Politics
Details As Dapo Abiodun’s Main Men Quarrel
Before now there were four people with unrestricted access to the Governor
Two of the top men in the political camp of the Governor of Ogun State Dapo Abiodun are at odds.
They are Tunji Egbetokun and Tokunbo Talabi.
Talabi is the silent billionaire who set aside his status to impact on the Government of Abiodun as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) while Egbetokun a former Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters.
Egbetokun drew his influence from the closeness to the Governor cultivated based on the front row role he played in the fierce 2019 gubernatorial election. He retained the influence as Abiodun’s chief warrior in publicly taking on opponents and traducers until recently.
Talabi’s power is drawn from pre-election personal rapport with the Governor and the expertise he has brought to bear on how Ogun state is being governed.
Societynow.ng gathered that while Talabi’s influence grows based on increasing responsibilities, Egbetokun’s wane as more players in the government and the Governor’s political family grow bolder in taking on opponents.
“It is a case of possessing skills for tasks any other person can take on, It was clear there will inevitably be loss of relevance sooner or later but Egbetokun is not seeing it that way” societynow.ng gathered.
The former Speaker who is increasingly losing access to Governor Abiodun is said to be particularly blaming the Secretary to the State Government for his “situation”.
“Egbetokun reportedly told Talabi to desist from working against his interest with the Governor but the latter was reportedly calm and gentlemanly about the accusation” societynow.ng learned.
The SSG and the Chief of Staff Salisu Shaib Afolabi are labeled the closest persons to the Governor at present.
The checks by societynow.ng revealed that before now there were four people with unrestricted access to the Governor and they were Talabi, Salisu, Egbetokun, and the Finance Commissioner Dapo Okubadejo.
The last two had dropped in the order of influence with Egbetokun with the least influence.
The down side of this development for the Governor is that it takes point from strong he is able to withstand increasing opposition, especially as galvanized by former Governor Ibikunle Amosun ahead the 2023 election.
“The Governor needs all hands on deck, for every members of his team to work together to bring more supports not to dwindle it” Societynow.ng learned
