Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Convener of The Alternative Movement, Otunba Segun Sowunmi, has intensified his grassroots engagement in Ogun State, wooing non-indigenes and members of the Egba Tile Toko Hunters Association to support the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Sowunmi, during separate engagements on Saturday with the groups, urged them to mobilise their members and communities across Ogun State for Tinubu, stressing that their votes and active participation in the 2027 electoral process would be crucial to the campaign.
He said he had created what he described as the “Ogun Tribe” to represent all residents of the state irrespective of their ethnic or geographical backgrounds.
“Everything we are doing, even if people are calling themselves all sorts of names according to their local tribe, I created a tribe that will contain all of us together and I call it the Ogun Tribe,” he said.
Sowunmi said he had consistently regarded any case of alleged maltreatment or discrimination against non-indigenes in the state as his personal concern, promising to intervene whenever such matters were brought to his attention.
He stressed that Ogun had attained a level of civilisation that should encourage people from different parts of the country to live and contribute to the state peacefully.
According to him, non-indigenes have made significant contributions to the state’s commercial and agricultural activities, particularly through their businesses and activities in rural communities.
Sowunmi recalled his previous interactions with non-indigene groups during elections, saying he had relied on their support whenever he appealed to them to back particular candidates.
He cited the 2023 elections in Abeokuta South as an example, saying he appealed to members of the community to support candidates in separate elections and that they responded to his requests.
The politician described the relationship between him and the non-indigene communities as one built on trust, saying, “You are too precious to me.”
He also assured the groups that he would stand by them whenever they faced unjust treatment.
“If anybody should dare to maltreat you here unnecessarily, you have my number, phone me. If I am in Abuja, I will fly down. If I am in London, I will fly down. If I am in Abeokuta, I will drive down,” he said.
Turning to the 2027 presidential election, Sowunmi urged the non-indigenes to mobilise voters across Ogun State for Tinubu, which he described as an “election of liberation.”
“The liberation there is that all the votes, let nobody sleep that day, must go to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. All the votes must go to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
Sowunmi called for increased voter mobilisation across Ogun Central, Ogun East and Ogun West, urging residents to participate actively in the electoral process.
He also linked his appeal to his argument for political power rotation between northern and southern Nigeria, saying he believed the 2027 election should demonstrate support for the principle of power rotation.
Sowunmi further appealed to the South-West to deliver a strong electoral showing for Tinubu, while calling on voters across the country to recognise what he described as the importance of political inclusion and national balance.
He said the South-East should also have an opportunity to produce a future president, arguing that political disagreements should not permanently prevent any part of the country from aspiring to the presidency.
Sowunmi maintained that his support for Tinubu was based partly on the fact that the President was already serving a first term, adding that he believed the administration should be given an opportunity to continue its policies.
He urged the non-indigene communities to participate actively in the election and use their numerical strength to influence the outcome through their votes.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Non-Indigene Association of Ogun State, Egba Zone, Hon. Francis Nwanze, disclosed that the association had resolved to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027.
Similarly, a representative of the Igede Community pledged that non-indigenes across the state would participate actively in campaigns and rallies in support of the President.
“We are working for Tinubu’s re-election. When it is time for rallies, you will see non-indigenes in their large numbers to support and campaign for President Tinubu,” the representative said.
The association also called for greater inclusion of non-indigenes in government, particularly in appointments to political and administrative positions, including Special Assistant roles.
