Author: The Nation

As the presidential, senate and house of representatives election is ongoing, preparations are also in top gear for the March 11 date for gubernatorial and Houses of Assembly election. A lot of people have indicated interest to represent their constituents with popular political parties while some others are also determined to change the status quo with new parties.

One of such men is none other than Nze Chibueze Anukanti John who has braced all odds to make a difference with the National Rescue Movement (NRM) seeking to represent Oguta constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly.

Known for his knack for service, accountability and excellence for whatever position he has operated, the former chairman of Imo State University Alumni Association Lagos branch shocked the alumni when he made history and raised the bar with the outstanding and still-talked-about National convention Lagos state hosted under his chairmanship. He has also repeated the feat in other numerous organisations with positive testimonies of his selfless service to humanity.

 His compassionate heart as a philanthropist who has done so much for his community has endeared him to his people who have decided to go all out for him because of his exemplary antecedents knowing what he is capable of when he becomes the face of Oguta constituency.

 There is no doubt that the tested and trusted successful managing director of PWAN Bazaar Properties Limited would be the man to watch out for and the man to beat come March 11.

KUNLE Soname has once again crested his name in the list of investors in Nigeria who has shunned frivolity and grand opulence to invest their last kobo in the country’s growth. The politician, soccer enthusiast and head honcho of soccer gaming company, Bet9ja, upped his ante when he delved into the aviation industry becoming one of the industry’s top players within a short while in the business. As a calculated risk taker, he studied the industry carefully and capitalised on the Achilles heel of his competitors by providing an aviation experience that has not been witnessed in the country. Today his ValueJet is the delight of many air travellers for its sartorial comfort, time consciousness, skilled onboard team and neatness of its aircraft.

The Remo Stars football club boss once again made his home state Ogun State proud weeks ago at the launch of the Ogun State Agro-cargo Airport in Ilishan-Remo, Ikenne Local Government of Ogun state. At the inaugural flight of the airport, the Ikenne-Remo-born billionaire’s ValueJet became the first airline to land at the airport which happens to be cited in his local government.

Media-preneur, socialite and publisher of TheWill Newspaper, Austyn Oganah is not in the best of moods as he is bereaved. The entrepreneur lost his mother, Princess Roseline Obiajulu Oganah nee Uzomah to the cold hands of death on February 20. She passed away at her Agbara, Ogun state home. She was  83. The former vice principal in the Delta State civil service was said to be a God-fearing woman who lived her life as a core disciplinarian and a doting mother imbibing solid virtues in her children. Before her death, she was a devoted Christian who dedicated her life to the service of God’s work. The Oganah family are yet to make arrangements for her burial but according to sources, her burial coming up in Delta state with a date yet to be announced would be grand as the children of the deceased have promised to give their matriarch a befitting burial to honour the good works and how she took care of them while she was alive.

Mallam Saliu Mustapha’s journey in the political terrain is divine. When many never believed in his dreams and aspirations, the Mineral Resources graduate of Kaduna Polytechnic believed in himself as he chased his dreams with much gusto. This led him to move astronomically, and politically, serving as the first national publicity secretary of the now defunct Progressive Action Congress (PAC). He later became a member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party ANPP, where he played a pivotal role in the presidential ambition of Muhammadu Buhari.

In 2009, after a breakaway faction of the ANPP led by Buhari formed the Congress for Progressive Change CPC, Mustapha became the national deputy chairman of the party, one of the youngest in the country. In his capacity as the deputy chairman of the party, the Ilorin-born business mogul worked assiduously to ensure the party ran smoothly and produce credible candidates during elections. After many years, his party later merged to form the ruling All Progressives Congress. In 2018, he jostled to become the Governor of Kwara State under the ruling APC but was denied the opportunity to serve his people. Instead of condemning the winner of the election, a calculative Turaki Ilorin remained in the party and worked assiduously for Governor Abdulrazak Abdulrahman ensuring his tenure record unprecedented success.

He remained a trusted and formidable ally building his own image across the state and making friends. He never nurtured any bad blood, rather he embraced peace and worked for the progress of the state. Little did he know that all he was doing for the state one day will come back to him. In the run-up to the 2023 election, Mustapha clinched the All Progressives Congress APC ticket to contest for the Kwara Central Senatorial district.

While he was campaigning, all hands were on deck for him as the governor and those within his district said it was an opportunity to pay him back for his years of patience, loyalty and perseverance. On the day of his election, to his amazement, he saw an overwhelming crowd of people who came out to cast their ballot in his favour; he was nearly moved to tears. The people he has been good to through his foundation all galvanised themselves to pay him back ensuring he represents them at the 10th Senate. At the just concluded election, he pulled a total vote of 108,230 to beat his closest rival Bolaji Abdullahi of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP who scored 69,202.

