There are politicians that actually get things done and some who just turn up to make a statement, according to Ijebu-Ode. An excellent illustration of the latter was the situation that unfolded at the entrance of Adeola Odutola Hall during the APC stakeholders’ gathering in Ijebu-Ode.
A convoy stopped at the gate, shouts, and the hint of exclusion are all elements seen in the now-viral videos. It is an enthralling image—precisely composed, loaded with emotion, and completely deceiving.
Simply said, the truth is more illuminating and less dramatic.
It was me.
I was there before the meeting even started, which was 11:00 a.m. No automobiles allowed on the site; this was already an obvious and strictly enforced restriction. People of all social classes parked outside and made their way inside. No brainer. Orderly. Calm down.
Following that was Gbenga Daniel’s convoy.
Instead of being denied entry, what happened next was an unwillingness to comply.
The senator was not denied entry by the protocol officials. He was not left out. They gave you the easy way out: get out of the car, enter with a small entourage of helpers, and sit down with the other interested parties. Notable figures such as Tokunbo Talabi, Senator Lekan Mustapha, and Senator Gbenga Kaka also quietly accepted the same condition.
The goal, though, did not appear to be compliance.
Not only was entrance demanded, but so was spectacle. An entire caravan. Quite a few people. Hold on a second.
Luckily, filming had already begun.
At this point, the focus of the situation changes from confusion to tactics. For all the telltale signs of political theater—a predetermined script, an assembled audience, and a victim narrative—were present at that gate.
There are doubts based on the timing alone. For what reason should one show up to a meeting with stakeholders more than an hour early accompanied by a large group? When everyone else had subtly followed the norm, why make things worse? Why not make sure the cameras recorded the entire standoff?
The videos that are currently going viral online make the answer crystal clear.
You try to influence the story outside the chamber if you can’t influence the result inside.
The result was determined within the room.
Stakeholders within the hall went about their business as usual, unfazed by the commotion unfolding outside the gate. The reaction was cohesive and uncontested when the matter of the 2027 Ogun East Senatorial seat came up. Everyone agreed. Party bosses unanimously backed Governor Dapo Abiodun.
In the end, it’s that tale that counts.
Not the appearance of a barrier, but the actual agreement.
This is a pattern that appears elsewhere as well. Once again involving early arrival, crowd pressure, and problems around etiquette, a comparable incident allegedly happened during Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Ogun State. It is no longer a coincidence when repetition becomes a pattern.
It develops into a way.
Nothing here lowers Senator Daniel’s illustrious reputation. However, the size of a crowd or the length of a convoy are not indicators of political stature. The capacity to work well with others, reach agreements, and earn respect are all indicators of this quality.
There was a clear difference at Ijebu-Ode on that front.
Someone was making a racket at the gate.
There was a decision-making session in the hall.
There was a performance at the entrance.
The hall was a political hotspot.
The future is defined not by the most dramatic event, but by the subsequent peaceful agreement.
Politics in Ogun East will not be written in front of cameras in the next chapter. Where it has always been most relevant—among people ready to sit down, talk it out, and make a decision—is where it was written.
The rest was all for show.
The Ogun State Branch of Youth for Good Governance counts Abiodeye among its members.