By Segun Peters
His victory at the 2019 governorship election in Ogun State that turned him to a man with a date with destiny was quite unanticipated as the man at the helms of affairs in Ogun State under the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not believe in him.
To many people, it was impossible for Prince Dapo Abiodun to win the primaries of the APC in Ogun State not to talk of winning the general elections under the APC since the incumbent Governor Ibikunle Amosun wanted to field another candidate for the position.
But today, Prince Dapo Abiodun has been elected as the next Governor of Ogun State from May 29, 2019 under the APC and that is one thing nobody can change as God has made it possible and the people of Ogun State have given him their mandate to rule them for the next four years.
Dapo Abiodun is a man forged in adversity, cooled in reason, and ornamented with triumphs.
Traveling through the historic streets of Abeokuta today, the air is still awash with the clinging smell of a recent political victory that left the entire state basking in the euphoria of an impending salvation, of a hope awakened, and of the long-yearned dream for the restoration of the Gateway State about to be midwifed by the incoming governor, Dapo Abiodun.
The spirits of the ancestors nestled in the belly of Olumo Rock swell with expectations, and it is as easy to get carried away by the spectacle of the ancient fortress as it is to get captivated by the effortless charisma of the Governor-elect.
The 58-year-old business magnate, the founder of First Power Limited, Managing Director of Heyden Petroleum, and board Chairman of Corporate Affairs Commission, began his life in the royal milieu of Iperu Remo, a historic city in Ogun East Senatorial District.
One cannot readily determine how much his formative years in the courtyard of traditional power in Iperu Remo influenced his political outlook; however, his colourful academic background and his storied exploit in different capacities at the top of the Nigerian political hierarchy are testaments to his wealth of knowledge, experience, and uncommon relevance.
Bathed and nurtured with the waters of power in Iperu Remo, Dapo Abiodun was preordained for life in the corridors of power.
He started his political career long time ago, when he was elected as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) in 1998.
He Proceeded to the PDP in 2003 to contest the governorship primary election, which he lost to Otunba Gbenga Daniel aka OGD under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In 2015, he also contested the primary of Ogun East Senatorial seat in the PDP and lost to Buruji Kashamu.
The recent governorship election that he won was a tough battle as he was fighting against the incumbent, who sponsored a candidate from another party, no wonder his victory at the polls is for the records.
The Governor-elect of Ogun State is a born-again Christian and he worships with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
Dapo Abiodun is the Chairman of the Board of Corporate Affairs Commission., and he is the Managing Director of Heyden Petroleum and the founder of First Power Limited, He has served as a member of various presidential committees and organisations.
He hails from Iperu Remo in Ogun State and he was born into the royal family of Dr Emmanuel and Mrs Victoria Abiodun from Iperu Remo in Ogun East senatorial district on May 29, 1960.
He studied civil engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ife, Osun State and subsequently read Accounting at Kennesaw State University, Atlanta Georgia, United States of America (USA).
He also holds a Honours et Doctorate Degree in Finance from the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State and he holds another doctorate degree in Business Administration from Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State.
Dapo Abiodun is a founding member of the PDP in Ogun State; he however defected to the APC after the 2015 general elections.
It is important to state that the trio of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Prince Dapo Abiodun had been very good friends prior to the return to civil rule in Nigeria in 1999.
His friendship with Amosun subsequently turned sour following his intent to contest the governorship election in the state as far back as 2017.
But, this did not stop Prince Dapo Abiodun from being elected as the next Governor of Ogun State from May 29, 2019
