The purest form of life-lesson is personal experience. Twice, I have gone to battle against Gov. Dapo Abiodun, and twice he emerged victorious. Not because I wanted victory less, but because he exploited fully, the basic principle of war, as expounded by Douglas MacArthur, “in war there is no substitute for victory”.
From experience, I also know that two earthly tools determine the outcome of every battle, be it political or otherwise: ACCESS and RESOURCES. Today, GDA unapologetically holds both firmly in his pouch. So when I see individuals attempting to knock their heads against his, I smile because I know first-hand the possible outcome.
GDA is a man who has fought many battles, lost some, but won the defining ones. He is a man driven not by noise or theatrics but by clear determination to leave indelible marks on the sands of history. In short, GDA has divine grace. This is not flattery; rather admiration built on mutual respect.
The fact that GDA is not moved by emotions or sentiments, explains why he has repeatedly proven his distractors wrong. I remember vividly after the 2019 general elections, how those who claimed to know him “too well” predicted that Ogun State would crumble within a year. Yet here we are, six years on, witnessing a state that has not only survived but climbed into the league of the most stable, productive, and successful states in Nigeria.
From infrastructure to governance, from politics to human capital development, GDA has proven, again and again that he is built to win. Today he stands as Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, reaffirmed Ogun State as the industrial hub of Nigeria, and delivered one of the most advanced agro-airports in the entire subregion within record time.
As the *Anogos* will say, “choosing your battles carefully is not cowardice, rather, it is self-preserving, strategic and wisdom-filled”. So, just as Prophet Joshua declared in Joshua 24:15: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”, l and my political family, stand gidigba with Gov. Dapo Abiodun.
A word is enough for the wise.
e-signed:
Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir AKINLADE (Triple A),
Sunday 30th November 2025.
