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Tag: Akinbade

  • Osun decides: Oyetola, Omisore, Adeleke, Adeoti, Akinbade in tough contest

    Four years after outgoing governor, Rauf Aregbesola, won a reelection in tough circumstances, another governorship election holds today to produce his successor. As the electorate cast their votes, BISI OLADELE and ADESOJI ADENIYI analyse the likely voting patterns across the major towns and cities in the State of Virtues.

    FIVE main gorvernorship contenders are set to battle for the votes of 1.24 million voters expected to turn out today to choose who should govern Osun State for the next four years. Although the available votes will be shared between 48 candidates of different parties standing for the election, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Iyiola Omisore of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Moshood Adeoti of the African Democratic Party (ADP), Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Fatai Akinbade of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are considered as main contenders. The huge number of PVC holders presents both a challenge and opportunity for the candidates one way or the other. For candidates that are really popular in towns and communities with high number of PVC holders, it will be an opportunity to score high and vice versa.

    The towns and cities include Osogbo, Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Iwo, Ede, Ejigbo and Ikirun. Osogbo Osogbo, the Osun State capital, has the highest number of votes, judging by past elections. This is so particularly when joined with votes from Ikirun, a neighbouring town. Voters in Osogbo will more likely decide in favour of APC’s Oyetola because the city has benefitted most from the urban renewal project and education policies of the Aregbesola administration in the last eight years. The transformation of Osogbo has been massive under Aregbesola, and this has greatly enhanced the economic strength of the city. Besides, none of the five major candidates hails from the town. While Oyetola hails from Iragbiji, Omisore from Ile-Ife, Adeleke from Ede and Adeoti from Iwo, ADC’s Akinbade hails from Ogbagbaa, near Iwo. In fact, some opposition politicians have accused the APC of concentrating development on Osogbo alone, given the massive infrastructural renewal and beautification project of the Aregbesola administration. But that does not foreclose the chances of other parties from gaining some percentage of the votes as they all have their supporters spread in the entire state. But APC is tipped to score the majority of votes in Osogbo and its surrounding communities. Ede Adeleke is expected to pull a large number of votes from Ede.

    APC strategists, however, believe that the party will get substantial votes from the town as many of its indigenes are not favourably disposed to Adeleke. The emergence of Adeleke as the PDP flag bearer has sharply divided the PDP faithful. The aggrieved among the members believe that the Adeleke family is cornering the privileges coming to the town even when it is obvious that other qualified people should be considered. Our reporter gathered reliably in the town that the emergence of Adeleke forced the former Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adejare Bello, and his followers out of the party. His followers believe that Bello or other qualified Ede indigenes should have been given the opportunity to emerge as the PDP candidate instead of Adeleke who replaced his late elder brother in the Senate.

    But Bello and his supporters are not alone, some other indigenes of the town also believe that it was wrong to have presented the new senator who has no higher education to represent the town as governor when there are well educated politicians who have also been contributing their own quota to the development of the town. Added to the above factor is the recent award of the contract for the rehabilitation of Ede-Ejigbo Road by the Aregbeshola administration, a decision that was applauded by many in the town. For these reasons, Adeleke may not enjoy block votes from Ede as it happened during his senatorial election. APC is likely to pull huge votes next to Adeleke in Ede. Iwo Though ADP’s Adeoti and ADC’s Akinbade hail from Iwo zone, many will be surprised at how APC will poll high number of votes in the zone. Though Adeoti and Akinbade are well known in the towns and communities in Iwo zone, their expected bloc votes are threatened by APC’s acceptance, particularly in Iwo town which has the largest population in the zone. The establishment in the town is largely behind the APC. This will weaken the chances of Adeoti producing bloc votes from the area. Even if the APC candidate comes second in Iwo, it will really weaken Adeoti’s chances because the town has a huge voting strength. Ilesa Ilesa, in this analysis, covers the entire Ijesa land, which comprises six local governments. The voting pattern in the zone is largely unpredictable. But APC will likely have a good showing in the area.

    The outgoing governor hails from Ilesa. The current Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, also hails from the area. It is, therefore, expected that their kinsmen will reward their sons’ selection and successes by voting massively for the APC candidate. One of the major roads leading to Ilesa will soon be awarded for reconstruction by the state government. But Omisore and Adeoti will also corner some votes from the area. While Omisore represented the area at the Senate twice, Adeoti’s party has some juggernauts in Ijesa land. Nonetheless, APC is expected to score the majority votes in the area. Ile-Ife This is the base of the SDP candidate, Omisore. Ile-Ife has the second largest voting strength in the state due to the Obafemi Awolowo University community. Omisore, who is a former deputy governor and senator, has proved to be a dogged fighter since his crisis with his former boss, Chiefs Bisi Akande and the late Bola Ige exploded in 2001. He was then the deputy governor under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He won his first senatorial election while in detention at Agodi, Ibadan prison during his trial over Bola Ige’s murder.

