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Tag: Amosun

  • Why southwest integration is necessary – Amosun

    Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, on Monday explained why regional integration is necessary in the Southwest.

    Amosun said the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) had offered a unique opportunity for the region to offer direction that could lead to socio – economic development of the area and its people.

    The governor spoke while declaring open the 2017 edition of the Southwest Governance Innovations Conference in Abeokuta.

    The conference with the theme: Innovative Governance and Effective Service Delivery, was organised by DAWN in partnership with Department for International Development (DFID) and PERL.

    Participants were drawn from the private sector, Heads of Service and Commissioners in the six southwest states.

    Those who spoke at the event included the Chief Executive Officer of Proshare Nigeria Limited, Dr. Olufemi Awoyemi, Dr. Dayo Adelogu, Ogun State Commissioner for Urban and Regional Planning, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun, Director of Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Ijebu – Ode, Rev. Patrick Ngoye, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Ogun State, Bimbo Ashiru  and Mrs. Olubunmi Fadairo.

    Among the dignitaries at the event were three House of Assembly Speakers namely – Hon. Folasayo Salami (Osun), Adesina Adeyemo (Oyo), Suraj Adekunbi (Ogun), Director-General of DAWN, Mr. Dipo Famakinwa and Chairman of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Hon. Wale Oshun

    Amosun, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Yetunde Onanuga, called for the “harnessing and pooling together” of strength and comparative advantages of each part for the overall development of the region.

    “Providence has been so good to us that the entire region belongs to O’odua family. This means that we share a long history of relationship that cuts across sphere of culture which amongst other included language and religion.

    “A geographical contiguity also makes it easier; this allows for easier cooperation. We should, therefore, take advantage of all these opportunities to create a united front to drive the process of the development of the region,” he said.

     

     

  • Save us from land grabbers, Ogun community begs Amosun, IGP

    The Oshin descen-dant family and other residents of Oshinboyede village in Ogijo town of Sagamu South Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ogun State have called on Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to save them from the activities of land speculators, who are bent on dispossessing them of their inheritance.
    At a press conference addressed by Prince Ganiyu Olowofela Adeniyi and Prince Olajide Okeowo Rosegun, Family Head and General Secretary of the Oshin descendants respectively, the villagers said a group of people, led by one Kasali Sadiku and ably assisted by a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), stormed the community on January 6, 2017 between 12.30am and 3am, and abducted three members of the family, including the family head, Prince Adeniyi, while armed thugs that came with them unleashed mayhem on the entire community.
    “They did this with the intention of taking over our land. Kasali had earlier forced his son on the village as its Baale in spite of mass resistance from family members and residents of the community. This he also did as part of a grand plot to take over the family land, ably assisted by the land grabbers supported by the retired DIG.
    “We plead that all those arrested in connection with the invasion of our peaceful community should not be allowed to go unpunished. We also insist that both Kasali and the retired DIG aiding and abetting him should be made to face the full wrath of the law,” Prince Adeniyi pleaded.

  • Court grants Amosun, others time

    Court grants Amosun, others time

    An Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta, the state capital, has granted more time to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, attorney – general and commissioner for Works to file their responses to a motion for an Order of Mandamus to provide information about road projects awarded  since May 29, 2011.

    The exparte motion was brought before Justice Mobolaji Ojo  by M.O. Wawah on behalf of Arabambi Abayomi (State Chairman, Labour Party), Oginni Olaposi (State Secretary), Mrs Olufunmilayo Oginni (State Chairman, Unity Party of Nigeria) and Sabur Aroyewun.

    When the matter came up for hearing yesterday,  Afolabi Fashanu appeared for the plaintiffs.

     Director of State Prosecution (DSP) Mrs. Yetunde Oresanya represented the governor and others.

    Mrs Oresanya pleaded for a week to enable her file a response.

     Justice Ojo granted the prayer and adjourned till February 22.

  • Prompt payment of salaries, allowances of pensioners must continue, says Amosun

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has pledged the prompt payment of public servants’ entitlements, despite the recession.

    Amosun, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Taiwo Adeoluwa, spoke at the decoration of 289 newly promoted officers of Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) in Abeokuta, the state capital.