Shina Adisa Peller’s name is synonymous with lifestyle, luxury and nightlife. He was doing perfectly well with his hands in many pies in entertainment, hospitality, oil and gas before he decided to step into the murky waters of politics. The chairman of Aquila group was a delight to many in entertainment as he was respected for his upscale night club Quliox. The premium fun house remained a mecca of sorts for fun seekers and lovers who want to have a premium nightlife experience. For years, the watering hole remained a hot stop but ever since Adisa decided to go into politics fully in the run for the 2019 election the clout of the night club has dropped.

In 2019, he ran for a seat in the House of Representatives as a member representing the Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/ Iwajowa Federal constituency representing the Oke-Ogun axis at the House of Reps and that began his political journey. He was revered as he remained a vocal voice in the house, who spoke against any injustices against the youth. He began to carve a niche for himself politically as he remained a force to reckon with in the house sponsoring bills and attracting projects to his constituency.

His influence continued to grow like wildfire until the run to the 2023 election when he wanted to move a notch forward to the senate to represent Oyo North. Peller went to the primary election and was given a baptismal of fire by the incumbent Senator Fatai Buhari who clinched the ticket. An aggrieved Peller, not satisfied with the outcome of the primary election, decided to leave the All Progressives Congress APC to pitch his tent with the Accord party who handed him the ticket to run.

It was gathered Shina calculated that his federal constituency makes up over half of the Oyo North senatorial district and the Oke-Ogun people has been denied the opportunity to represent the district at the Senate so it was time for him to liberate his people and become the first Oke-Ogun son who will represent the district. Peller didn’t know his calculations and political permutation are heading him for what was termed a political suicide.

He campaigned vigorously and touched every nook and cranny of the district soliciting votes and also championed the revolution from his federal constituency as the one who will break the deadlock. People made several promises to deliver his mandate but after the election, he lost to Senator Fatai Buhari of the APC. According to sources, Shina will be taking a break from politics to face his business after his current tenure as a Member of the House of Representatives.

Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah remains the proverbial cat with nine lives. In several attempts to cut him down, he has over-conquered his enemies both politically and in business. Since his foray into the murky waters of politics, his political journey has been filled with lessons of tenacity, doggedness and self-belief.  One thing was constant for him, his ability to bring about much-needed change to his people and give them the dividend of democracy at all costs. With his heart’s desires, he tried vehemently to win the Anambra guber seat but was given baptismal of fire on the three occasions he tried to contest. In the run-up to the 2019 general elections, his detractors thought it was business as usual but the Nnewi-born Capital oil boss showed that he has indeed come of age as a politician and gathered the much-needed experience.

 While many thought he was going to defect from the YPP to a much bigger party for his re-election, Senator Ubah stuck with the party allowing his good work and will to speak for him.  During his campaign, many raised issues and some casted aspersions on him but his people stood firm as they promised to repeat a replay of his victory in 2019. He became more confident and convinced due to his blistering performance.

 Chief promoter and founder of Afa Igbo Efuna Movement has again shut his critics. Despite the tsunami that swept many of his co-contesters away from other senatorial districts, Ubah remained firm as he swept 73,115 votes while his closest rival Chris Azubogu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA got 45,369 votes.

If you are very conversant with Hajia Bola Shagaya, you would deduce that she is a stickler for success, hence, anything she sets out to do turns out successful. All her life, she has never ventured into a project that ended in futility. All thanks to God who has always made her an accomplished person as an astute businesswoman, a mother and a wife. Those close to Hajia averred that one thing she never took with levity apart from business is the upbringing of her children.

She is a doting mother who ensured she imbibed and instilled discipline, respect, patience and all the necessary features that make a man stand out in society including solid education and cultural growth. She ensured all her four boys are well trained in line with the teachings of the holy book and also as perfect gentlemen whose demeanour is the delight of many. Today like a mother hen, she is protective and has ensured the success of her children remains paramount to her at any time. Hajia Bola is currently in a gay mood.

If you ride a horse in her tummy, it won’t miss a step as her last son Tolani Muktar Shagaya who contested for a seat at House of Reps to represent Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency won his election with a landslide margin. This, we gathered, is currently putting a smile on the face of the billionaire philanthropist and businesswoman. Tolani, a youthful politician, a man of action with few words showed bravery and tenacity during the campaigning period not leveraging on his mother’s influence politically as he went all out to campaign vigorously in order to win his election with little or no effort from her mother.

Those within the federal constituency disclosed that his respectful nature, cerebral prowess, pedigree, oratory skills and exposure are qualities that attracted him to the electorates who promised to elect him as their representative.

They are more than confident that the Shagayas are noble people who love development so his emergence as their representative will bring about rapid development. We also gathered that Hajia has advised him to ensure all the promises he made during his campaign period he must fulfil.

Those who voted for him must enjoy the dividend of democracy via sponsoring life-changing bills and attracting projects and infrastructural development that will affect the lives of those within his constituency.