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Tag: Ogun 2019

  • Why Ogun 2019 remains unpredictable

    The March 2 governorship election in Ogun State will go down in history as the toughest since the return to civil rule in 1999. The major parties – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – are embroiled in internal crises that may mar their chances at the election. Correspondent ERNEST NWOKOLO takes stock of the squabbles within the two platforms and how the candidates in the race stand.

    BARELY three weeks to the presidential and the National Assembly elections and six weeks to the governorship and the House of Assembly polls in Ogun State, the prospects of the main contenders in the race are not certain. The contest has been thrown open, because of the internal crises rocking the two major parties.

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is going into the election as a divided house, with Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s preferred governorship candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, and his supporters jumping ship into a hurriedly formed political party, the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM).

    The ruling party and its splinter group are following the footsteps of the former ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which participated the 2011 general elections in a similar manner. The then Governor Gbenga Daniel’s preferred candidate, Gboyega Isiaka, and his supporters took part in the contest in the relatively unknown Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN). The preferred candidate of the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Adetunji Olurin (retd), and their supporters stayed in the fold. At the end of the day, this development paved the way for Amosun and his party, the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which is part of the APC today, to win the election.

    The PDP is yet to recover from that political bungling, as it has not been able to find its rhythm since then. It is also heading into the 2019 election divided. The  PDP has two main factions and two governorship candidates for the March 2 election – Oladipupo Adebutu and Senator Buruji Kashamu.

    Though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognises Kashamu as the party’s flag bearer, the tussle to determine the authentic candidate of the party is still raging in court. This will no doubt affect the fortunes of the party in the forthcoming election.

    Daniel is yet to launch himself back into much political reckoning ever since. Though Isiaka had won the governorship primary conducted for the party at the MKO Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, by representatives of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), he was denied the ticket. Gen. Olurin, who was the product of a parallel primary conducted at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, got the governorship ticket with the backing of the NWC.

    To protest against the injustice meted out to him and his protégé, Daniel instructed his supporters to defect to the PPN to pursue their political ambitions. He stayed put in the PDP, drumming for PPN from the rear.

    A similar scenario is playing out today in the APC. The crisis in the APC is not unconnected to the party primary, which took place late last year.  Amosun’s protégé, Akinlade, emerged through a consensus that shut out aspirants, such as Senator Gbenga Kaka (Ogun East), Otunba Bimbo Ashiru (Ogun East), Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun East), Jimi Lawal (Ogun East) and Abayomi Hunye (Ogun West) among others, who were also locked in the battle for the same ticket.

    In the run up to last year’s party primaries, former Governor Segun Osoba deployed suaveness, subterfuge, tact and diplomacy to ensure that whoever emerged the party’s flag bearer followed the prescribed guidelines.

    This position put Osoba on a collision course with Amosun. This is not the first time both party leaders have clashed over the running of the party. It happened during the last general elections in 2014/2015, when the issue of who should get what ticket for various elective offices surfaced. Amosun who had allegedly cornered the party structure, by elbowing Osoba and his camp out of their political house and, in frustration, they moved their numbers to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where they contested the 2015 general elections and lost. But, the governor and his team won about 96 per cent of the seats.

    Osoba and his camp were to return later after the reconciliation between the two camps. What happened in 2014/2015 was about to repeat itself prior to last year’s APC primaries, but since Osoba and his group had experienced the disadvantages of being evicted from the party, they were determined to prevent this from happening a second time. They resolved to acquit themselves in a manner that would enable them to stay within the fold and battle the ‘bull’ from the inside.

    The succession issue within the APC reached a disturbing dimension in October last year, when the governor announced that the list of 40 candidates of the APC for the 2019 elective positions has already been drawn. He dared whoever that was not comfortable with it to meet him and his team on the day of direct primary.

    Amosun said the party elders were aware of the selected 40 candidates. The list included his preferred governorship candidate, Akinlade, and his running mate, Mrs Peju Adebajo, who is the Commissioner for Agriculture in the governor’s cabinet. Governor Amosun added that the candidates were derived from a consensus method allowed by the constitution of the party. Thereafter, he warned that “nobody should take Ogun people for granted or fools”.