    He said he had been working tirelessly to ensure that the salaries and allowances of public officers, including the pensioners, were paid on time.

    The governor urged the TRACE officers to reciprocate the gesture by being dedicated to their work, adding that this is their reward for hard work and that they should ensure that TRACE became a reference in traffic management in the country.

    He urged them to be committed, loyal, honest and cultivate good attitude towards road users, enjoining them to be polite with the public in enforcing the traffic laws.

    Amosun urged the officers to see their new ranks as a call to higher responsibilities and more dedication to their duties.

    The newly decorated officers include the Corp’s Assistant Director, Road Traffic Sola Bamidele, now the Deputy Director, Road Traffic. Those promoted from the rank of Senior Road Traffic Superintendent Officers to Principal Road Superintendent Officers were: Adekunle Ajibade,  Omotayo Rinaye, Ebunoluwa Akinkunmi, Deji Daudu,  Morolake Filani and Sonde Olubori.

    Congratulating the officers, the Corps Commander/Chief Executive ‘Seni Ogunyemi, urged the officers to see their promotion as a reward for excellent performance, service and responsibility.

    He said the corps has 585 staff of which 289; 169 officers, 120 junior cadre and nine operatives who have upgraded through the Inter-Cadre Transfer Window are decorated with their new ranks.

    Commander Ogunyemi thanked Amosun for approving the result of the 2015 promotion in spite of dwindling resources, especially from the Federation Account.

    The TRACE Commander thanked the government for providing three hectares of land for the construction of the Corps Headquarters and training facilities. He hailed the state Deputy Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly Olakunle Oluomo for facilitating the donation of a space in Ifo Local Government premises for the construction of Ifo Divisional Command’s Office.  The office was inaugurated at the event.

    Responding on behalf of the promoted officers, Commander Ajibade thanked the government for approving the promotions and the TRACE management for making their welfare a priority. He expressed appreciation to the management for creating good operatives atmosphere. He said the promotion signified motivation for them to continue to contribute their best to the development of the Corps and the state.

  • Amosun, Awosika urge youths to be enterprising

    Amosun, Awosika urge youths to be enterprising

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Chairman, First Bank Plc, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, and Founder, Fate Foundation, Mr. Fola Adeola, yesterday urged the youths to be more enterprising so as to build a better Nigeria.
    They also enjoined the youths to imbibe the spirit of creativity and integrity to succeed in an increasingly dynamic and globalised world and not sit idly or wait endlessly for the governments to provide all the jobs they need.
    The trio spoke separately in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during a Youth Convention with the theme: Ogun Youths: Exploring New Frontiers.
    Over 570 youths from across the state are participating at the two – day event which ends today.
    The programme was organized by the state government to awaken in the youths to creativity, enterprising spirit and values necessary to identify and harness business or job opportunities in their environment.
    Amosun blamed the increasing joblessness of the youth on the nation’s economic model, which he reasoned had outlived its effectiveness.
    He noted that Nigeria’s economic model placed the government as the main employer of labour but expressed regrets that the government is today faced with a situation where jobs demand far outstripped available space.
    He said this informed why his administration had policies to support the youth in setting up their own companies and equip them to earn their own wages.
    The Governor said the government had identified agriculture and agri-business, artisanal and technical vocations, commerce and industry, environment, sports and entertainment as areas where the youth could explore to create jobs for themselves.
    He cited the Owowo Model Farm Estate for enterprising youth farmers and the Job Centre to assist artisans source jobs from clients as parts of programmes aimed at supporting Ogun youths to be productive and self – sustaining.
    “To ensure that there are enough jobs for our youth today and for those that will enter the labour market in 30 years. There must be a deliberate policy to support our youth in setting up their own companies; we must equip them to earn their own wages. The good news is that our youths are ready to be their own bosses.
    “So our focus at this Youth Convention is to show young people the many ways they could go. During and after this programme, we will work with the participants on acquiring the skills, tools and support necessary to become employers of labour- who knows, they may as a result of this Youth Convention be our future billionaires.
    “To arrive at this envisaged future, we must assist our youth to translate commercial ideas into marketable businesses. If neither the public nor the private sector can employ them, we must help them to employ themselves.
    “Unemployment has been growing at a rapid rate alongside our population. The World Bank report shows that unemployment has not decreased since 1999 and, that in particular, youth unemployment has been on the rise. Unemployment among the youth is put at 35.9%, which when compared with national overall unemployment of 21.1% is significantly high.
    “So, our approach must have geographical breath, to cover rural and urban areas; sectoral breadth to accommodate people seeking work at the two extremes of educational attainment; and must take into consideration the structural obstacles faced by all and most especially our women,” Amosun said.

