….Ex-governor Urges Supporters To Respect SolemnionlOf Funeral
…Says Only God knows Ogun’s Next Governor
Daud Olatunji
A solemn funeral service for the late Mrs Sabainah Ibironke Opawole, mother-in-law of former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, briefly turned into a political arena on Friday as supporters of the leading contenders in the 2027 Ogun State governorship race traded campaign slogans inside the church.
The development unfolded during the burial service held at Ibara Baptist Church, Abeokuta, where political heavyweights across party lines had gathered to honour the late matriarch.
The atmosphere became charged when the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, was invited to pay tribute to the deceased.
Almost immediately, his supporters broke into chants of “Say Lado for 2027” and “Ogun for Ogun,” openly canvassing support for his governorship ambition.
The chants were swiftly countered by supporters of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, who responded with solidarity songs in support of the Ogun West senator’s bid to succeed Governor Dapo Abiodun in 2027.
The exchange of political slogans momentarily overshadowed the solemn occasion, prompting Daniel to intervene and restore calm.
Addressing the congregation, the former governor urged supporters of both politicians to respect the sanctity of the church service and refrain from converting the burial into a political campaign ground.
“We are here to pay our last respects to my mother-in-law. This is not the appropriate place for political campaigns or slogans,” Daniel said.
In an apparent move to douse the rising political tension, Daniel invited Governor Dapo Abiodun to lead both Adebutu and Adeola onto the dancing floor, insisting that despite belonging to different political parties, they remained members of one political family in Ogun State.
Earlier in his remarks, Daniel cautioned against overheating the polity ahead of the 2027 governorship election, maintaining that only God knows who would eventually emerge victorious.
He said although political supporters had every right to express their preferences, elections in Ogun had traditionally been conducted without violence.
“Something tells me that by the time we come back here next year, somebody in this room would have become the governor of Ogun State. I don’t know who the person is. Maybe Governor Abiodun knows. Maybe Mrs Adeola knows. Maybe Mrs Amosun knows. Maybe Mrs Adebutu knows. I don’t know, but God knows who is going to be the next governor.
“In Ogun State, this is how we play politics. There is no violence. The pastors should not be worried because this is our democratic culture,” he added.
The burial attracted an array of prominent personalities, including Governor Abiodun, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, represented by his wife, Mrs Bola Obasanjo, former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, represented by his wife, Chief Olufunso Amosun, Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, and other political leaders.
In separate tributes, Obasanjo described the deceased as “a woman in a million” whose life embodied faith, grace and selfless service, while Governor Abiodun hailed her as a disciplined entrepreneur and devout Christian whose virtues were reflected in her children.
Former Governor Amosun also paid tribute to the late matriarch, describing her as a woman devoted to God, family and humanity.
Adebutu urged members of the family to sustain the legacy of kindness and service left behind by the deceased, while Adeola said her exemplary life could be seen in the achievements and character of her children.