    Not done, he proceeded to declare: “By May 29, 2019, Akinlade will be our governor. We will have a landslide victory in the coming elections.”

    Initial efforts to resolve it through direct primary for all sides and aspirants suffered many setbacks. By early November, it was obvious that there were no more meeting points between the governor and his loyalists and that of the camp loyal to Osoba. This culminated in the declaration of Akinlade as the governorship candidate of the party on November 3, by the state chapter of APC, following a separate primary it conducted. After conducting its own primary, the panel mandated by the NWC for the exercise declared Prince Dapo Abiodun as the candidate of the party. The panel was headed by Muhammad Indabawa.

    Today, the die is cast. The 2011 political scenario is set to repeat itself and the APC would be the loser, because the party’s votes would be shared with the APM during the governorship election.

    Akinlade is passionate about governing Ogun State. He has promised to lift many out of poverty, develop rural areas, enhance the revenue base of the state and sustain the legacies of the Amosun administration. He has age, bobbling energy of a youth and intelligence on his side. His legislative experience and stint as Special Adviser to Amosun on taxation has sort of prepared him for the office. But, coming from Ago Sasa, in Ipokia, a minority group has not endeared him to many who feel the minority should not be allowed to lord it over the majority.

    Besides, the fact that he is being imposed on the people by Governor Amosun has not helped his quest. Many observers see this development as attempt by the governor to secure a third term by proxy. His perceived unimpressive representation of Yewa South and Ipokia Federal Constituency at the National Assembly has also not helped his case.

    But, the governor is relying on his ruggedness, huge financial war chest, support from various transport unions, achievements and perceived firm grip on Ogun Central, which is generally seen as a major decider of the direction where the pendulum swings in every governorship election in the state, as the veritable ‘enablers’ to deliver APM and Akinlade in March.

    Governor Amosun is also deploying the machinery of state to give Akinlade an edge in the contest ahead of other candidates. This includes using the state signage agency to deny other candidates choice places to erect campaign billboards or paste posters. Amosun is also accused of undermining the chances of the APC governorship candidate, by openly declaring he would not work for him.

    Be that as it may, Amosun has many challenges to contend with in his desperation to force Akinlade down the throat of the people. A lot has changed in the politics of the state in the last four years and the Amosun of yesterday is not anymore the same Amosun of today, in the estimation of the people.

    In many parts of the state, he is perceived as the first governor to run sectional and divisive government in history. Others routinely accuse his administration of totally leaving the local governments in comatose; the third-tier of government have been unable to perform even a fraction of their rudimentary duties in the last seven and half years, to the extent that most people rarely know the name of their respective council chairmen, because of redundancy, unlike what obtained before May 2011.

    Again, some are not in a hurry to forgive him for what they termed the littering of the state with ill-thought out projects that stand the risk of being uncompleted or abandoned at the day.

    Analysts say with the negative perception of the APC in some quarters and the anti-party activities allegedly being perpetrated against it by the governor and his loyalists, coupled with the crisis in the PDP, Isiaka who is flying the flag of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) this time around may be the ultimate beneficiary.

    This is predicated on the premise that Isiaka is a familiar political brand in the state. He is a technocrat, intelligent, cool headed, youthful and hails from Ogun West, which is yet to produce a governor since the creation of the state. He was the pioneer Group Managing Director of Gateway Holdings Limited (GHL), the state-owned investment company, during Daniel’s administration.

    The two-time governorship candidate has remained unrelenting in his ambition to govern the state. It can be said that the ADC candidate has no baggage and Ogun West is more united today to work for the actualization of his dream than it has ever been.

    Leaving aside the challenges of inadequate fund, which is visibly slowing down his campaign, there is this unfortunate circumstance which often mars his chances each time he is in the race. The factor is still very much around today, and the fear is that it could work against him in this third attempt.

    This factor borders on the fact that Isiaka has never had the good fortune of going into the Ogun governorship race with his adopted political platform, commanders and kingmakers intact. He has always been moving from one political party to another. In 2011, he had hoped to contest the governorship polls on the PDP platform, which was still formidable at the time, but he was eventually denied the party’s ticket and he had to move hurriedly to a new platform.