    Also, Mrs Ibukun Awosika who was the keynote speaker, advised the youths not to afraid to venture into business.

    Speaking on the topic: “Improving the mindset and ethical values of Ogun State youths towards positive development,” she urged them to broaden their mindset and not allow themselves to held captives by whatever may be course of study at the tertiary institutions.

    Mrs Awosika said: “You have to create the kind of society you and your children want to live in. You have to be bold, diligent and focused. I started my furniture when I was around 25. You must have a starting point. No job is waiting for anybody anywhere. Be the solution to the challenges in your country.

    “The university education you had is to open your mind to possibilities. The real value of your education is the way you process the information in the environment.”

    Adeola charged the three tiers of government to invest more in youth development rather than building infrastructure.

    Adeola also admonished the youths to empower and create jobs for themselves rather than wait for the government’s employment.

    Speaking on “Succeeding in a Challenging Environment- The Experience of Accomplished Entrepreneur,” he said majority of Nigerian youths have lost hope in the government just as many of them also no longer believe that hard work pays.

    “No matter how many bridges you (government) build or how many roads you construct if you don’t empower the youths all the efforts may go to waste.

    “Hard work is the only thing that will guarantee you a secured future. Hard work is the only thing that will present you independent of religion, gender or ethnic challenges”.

    “Building people is key, let us grow people and not buildings, let us build a society where we all value human lives, a society where we live by the rule of law and not by the rules of men,” he said.

  • Adeosun, Amosun for insurers’ retreat

    Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun will  address insurers at the first Annual Insurers’ Committee Retreat scheduled to hold at the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Abeokuta, Ogun State between February 16 and 19.

    This was made known in a statement  by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) Head of Corporate Affairs, Rasaaq Salami.

    The statement explained that the retreat which will be held under the leadership of the commission is a continuous effort to chart a progressive way forward for the Nigerian insurance industry.

    The theme of the retreat is: Growing the Insurance Industry through Innovation and Healthy Competition.

    Amosun will deliver the keynote address while Mrs.Adeosun will be the chief host.

    “Speakers at the event include Mrs. Bisi Lamikanra of KPMG; Chidima Lawanson, CEO of EFInA; Rotimi Okpaise, Managing Consultant, HR Nig. Ltd and Dr. Phil Osagie of JSP Communication. The Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) is expected to deliver a paper from the perspective of the underwriting firms on Developing the Nigerian Insurance Industry 2017 – 2020; Issues, Concerns and Recommended Agenda.

    “The NAICOM’s Regulatory Agenda 2017 – 2020; Issues, Concerns and Strategic Intent” will also be shared by the commission at the retreat. It is imperative to state that the retreat will provide among others, an avenue to review the activities of the Committee for the period 2016 and plan for the year 2017, an avenue to discuss ways to reposition the Insurance industry for significant contribution to the Nigeria economy and also to discuss extensively on issues affecting the industry such as Risk Based Supervision, Compulsory Insurance, Bancassurance, Annuity and New Channel for Insurance Distribution, etc.

    “The two-day event would be rounded off with the first meeting of the Insurers Committee for 2017 to deliberate on the outcome of the retreat,” it stated.

  • Amosun: The portrait of a social engineer

    you may like Governor Ibikunle Amosun. You may not like him. You may approve of his policies. You may not approve of them. But give it to him: He has guts, he has courage. The decisions he has taken in the last five and half years bear testimony to this. You cannot possibly ignore SIA, as he is fondly called by his political associates. And this is not simply because he is the Governor of the gateway state.

