commended the party members for their loyalty and support for Olurin despite the happenings in the Ogun State PDP.

They  maintained that there was no crisis in the state PDP  while describing what is happening there  as an internal affair that would soon be addressed amicably.

In his remark at the gathering, a PDP leader in Ogun West Senatorial District, Mr. Shehu Oladunjoye,  urged members of the party to remain steadfast. Apparently making reference to the sponsored political rally which held simultaneously in Abeokuta, against former President Olusegun Obasanjo by the PDP faction headed by Chief Joju Fadairo, over the issue of PDP candidates list before the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oladunjoye stressed that the parallel rally was a boost to the rally in Ilaro.

Speaking in the same vein, the president of Yewa Youth Forum, Mr. Solomon Ayoola, called for unity among members of the party, while stressing the need to ensure that opposition parties did not take advantage of the situation of things in Ogun PDP. He, therefore, urged leaders of the party to ensure that all the aggrieved members of the party are brought together in the interest of peace and unity.

Addressing the gathering, the running mate to Olurin,  Tunde Oladunjoye,  thanked the members of the PDP  for their support,  noting that it was an indication that the party  is waxing stronger in the state.

He stated that Olurin had proved his mettle in Oyo where he was appointed as a military administrator and in Ekiti State, where he worked as an administrator, during the declaration of a state of emergency in the state in October 2006, among other numerous appointments.

The arrival of Olurin into the arena at about 1 p.m. elicited wild jubilation among the crowd who clustered round his motorcade singing. While addressing the crowd, the gubernatorial candidate  described his incursion into the politics of the state as a “rescue mission” and restated his commitment to advancing the course of the state, while appealing to those who are aggrieved with the outcome of the primaries conducted in the state on the need to forget their differences and work together in the interest of the party and that of the state.

According to him: “We are on a rescue mission and we must rescue the people of Ogun State from poverty, we must rescue them from whatever that have entangled them. We must rescue them from those maligning them. We must rescue them from those threatening their lives and, at the end of the day, there will be victory”.

He reiterated his determination at ensuring the transformation of the state and vowed to sustain the goodwill of the people of the state and ensure that their hopes and aspirations for good governance are met.

“We will win to rebuild Ogun State to the lost glory. I will hold the solidarity to the end, there is no going back. There is no shaking. I am not afraid of anybody. We stand firm and we are not here to abuse anybody or group,” Olurin stated.

Olurin, who commended the Ogun West Elders Forum, for organizing the rally, told journalists shortly after the rally that the programme was not the commencement of his official flag off of campaign.

The candidate, who described the people of the state as part of the success story, vowed to serve the people selflessly and conscientiously, while appealing to them to vote massively for the PDP during the general elections.

A political analyst in Ogun State, and a stalwart of the National Democratic Forum, Mr. Jide Ojedokun, while speaking shortly after the rally, lauded the emergence of Olurin as the governorship candidate of the party in the state.

Ojedokun, who lamented the present division in the PDP in the state, urged Olurin to use his wealth of experience as an administrator to unite most especially all the members of the party for the forthcoming political challenges.