2027: Shun vote-buying, money politics, violence – Ogun PDP’s Sowunmi-Kolapo tells Muslims
Lateefat Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, has called on Muslims in the state to reject vote-buying and violence while actively engaging in the electoral process to elect principled leaders.
Speaking to supporters in Ake, Abeokuta, following her designation as Grand Matron of the Ogun State Muslim Council (OMC), Egba Zone, Sowunmi-Kolapo emphasized the importance of political participation for safeguarding community interests and heritage. She urged religious leaders, families, and youth to understand that their needs will not be automatically protected without their involvement in politics.
“Let us tell our wards and our children, there should be no violence. Everybody should go out to exercise their civic rights and ensure that those they want actually emerge,” she stated.
Sowunmi-Kolapo urged the community to resist the allure of money politics, warning that politicians who engage in such practices may expect greater favors after taking office. She encouraged active participation in elections, urging residents not to assume that the outcome would be predetermined.
“It is what you do that will count,” she added, advocating for strong turnout at the polls to support candidates of their choice, including PDP governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu.
During the event, Sheikh Farouq Sulaiman Onikijipa, the Mufti of Ilorin, delivered a keynote lecture, urging government officials to prioritize investment in education. He described education as crucial for national stability and criticized the high costs associated with both private and public institutions, calling for measures to increase accessibility.
Onikijipa highlighted the importance of selecting morally upright leaders, stating, “For us to have stability in anything, we must choose a leader who is morally upright; who will not pocket public funds or take advantage of others for personal benefit.” He also urged politicians to avoid defamatory campaigns and encouraged youths to pursue education to prevent manipulation for political gain.
Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, the PDP senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, commended Sowunmi-Kolapo as a community builder and emphasized that the current political struggle is about reorganizing governance rather than compromising the future of Ogun State for financial incentives.