    Who is Ibikunle Amosun? An ordinary man who has an extra-ordinary determination to serve, who has his faults, who makes mistakes and he is the incumbent governor of Ogun State.

    But this simple definition says little of the complex man who has served an equally complex state since May 29, 2011. A Japanese once said of the late great American soldier, General Douglas MacArthur: “Not a simple man.” Many citizens of Ogun State would say the same of their governor. Governor Amosun is the stuff of the social scientist’s nightmare.

    In 2011 when he took over, Amosun set out to charm the good people of Ogun State. He threw his arms around the citizens, clasping them in his warm embrace. He showed he understood the pains and the trauma of the state. It was clear, even that early, that the people had a governor who knows better than most how to package himself – his own best salesman. He exuded charm and friendliness. He wore a sunny disposition and he appeared to approach governance with a disarming casualness that demystified the art and made it less esoteric.

    His was a herculean task; getting a mandate to govern a state that had suffered some setback over time, a state where standards had been thrown to the dogs, a place where the state’s account, even by the admission of his predecessors, was in the red.

    Indeed, what Governor Amosun inherited when he assumed office was enough to make a lazy mind throw up his arms in frustration and surrender to fate.  There was a sure lack of development, to which Amosun pledged to minister, but there was no money to either address these challenges or fulfil some basic necessities.

    Faced with a bleak future for oil revenue and a rush of social and economic migrants from Lagos and other neighbouring states, Governor Amosun had initiated creative strategies to raise good money to fund gigantic projects and meet the needs of the state’s burgeoning population. He is beating a retreat from resting on the rickety base of oil economy.

    Buoyed by his private sector background, he quickly set in motion necessary machinery to remove the bureaucratic bottlenecks associated with government officials and created an atmosphere conducive for investment.

    Figures obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in January 2017 revealed that a total sum of N3.5tn was earned as IGR by the 36 states of the federation within a 66-month period from January 2011 to June of 2016.

    Ogun State, according to the bureau, came third by generating a total sum of N145.1bn in the period. It was able to grow its IGR from N10.8bn in 2011 to N56.2bn by 2016.

    The IGRs made by the state under Governor Amosun excluded the monthly allocations, which states receive from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee. The NBS stated that the IGRs were generated from five main sources. They are Pay-As-You-Earn; direct assessment; road taxes; Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government; and other revenues.

    Again, Amosun has assured the citizens that the state will witness massive rural road construction in 2017.

    As part of his 2017 New Year message, the governor promised that “We will take advantage of the opportunities provided by the World Bank through the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) to ensure easy access to farm produce and mobility of rural dwellers to modern facilities such as pipe borne water, electricity and qualitative health care delivery.”

    In the New Year, Amosun is also looking more seriously at agriculture and Agri-business. The governor also seized the occasion to reassure the good people of Ogun State that his administration will leave no project uncompleted.

    “Let me again re-assure you that the commencement of new projects will not in any way affect the completion of on-going projects spread across the three Senatorial districts,” he said.

    Modesty comes easily to Amosun. A man whose guiding philosophy in life is patience, his approach to issues is unobtrusive. It has helped him to charm his way in and out of complex and complicated situations but it has also given others a wrong signal about the man and his character.

    Governor Amosun does not crave to be liked; rather, he craves to be understood as an honest, decent man with honest intentions and who cannot hurt a fly. Someone said MacArthur “clothed himself in a cloak of dignified aloofness.” Governor Amosun clothes himself with dignified charm.

    But no man can win them all. Governor Amosun just cannot. There are those who would clamour to have him as a neighbour and there are those who would wish he lived on the other side of the bridge.

    Uneasy lies the head. Two things have always served Governor Amosun well in life. The first is patience and the other is courage. He has brought both to bear on his administration of Ogun State. He set out not only to serve Ogun State but to change it in a positive, fundamental sense.