    Same scenario repeated itself in 2015, when he teamed up with Senator Buruji Kashamu to run on the ticket of PDP, but without the support base of his benefactor, Daniel, and PPN supporters who were with him in 2011. Thus, he lost again to Amosun.

    Now in 2019, barely eight years after, the situation has not in any way changed. Isiaka has entered the governorship race again on the ticket of the relatively new ADC, without the support base of Kashamu, his Omo-Ilu group and the Dayo Bayo-led arm of Ogun PDP who were largely responsible for the remarkable showing he exhibited in 2015, when Amosun escaped defeat narrowly.

    Isiaka is hoping to triumph this time around with the goodwill and support of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was pivotal to the formation of the ADC. The party enjoys a relative popularity in Ogun State, but the truth is that the former president is a prophet without honour at home; while he has a bid following nationally and internationally, he is not a popular figure politically in the Gateway State. The only exception is the 2003 general election when the PDP swept all the states in the Southwest, excluding Lagos State.

    There is also no denying the fact that the ADC governorship candidate is a major contender in the race to Oke Mosan this year and will likely dominate the field in most part of Ogun West, his primary constituency, come March 2, but his circumstances of always changing political vehicles and passengers since 2011 do not conduce for fullness, harmony and cohesive force required to deliver punches that could floor a formidable opponent in an election battle.

    In previous elections, Isiaka has always squared up against Amosun, as his major challenger. From all indications, the APC candidate in the March 2 governorship election, Prince Adedapo Abiodun, would be his next albatross. Abiodun is an entrepreneur and real estate player from Iperu, Ogun East senatorial district.

    Even the PDP cannot be written off yet. Adebutu could have been the candidate to beat by either Isiaka or Abiodun, but for the intractable crisis in the party and the festering feud, both physical and court litigations, between Adebutu and Kashamu, which has weakened the campaign effort of the party.

    Adebutu, who is the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Rural Development, is adjudged to be credible, non-controversial and has the financial strength to help the PDP return to power.

    He recently told his supporters that people were using the court to stall his political progress and create uncertainty within the party. In his reckoning, the litany of litigations from the faction loyal to Senator Kashamu is just diversionary. He is confident that he would eventually be declared the party’s authentic flag bearer. The lawmaker representing Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North in the House of Representatives is anchoring his confidence on the legitimacy of the Sikirulai Ogundele-led Executive and the outcome of the primary duly conducted by authorised Committee from the party’s national headquarters.

    Though Kashamu dominates Ogun East politics and commands a large following through his Omo-Ilu group, but he may not fare better in the governorship race, because of the schism within his party.

    Since he became a senator, Kashamu appeared to have confined his political influence to Ogun East. Many are watching to see how his choice of running mate, a cerebral columnist and journalist, Dr. Reuben Abati, would help his governorship ambition in Ogun Central.

    The national leadership of the PDP has said it loud and clear that Kashamu is not a member of the party and that he did not purchase the nomination form for the Ogun governorship race. National Chairman, Uche Secondus, recently presented the party’s emblem to Adebutu. Yet, Kashamu remains resolute in his conviction that he is the candidate of the party, citing a valid court order given in his favour.

    Indeed, Kashamu’s name is on the list of candidates recently published by INEC. In line with his style of politics, mixed with human face, the senator representing Ogun East in the upper legislative chamber has pledged make security and the welfare of the good people of Ogun State, among other socioeconomic packages, the focal point of his administration, if voted into power.

    But the odds do not favour him. In spite of the division in the APC, Abiodun appears to be the candidate riding on the momentum his campaign is currently generating. He seems to enjoy the goodwill from Ogun indigenes and residents, particularly private sector operators who see him as one of them. This is not just because he is a successful entrepreneur, but also because they trust him to understand their plight. They believe he has the pedigree to address the challenges facing them frontally, particularly those of multiple taxations, deplorable roads that hinder movement of raw materials and finished goods, as well as the epileptic power supply.

    Abiodun’s campaign centres on his quest to improve the welfare of the people, leveraging on the abundant arable land that could make the state the food basket of the Southwest, create jobs for the youths and triple its internally generated revenue (IGR), by harnessing all the inherent potentials of the state.

