Barely four days after the demise of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Ogun State, Professor David Bamgbose, politicians in the State have refused to mourn the departed soul.
DAILY POST correspondent learnt that Bamgbose, who was a diabetes patient, might have died from likely complications, especially as he was busy moving from one place to another over his 2023 political ambition.
Bamgbose’s untimely death came as a rude shock to all Ogun residents who heard his voice on different radio stations a few days before he gave up the ghost.
However, his fellow politicians are yet to commiserate with his family.
In a list of candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ogun has no fewer than 13 governorship candidates/
DAILY POST reports that as of Monday morning, none of the other governorship candidates has issued a statement to mourn Bamgbose and sympathise with his family.
Apart from the Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Olaposi Oginni, who has reacted to the death of the Professor, others have turned blind eyes, going about their political activities as though nothing had happened.
Beyond politics, many Ogun residents see Bamgbose as an educationist, who had contributed in no small measure to the growth of education in Ogun State.
He was the proprietor of different private schools in Ogun State, including the Yewa Central College of Education, Abeokuta.
“Even if nobody will honour him in the area of politics, I think he should be honoured for his contributions to the development of the Gateway State. This is more than politics. We are all going to die one day; the date and time, nobody knows,” an Ogun indigene told DAILY POST anonymously.
Our correspondent observed that the House of Assembly member, the House of Representatives member and the Senator representing Bamgbose’s Yewa North and Ogun West are yet to say a word about his demise.
“This may be because they are members of different political parties, to which Bamgbose did not belong,” an analyst, Adeyemi Samod, said.
Apart from individuals and parties, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Ogun State has also not deemed it fit to send words to the family of Bamgbose, his party and the people of the State over the loss.
A leader of the Action Alliance (AA) in Ogun State, Chief Dapo Adeyemi, said everything depends on the different parties’ preferences.
“I think it depends on the different parties’ preferences. I am aware that some parties have expressed their sympathies, while some individuals have done so on various social media,” Adeyemi said in an interview with our correspondent.
Meanwhile, some residents of Ogun State are of the opinion that the situation would not have remained the same if Bamgbose were one of those who have held political offices in the past.
“We were all here when Senator Buruji Kashamu died. Almost all the politicians in Ogun mourned him. They issued statements and took turns to visit his family. Maybe Bamgbose was not that popular. But we need to know that this man was a governorship candidate.
“His fellow candidates should be shocked and they should know it could be anybody. Maybe we will not witness any of such death again in Ogun State,” an Abeokuta indigene, Goke Samuel stated.
Bamgbose’s 2023 ambitions
DAILY POST reports that Bamgbose was a governorship aspirant under the PDP, before he stepped down for Adebutu in April.
He was the only senatorial aspirant of the party in Ogun West, winning the ticket unopposed.
In July, the Yewa North indigene withdrew from the senatorial race, saying it was a sacrifice he made based on the request of the party leadership in Ogun.
But, the deceased came out on August 27, saying he did not step down for Ganiyu Dada of his own volition.
He alleged that his name was substituted without his consent.
“I started my aspiration on the platform of the PDP but when I saw the acrimony and disunity, I decided to step down. I stepped down my governorship aspiration for Hon. Ladi Adebutu and despite the huge amount I spent on my ambition as an aspirant, I didn’t demand anything from Adebutu.
“I decided to pursue a senatorial ticket from Ogun West. I purchased the form. I participated in the PDP primary. We were asked to pay millions of Naira to purchase the form. I won the primary election. Shortly after the primary election, Hon. Adebutu decided to go and substitute my name behind me,” he said.
But in his reaction then, the media aide to Adebutu, Afolabi Orekoya, faulted Bamgbose’s claim, saying he was the one who willingly withdrew his ambition.
“It is so disheartening for someone who is expected to be a leader and someone who aspires to represent the interest of the good people of Ogun State to be mischievous and tell lies just for undue political gains,” Orekoya had said.
He maintained that the deceased fulfilled all INEC requirements for substitution of candidates without the involvement of Adebutu, saying it was purely a discussion between the party leadership and Bamgbose.
Politics taken too far: APC, PDP, others snub Ogun guber candidate, Bamgbose in death
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