    He allows nothing to dissuade or distract him from that chosen course. He has found nothing sacred or untouchable. He has challenged the powerful and entrenched civil service and fundamentally restructured it, unbothered by criticisms and plaintive cries for maintaining the status quo. Only a man with the courage of his unflawed conviction could take on so much, unfazed by its enormity. He is Ogun State man of the hour. He was chosen at this time and in this age to make Ogun State different.

    Amosun admits he is not perfect. No one is. Nor is he afraid of making mistakes. But once he sets his sight on course, there is no looking back. He is not a man of thundering contradictions. Amosun is a compassionate and generous man. He is simple but tough. He listens to people but relies more on his own instincts.

    Governor Amosun shows a genuine liking for people but he refuses to spare the rod when necessary. He is a sympathetic man who makes a fine distinction between sympathy and sentiment. He understands that Ogun State is in a hurry for development, he shares that feeling too but he is unwilling to sacrifice success for speed.  Amosun’s desire is to take Ogun State to where it should be in the comity of states.

    As I wish His Excellency a Happy Birthday, I pray that God grants him many more years of good health, fulfilment and joy.

     

    • Durojaiye is Governor Amosun’s Special Adviser, Information & Strategy
  • Amosun: Govt alone can’t develop society

    Amosun: Govt alone can’t develop society

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has urged the private sector not to leave the development of society to government alone.

    Amosun said this yesterday during the inauguration of a four-storey Threeco Construction Limited office complex at Oke Aro.

    The governor, who was represented by House of Assembly Speaker Surajudeen Adekunbi, described the initiative as people-oriented and promised to support the firm in its efforts to develop rural areas.

    He said: “An initiative such as this aids development and creates more jobs for our youths.

    “We hope other well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations will emulate it and develop our communities as government cannot be left alone with development.”

    The firm’s Chairman, Otunba Muraina Banjoko, thanked the governor for attending the ceremony, saying it will spur the company to consider other development projects in Ogun.

    The four-story complex, he added, can accommodate a banking hall and other offices and was valued at N70million.

    Dignitaries at the event included member representing Ifo/Ewekoro in the House of Representatives Ibrahim Isiaka, Secretary to the State Government Taiwo Adeoluwa and Lagos lawmaker Ganiu Hamzat.

  • Amosun, Aregbesola, Wike hail military on defeat of insurgents

    Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Nyesom Wike (Rivers) have hailed President Muhammadu Buhari as well as officers and men of the Armed Forces for their gallantry and success in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Amosun gave his commendation while speaking after inspecting a special parade by the Nigerian Legion, Navy and Army at the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration at the Arcade Ground, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, yesterday.

    Thanking the military for restoring peace in the Northeast, Amosun urged Nigerians to live in unity, irrespective of differences in gender, tribe, religion and political affiliations.

    The governor, top officers in the military and paramount rulers laid wreaths at the cenotaph in honour of fallen heroes.

    The governor also released 57 white pigeons as a symbol of national peace, with each pigeon representing the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas.

    The fallen heroes were later honoured with a 21-gun salute.

    Aregbesola hailed Buhari, ýthe Nigeria Armed forces and other security organisations for subduing the activities of Boko Haram group in the Northeast.

    The governor spoke at the grand finale of the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, at the Military Cenotaph, Osogbo.

    Aregbesola lauded security agencies for destroying the Sambisa Forest base of the group.

    According to him, the nation would not forget the gallant soldiers and security officials, whose lives have been lost in the cause of putting down the Boko Haram uprising.

    He also commiserated with the government and people of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba and others caught in the throes of the group, whose people have been brutalised, killed or kidnapped and many now in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

    Aregbesola added that the annual remembrance of fallen heroes and survivors of the Nigeria Army would be incomplete, if the country failed to retrace its past and device popular means of living in unity.

    In Port Harcourt, Wike noted that the President and service chiefs deserved commendation for strengthening the armed forces to take up on the elements, who had been threatening the country’s peace.

    At the event, Wike announced a N100 million empowerment scheme aimed at improving the living condition of the families of deceased ex-servicemen and legionnaires.