    Also, Abiodun has been managing effectively the post primary crisis of the party. He has embarked on a reconciliation exercise, to assuage the feelings of the aggrieved members who were not happy with the way the governorship primary panned out.

    Despite the alleged anti-party activities of the governor and his loyalists within the state party executive, which led to its dissolution and emergence of a Caretaker Committee, the APC governorship hopeful has been able to penetrate Ogun Central, by making a significant in-road into the zone which constitutes the support base of Governor Amosun.

    The Iperu-born Prince too has been demonstrating the poise, confidence and business spirit that rekindled hope in many that he could make a whole lot of difference for good in the state, if given the mandate.

    These are evidenced in the harvest of bumper goodwill from all strata of interest groups, leaders, opinion leaders and the electorate cutting across the three senatorial districts since his ward-to-ward campaign tour began this January.

     

  • Ogun 2019: You’re on your own, INEC tells Adebutu

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said any Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member in Ogun State campaigning for elective position without being on the candidates’ list released by the electoral umpire “is on his or her own” as the body has nothing to do with such.

    Mr. Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner for Information, Media and Voter Education, said this while featuring on Citizens’ Forum, a programme aired by the Rock City 101.9 FM, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu, a member of the House of Representatives and some of his supporters have been campaigning for various offices despite not making the list of candidates released by INEC.

    Adebutu has been at loggerheads with Senator Buruji Kashamu, PDP’s governorship candidate in Ogun State, over the governorship ticket.

    According to Okoye, only members of the PDP whose names were on the list released by INEC were the genuine candidates of the party, adding that others were mere pretenders.

    Okoye said, “Our position is that the INEC received judgments of properly constituted courts of law and we have given effect to the judgments that we have. The judgments that we have asked the INEC to recognize the list of candidates submitted by a particular faction of the PDP in Ogun State.

    “We have recognized the candidates submitted by that particular political party and we have published the names of those candidates recognized by the court. So, it is the names of those candidates that have been published. Any other individual, outside that particular list, who is campaigning for any position whatsoever, is on his or her own.

    Read Also: Adebutu: I’m the authentic PDP candidate

    “The INEC has nothing to do with that. We have obeyed the law. We have published the list of candidates that we were asked to publish based on court order and we have done what the law requires us to do.”

    Okoye also said that INEC was doing all within its powers to prevent vote buying during the elections.

    According to him, “The INEC has intelligence that as we are working assiduously to prevent the phenomenon of vote buying, politicians and political parties are working assiduously at devising new mechanisms on how to corrupt the electoral system and subvert the will of the people. We are going to put up new measures to address this issue.

    “My advice is that those who want to violate the law and those who want to change the will of the Nigerian people can continue with what they are doing. But on election day, the INEC will work with security agencies to make sure that anybody who tries to corrupt the electoral process or who attempts to violate the will of the people is apprehended and prosecuted.

    “My advice to political parties and candidates that want to subvert the will of the people is that they should be very careful because INEC and all the security agencies will be on the watch out for anyone who wants to violate the law.”

    The INEC National Commissioner said the general election would witness a larger voter turnout than the 2015 elections.

    He said, “We expect a larger voter turnout based on various variables.

    “One, we have registered over 80 million voters for this particular election. Second, the simultaneous accreditation and voting will afford Nigerian people the opportunity of voting without any disruption or delay.

    “Third, we expect the political parties to mobilize electorate for them to come out to cast their votes. We expect a higher voter turnout in this election than we had in the previous election.”

  • Ogun 2019: How far can Akinlade go?

    Four governorship aspirants–Dapo Abiodun All Progressives Congress (APC), Adekunle Akinlade (Allied Peoples Movement), Gboyega Isiaka (African Democratic Congress and Ladi Adebutu (Peoples Democratic Party)–are struggling to succeed Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Who gets the crown? Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the succession battle.

    President Muhammadu Buhari the Ogun State. The ruling party All Progressives Congress (APC) is polarised, having failed to resolve its post-primary crisis.