    Since then, he remained very popular in his town. This time, THE NATION gathered reliably that Omisore is sure to poll the highest number of votes in Ile-Ife and its environs. The surrounding communities include Garage Olode, Ifetedo and Ipetumodu. But the APC is hopeful; it believes it will poll sizable votes in these areas, given the number of people that have benefitted from the Aregbesola administration in the last eight years. Ejigbo Ejigbo is another town within Osun West Senatorial District which has a good number of voting population. The current Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam, is a native of Ejigbo. Feelers from the town show that he is well loved due to his accessibility, love and philanthropy. For the above reason, the APC will likely win in the town with wide margin.

    Iragbiji In Iragbiji, Oyetola’s home town, he is sure to poll the highest votes while in other towns such as Ikire, Gbongan, Odeomu, Ila, Iree and Okuku, the candidates will enjoy patronage based on the strength of their parties and candidates. Omisore is popular in some parts of Ikire zone. For being in government in the last eight years, it is expected that the APC will enjoy a good patronage from the voters across all parts of the state. Ikire Ikire is another town with sizable number of voters, particularly when joined with its surrounding communities such as Orile-Owu, Apomu and some surrounding villages. Oyetola’s running mate, Benedict Alabi, hails from the zone. Omisore’s running mate Lawal, also hails from the zone. But due to the influence of some PDP juggernauts in the zone, Adeleke’s PDP is tipped to have a fairly good showing in Ikire Zone.

    Oyetola, Omisore and Adeleke are likely to garner high number of votes in the area. Obviously, votes in the zone are most likely going to be divided. NEWS THE NATION I SATURDAY I SEPTEMBER 22 I 2018 3 Osun 2014 governorship election results LG APC PDP Ifedayo 4,225 3982 Boluwaduro 4,891 5,035 Ilesha East 16,106 5,913 Odo Otin 11,950 12,902 Ilesha West 15,427 5,449 Orolu 8,558 6,786 Oriade 12,523 10,214 Atakumosa 6,928 5,142 Ede South 11,738 7,462 Ila Oragun 10,825 7,916 Boripe 12,723 9,344 Irepodun 13,314 7,386 Ife Central 9,680 24,555 Ife East 13,821 20,831 Ola Oluwa 7,927 4,963 Isokan 9,758 10,028 Ife North 8,603 9,841 Ede North 15,403 10,427 Ifelodun 17,447 12,442 Ayedaade 12,801 11,255 Obokun 11,696 8,618 Irewole 18,328 10,330 Egbedore 10,215 7024 Aiyedire 7,724 7,813 Iwo 20,827 15,493 Osogbo 39,983 11,513 Olorunda 26,551 8,483 Ife South 7,325 12,811 Atakumota East 9,287 6,294 (Election did not hold in Alarere polling unit) Ejigbo 17,700 12,495 (11 polling units had over voting and forged signatures) Gbongan and Odeomu These are towns whose voting patterns are unpredictable. There are supporters of each of the five leading parties in the two towns. Yet, the majority may vote for the APC, the party having been impacting their lives and communities in the last eight years. In all, the four candidates that will most likely have the highest votes are Oyetola, Omisore, Adeoti and Adeleke in that order.

  • I am more equipped than other contenders- Akinbade

    The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, a former Secretary to Osun State Government under Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s government for seven and a half years, told Adesoji Adeniyi that he is better equipped than all the other candidates

    HOW prepared are you for the governorship election?

    As the saying goes, when you are

    loaded, you are needed. From all indications and given the precarious situation our dear state has found itself, I am the preferred choice of the people of this state. So owing to the general acceptability enjoyed by our party, the African Democratic Congress in Osun State and by the grace of God, we will come out in the forthcoming election. I and my deputy, Justice Olamide Oloyede, a retired judge of the High Court, are widely accepted because of our rich and incorruptible backgrounds. We have also served previously in different capacities. The antecedent of our leader, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, is equally an additional value to us being a national leader of this party. He leads the pack of our campaigns and the acceptance has been astounding. So, we are working relentlessly and vigorously within the ambit of the law to reach out to our people at all levels. We have taken our campaigns to the door steps of our people in all the 332 wards and the over 3,000 polling units spread across the state. We have sold our manifesto to them which are anchored on a revolutionised and mechanised farming, provision of gainful employments, industrialisation, infrastructural developments, rejuvenated education and health sectors, sports, tourism and women developments. We won’t engage in voting buying and other related electoral crimes. More importantly, our people know us for our decency and peaceful disposition to issues and life. Against this background, we are confident and optimistic that the ADC shall carry the day on the Election Day, Saturday, September 22, by winning convincingly.

    Why are you so confident of victory when your party, the ADC, is new and without a structure? My confidence is neither misplaced nor based on self-delusion but rather on the strength of the evidence that we are widely acceptable. We enjoy so much support in all parts of this state from our people. And you should not forget that I am not new in this state. I have been a Commissioner under three military administrations in this state. I was the PDP State Chairman that led the party to victory in 2003, when Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola became the governor. And when the government was formed, I became the Secretary to the State Government, a position I held for over seven years. While in all these offices, God assisted me in contributing my quota to the development of the state and our people. So, in a nutshell, I am a household name in Osun. I have my supporters across the state. This, I think answers the question of structure or no structure. Anywhere you go to in Osun today, it’s me, Akinbade, they mostly talk about, which explains why you hear the slogan; Fatai Lokan (it’s Fatai’s turn).