  • Amosun’s senatorial ambition tears Ogun Central apart

    Amosun’s senatorial ambition tears Ogun Central apart

    The next general election is about two and half years away. But the ambition of Governor Ibikunle Amosun to return to the Senate after the expiration of his tenure as governor is already generating tension in Ogun Central District and beyond. Correspondent ERNEST NWOKOLO, who has been following the development, reports.

    In 2007, after completing their two terms of eight years, five former governors got elected to the Senate. The five former governors in the 6the State); and Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna State). Since then, outgoing governors have found the idea of ‘retiring’ to the National Assembly attractive and irresistible.

    Seventeen governors made it to the current 8th Assembly. They are: Bukola Saraki (Kwara), Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Kabiru Gaya (Kano), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Theodore Orji (Abia), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Ahmed Yarima (Zamfara), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Bukar Ibrahim (Yobe), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), George Akume (Benue) and Isiaka Adeleke (Osun). These senators are currently receiving pensions from government as ex-governors.

    Four others failed in their bid make it to the Senate in the last general election. They are: Gabriel Suswam (Benue State), Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger State), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi State) and Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi State). Their ambition was marred by the Buhari tsunami in the last general elections; most of the states in the northern part of the country voted en-mass for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Though the next general election is still two and half years away, it is already evident that Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State is interested in the Ogun Central senatorial ticket.  Indeed, the veiled interest of the governor in the ticket is already causing a stir in the state’s APC chapter.

    To douse the tension, its Vice Chairman, Tajudeen Lemboye, convened a caucus meeting on December 23. During the meeting, he took the people down the memory lane, reeling out how Amosun has been caring for party leaders in their moment of need and urged them to give the governor their loyalty and support. He noted that many things have happened in Ogun APC lately, especially among the executive members, alleging that some of them now hobnob with the opposition.

    Lemboye’s position is that Amosun deserves the respect and support of all stakeholders, because of his track record in the last five and half years. Since 2011, he has been diligent in working to entrench himself as the godfather of the Egba politics, in the hope of using the numerical strength of the Egbas (Ogun Central) as a bargaining tool or an arbiter of political outcome outside Egbaland.

    But, how far would the governor go in his bid to emulate former governors from other parts of the country? His political structure in Ogun APC, which is a carry-over from that of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), seemed intact. Nevertheless, there are perceptible pockets of disaffection here and there.

    A week ago, the governor hinted that he might contest the senatorial seat in 2019. He was said to have dropped the hint at a meeting with members of the Ogun State House of Assembly and their National Assembly counterparts, at the Governor’s Office in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, the state capital. He was quoted as saying that he is under severe pressure to contest for the seat in 2019 and that he has earmarked N2 billion towards the realisation of that dream.

    The seat is occupied presently by Senator Lanre Tejuoso who, incidentally, was at the meeting and was said to have been visibly shocked by the governor’s utterances. Amosun said: “I am under enormous pressure to contest for the Senate seat of my senatorial district. I said to myself, I can’t be anything less than number three when I go back to the Senate. I might not contest and I might contest. Even Tejuoso might recontest and might not recontest… I am prepared to spend N2 billion in Ogun Central.”

    The governor was also reported to have said in Yoruba at the said meeting that he was aware of moves by some legislators to undermine his interest and that he would not hesitate to descend on them, if they do not desist from such moves. None of the lawmakers at the meeting spoke.

    At an expanded meeting of the party in Abeokuta recently, Amosun had attempted to douse the tension generated by his ambition, when he indicated that the elders would look into areas where there are conflicts, with a view of coming up with a consensus as to how the state and National Assembly tickets will be shared when the time comes. He added that if consensus formula fails, all aspirants may go through primaries.

    Although the governor did not mention who the elders are, but his body language and his utterances lately suggest that he must have laid multiple ambushes against opponents on all fronts, including aspirants from within his party.

    Should he elect to seek a return to the Senate, he would definitely pick the party ticket, as the ‘elders’ may prefer him to other aspirants and should they be made to go through the primary, other contestants  are likely to be defeated, with the governor’s  absolute control of the APC machinery at the grassroots.

    But opposition to Amosun’s ambition may be spurred from outside the state. It was instructive that the governor was absent during a crucial meeting of the Southwest APC leaders in Lagos recently, at the Bourdilon home of former Governor Olusegun Osoba, when the later returned to the fold.