    Ogun APC has maintained that Dapo Abiodun, a businessman, is its authentic candidate. In protest, a governorship aspirant, Adekunle Akinlade, a member of the House of Representatives, has defected from the party to seek refuge in the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

    Beside the split in the APC, which may affect its chances at the poll, the party will still have to contend with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)candidate, who may either be Senator Buruji Kashamu or Ladi Adebutu. Also, Gboyega Isiaka from Yewa is running on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    History is repeating itself in the Gateway State. Four years ago, APC leaders, including Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Segun Adesegun, Gbenga Kaka, Akin Odunsi and other chieftains, called it quit with the platform. They supported candidates on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Amosun was accused of high handedness and undue influence. Despite the crisis, the governor secured a second term.

    But, the governor has been in the eye of the storm in recent times. The bone of contention is succession. Amosun is supporting power shift to Yewa, old Egbado Division, which has not enjoyed the slot before. But, some people do not share his sentiments. To them, if there is zoning, it is between Ijebu/Remo and Egba/Yewa. The governor has disagreed, saying it is the turn of the allegedly marginalised zone.

    As the party broke into two, the National Working Committee (NWC) waded into the imbroglio and pronounced Abiodun as the candidate. The reconciliation mooted by the party has failed. Last week, there was a final parting of ways between supporters of Abiodun and Akinlade.

    As a huge crowd of APM converged on the MKO Stadium, Abeokuta, the capital, for the kick of the governorship campaign by Akinlade, some APC elders were locked in sober reflection. Can Akinlade win without the support of the other camp? Can Abiodun beat his PDP rival, unless the two camps put efforts together?

    Around 12.10 pm, Akinlade rode into the venue, accompanied by his running mate, Mrs. Adepeju Adebajo. Shouts of the party slogan: ‘Triple A, sustaining the mission,’ filed the air as he alighted from his long campaign vehicle. Smiles lit up his face as he was cheered by the crowd. In that mood of excitement, he moved round the pavilion, waving at the supporters.

    Receiving the flag from the party’s national chairman, Mamman Yusuf, Akinlade, who hails from Yewa Division, Ogun West Senatorial District, promised to build on the achievements of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, if elected in next year’s election.

    A party chieftain, Jide Ojuko, justified Akinlade’s ambition, saying that, since the state was created 42 years ago, Yewa has not produced any governor. He urged the people to troop out to endorse him at the poll in the spirit of equity, justice and fairplay.

    However, Yusuf and Mamman emphasised that the party has resolved to adopt President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as presidential candidate and Governor Ibikunle Amosun as senatorial candidate for Ogun West. Also, the APM chieftains said the party has adopted Lekan Mustapha as senatorial candidate for the Ogun East District.

    But, they urged members to vote for the party’s lone senatorial candidate for Ogun West, Olusegun Gbeleyi.

    Party supporters came from the three senatorial districts, holding cassava tuber, the party symbol. Royal fathers under the aegis of the ‘Progressives Obas Forun,’ led by the Olunla of Itori, Oba Fatai Akama, also endorsed Akinlade, urging the people to vote for him so that he can take the the state to the promised land.

    According to observers, the commencement of the campaigns may have further dimmed any hope of reconciliation in the APC, which Akinlade dumped for the APM, following the post-primary crisi that engulfed the ruling party.

    Akinlade is believed to be enjoying the tacit support of Amosun, who has been at loggerheads with the party leadership over the choice of Dapo Abiodun as the APC candidate.

    Although the governor was not present at the venue, his majority of his commissioners, special advisers, aides and other big wigs accompanied Akinlade and vowed to mobilise for his victory.

    The Director General of Akinlade Campaign Organisation and former Steel Minister Sarafadeen Isola, and his deputy, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, were in a happy mood. Welcoming the party faithful, Isola described the APM as a movement necessitated by the collective desire to resist injustice and inequality. In his view, the movement is beyond party affiliations.

    He said: “The people of Ogun State have decided to put take their destiny in their hands. That is why we are supporting Akinlade. Akinlade was given the mandate. The mandate was manipulated. The people have decided to use fairness to fight unfairness, justice to fight injustice and equity to fight inequality.”

    Isola added: “The crowd is a testimony that the people will vote for Akinlade, who will set up a government of continuity to sustain the vision of Governor Amosun. That continuity and orderly succession is residing with Akinlade.”