    Repeatedly, you have attempted to become the governor of this state and yet here you are contesting again. Why?

    Well, my consistency to become the governor is borne out of my desire to serve this state at that level. I am not inordinately ambitious but rather service driven. Having gone through this odyssey under different administrations in this state, I have some burning ideas that can transform this state. I am more equipped for the coming assignment than any of my fellow contenders and this I say without being immodest. I have seen it all and it’s somebody like me, imbued with the needed experience that can take over from the incumbent administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola so that this state and its people will no further suffer from maladministration.

    Besides, God and my valued people have always been my pillars of support. They are my strength and have continued to urge me on. They so much believe in me. More so, in all areas that I have served, I was never queried or incriminated on account of financial infractions or any related shenani gan. Above all, I can assure you that this time, I shall win the election.

    What will you do differently if you become the next governor?

    Firstly, an ADC-led administration shall make the people of the state, who are already disillusioned, to have confidence in the government. This, we intend to achieve by using three major planks; Transparency, Accountability and Due Process. Through these, our government will block loopholes currently serving as conduit pipes of wastages in the state. Money saved through this will enable us prosecute our programmes to the letter.

    This  include massive mechanised farming, industrialisation, rural and infrastructural developments, rejuvenation of health and education sectors, development of sports and tourism as well as a re-engineered civil service. I have said it repeatedly that the moment we take over, we shall stop the payment of half salaries and pensions. Our administration shall commence payment of salaries as from December, this year. Again, all outstanding half salaries and pensions will be cleared between six months and one year. The payment will be made in such a way that civil servants and pensioners will use the money for tangible things.

    Considering paucity of funds currently affecting Osun and other states of the federation, how would you get the funds to run your government?

    I told you earlier on that all the loopholes currently assailing the incumbent administration in Osun shall be blocked. This we will do through due process. I am a product of due process and as such, no project will be done without undergoing the processes of transparency, accountability and due process. In this direction, the choice of my deputy, Justice Olumide Oloyede (rtd), a woman of solid background, is instructive. Osun shall be governed through a robust interface with the people. They will be involved in the day-to-day running of the government. It will be an open administration that will not be shrouded in secrecy. Everybody shall be carried along. Just don’t worry, let us get there; it will be like miracle when all these begin to manifest.

  • Akinbade to become Osun ADC candidate

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is set to substitute the name of its Osun State governorship candidate, Mr. Kazeem Adio, for an aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Fatai Akinbade.

    Akinbade contested the Osun PDP governorship primary on July 21 alongside three other aspirants and came third with 56 votes.

    He was dissatisfied with the outcome of the primary and resigned his membership.

    In a statement, ADC’s National Chairman Ralphs Okey Nwosu said the name of Akinbade, who was succeeded as the Secretary to the Osun State Government (SSG) by Adio in the Olagunsoye Oyinlola-PDP administration, would soon be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s candidate.

    Nwosu said: “The action was consequent upon the voluntary withdrawal of Kazeem Ademola Adio from the Osun State governorship race, scheduled for September 22.

    “Our party is pleased to present a leader, an accomplished public servant and a man always at home with his people to replace him (Adio). To us in this trying time, especially as it affects Osun and its people, Alhaji Fatal Akinbade perfectly fits the bill to rescue the state from the proxy war of politicians based outside the state.

    “Akinbade has served the state in different capacities as a SSG, commissioner and the chairman who led the PDP to victory in 2003. Well loved by the state’s civil servants and teachers, he has the needed clout to win the coming election and re-engineer the state to lofty heights.”

  • Osun 2018: Akinbade, Adeleke declare interest

    Ex-Secretary to Osun State Government (SSG) Alhaji Fatai Akinbade and the lawmaker representing Osun West Senatorial District, Ademola Adeleke, have declared interest in the governorship election holding on September 22.

    The duo are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Akinbade, a former chairman of PDP in the state, on Tuesday submitted his letter of intent to the party secretariat amid jubilation by hundreds of his supporters.

    The former SSG said his 20 years of experience as a politician and in government positioned him for election as the next governor.

    But the younger brother to the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Ademola, made his intention known in a letter he wrote to the leadership of the party in the state, where he pledged to prioritise agriculture, education and cushion the effect of poverty.

    He said: “I have the ability to galvanise the electorate towards ensuring victory in the coming Osun gubernatorial poll, just as I have done in the last Osun West Senatorial District election. My late brother, Isiaka, had laid the foundation which is visible to the electorate and I am ready to sustain the legacy.”

    Adeleke advised the PDP leadership in the state to give him the opportunity to fly the party’s flag in the forthcoming poll.