    Those who attended the meeting include the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Oluranti Adebule, who represented Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; and former Governor Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti State. Others are: former interim National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande; the APC National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Chief Pius Akinyelure; Senator Gbenga Obadara and former Deputy Governor Prince Segun Adesegun. Amosun and his deputy, and state party leaders were absent and no explanation was given for their absence.

    Osoba who later broached the subject of his reported return to the APC hinted that two prominent traditional rulers pleaded with him to return to the party, as a way of further strengthening it against opposition in future.

    Many believe that the reason Osoba was persuaded to return to the APC is because he is the only capable of checkmating Amosun excesses, as an emerging godfather in the political arena in the state. As things stand today, there seemed to be no credible opposition. The Ogun State PDP is terribly divided along three camps controlled by three separate actors –  Senator Buruji Kashamu, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole and Hon. Ladi Adebutu, while its  governorship candidate in the last general elections, Gboyega Isiaka, is not sure where to align himself.

    The implication is that the PDP would not constitute a vibrant opposition and invariably may be unable to field a candidate that could measure up with Amosun. Also, neither the Labour Party (LP), nor the revived Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) poses any threat to the governor, should he elect to run for the senatorial seat in 2019.

    Given the Governor’s strong will, his close ties with President Muhammadu Buhari dating back to the ANPP days and the backing of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, his fellow Owu man and elder, he may have a field day in Ogun Central. This is more so, considering the fact that he won the 2015 governorship election without the help of Osoba.

    However, Amosun will have the former Speaker and his father, Chief Alani Bankole, as a factor to contend with in Ogun Central. It is not clear what Bankole’s next move is likely to be; he failed to return to the House of Representatives in 2011 and his recent bid for the party’s governorship ticket failed.

    PDP factional chairman, Bayo Dayo, said Amosun is only wasting his time and resources, as he would be disgraced at the polls if he dares try to run for Senate seat. Bayo said Amosun’s style of politics lacked human face. The chairman wondered how people Amosun did not develop or empower would accord him their support.

    Dayo said the PDP has a brighter chance of winning all future elections in the state. He anchored his optimism on his observation that Amosun’s failure is an open campaign for Ogun PDP ahead of 2019.

    He said: “What will he sell to the people in Ogun Central? There is no development in the five local governments there. The schools, the healthcare facilities and agriculture are suffering. He will be rejected take my word. May be he thinks he will entice people with his 10-lane road which is driven be self-interest. Is that what Ogun people need now when there are other roads requiring immediate attention?

    “The Federal Government roads linking Lagos and Ibadan and other northern parts, as well as the southeastern parts are not 10 lanes. Is the governor saying the one he is converting to 10 lanes is the busiest, compared to the Lagos-Ibadan expressway or Lagos-Ore expressway?

    “Amosun is not interested in developing people. The traditional rulers and many other people have advised him against the road, but he would not listen. So, he will definitely reap at the poll, what he has sown. Ibikunle Amosun is going nowhere. PDP has good chances of winning, not only the Ogun Central senatorial seat, but also in all elections in the state, because the governor is campaigning for the PDP directly and indirectly with his failures.

    “Although there is fighting in our party, but it is normal. You fight for what is good and has high prospect. Ogun PDP has a bright future; that is why people are fighting to have one or two things from the party.”

    Isiaka also agrees that Amosun’s intention may not go down well with thousands of other Ogun people.

    Similarly, the LP Acting Chairman, Abayomi Arabambi, said with Amosun’s poor showing as a senator from 2003 to 2007, he is unlikely to get the support from the electorate that have become wiser and sophisticated today.

    He said: “He(Amosun) performed poorly before. We can’t remember any motion he moved at the floor of the Senate then. He did not attract any Federal Government project to Ogun Central and did not execute any remarkable constituency projects throughout his Senate years.

    “We in Labour Party are going to field candidates in all elective positions. Amosun’s ambition may close the door for other interested aspirants in the APC, but not in Labour Party. We have the capacity to sweep away the incompetence going on in Ogun State today.”