    To Ojuko, the people of Yewa should not miss the chance to produce the next governor. He said: “Let our people prepare and get their PVCs to vote for Akinlade.” Echoing him, a former APC Women Leader said: “Let us come out from the East, West and Central to vote for Akinlade.”

    Her colleague, Mrs Ogunanwo, said: “This is a movement against injustice and unfairness.” In apparent criticism of APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole’s position on the Ogun APC crisis, she added: “Tell them in Abuja that labour law cannot work for us in Ogun.”

    A leader of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Olawale balogun, lauded Akinlade’s zeal for youth development, adding that students will mobilise to ensure that he becomes the governor.

    A chieftain, Dipo Ogunwole, who spoke on behalf of Ogun East, said: “The unity of Ogun us being demonstrated here today. This is a movement to victory.”

    Oba Akama, who led other royal fathers, said: “The king of heaven who installs earthly kings will lead us to the promised land. Amosun has tried for Ogun. We cannot afford to be stagnant. We want continuity, which can be guaranteed by the APM. Amosun has performed. Akinlade will perform better.”

    Akinlade, who was accompanied by his wife, promised to set up a government of continuity in post-Amosun era so that he can build on the governor’s legacies.

    “The journey has been a long and tortuous one,” he said, urging party followers to sustain the tempo to the end.

    The flag bearer lauded Amosun for raining the bar of governance, adding that, with the right steps and determination, Ogun will rise to its potentials.

    Akinlade said the state needed a right successor, who has been part of the administration in the last seven and half years, to succeed the governor. He noted that Amosun attracted 128 companies to the Gateway State because he provided a conducive atmosphere germane to business growth, stressing that the strides in infrastructural development led to the inflow of investment.

    He said: ‘Ogun has become one of the largest producers of rice in Nigeria. Human capital development is rising. The least we can do is to ensure an orderly succession to a government that can build on the successes.”

    He also reflected on the struggle for the ticket, describing it as a fight for freedom. “The people of Ogun has inalienable right to choose their leader and resist imposition.

    Akinlade maintained that he is the best for Ogun, if the state is to consolidate the current achievements in education, health and agriculture. He also promised to address the challenge of youth unemployment through skill acquisition programme.

    Akinlade commended President Buhari for his good leadership, fight against corruption and agricultural revolution.  Peeping into next year, he said: “Our victory is assured. You the people have resolved to stand with us and vote for APM. Our people have tested us and found us to be trustworthy.”

     

     

  • More troubles in Amosun’s camp

    Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, is fighting the political battle of his life. While the cracks on the walls of his political family continues to widen unabated ahead of the forthcoming general elections in the state, the national leadership of his party dissolved the state leadership of the party over allegations that it is involved in anti-party activities. Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports that it is no longer at ease within the camp of the Ogun governor.

    The political camp of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State is now in disarray with many of his associates pulling in different directions in the aftermath of their decision to ditch the All Progressives Congress (APC). Members of the group had initially agreed to move en masse into a single party on leaving the APC after losing out in the contest for the party’s governorship ticket.

    But in the last few days since the first group left to pitch tent with the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), other members have opted for either the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) or the Labour Party (LP) while Amosun and some key members of his group are staying back in the APC. The governor’s decision to remain in the APC has not gone down well with some of his supporters who fear they may have been thrown under the bus by their leaders.

    One of those who switched to the APM is Amosun’s favoured governorship candidate, Adekunle Akinlade. The strategy of the Amosun group is that by moving en masse into a single party, they would be able to wield their influence and actualise Akinlade’s governorship aspiration there. But many of them no longer believe they can make the desired impact the way they are now scattered in at least four parties.

    Apart from Akinlade, other prominent members of the Amosun group who were denied APC tickets on account of alleged imposition by Amosun include the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Suraj Adekunbi, who lost out the ticket of the Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal and the State Commissioner for Special Duties, Leke Adewolu, who lost the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency ticket to Ibrahim Isiaka.

    Others are the incumbent lawmaker representing Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode Federal Constituency, Hon. Mikhail Kazzim, who lost out to Hon. Olumide Osoba, son of former governor of the state and chieftain of the APC, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, as well as current Majority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Yinka Mafe.

    Following Akinlade into APM were 26 Amosun-favoured members of the House of Assembly. Also on the move is the chairman, the state local government service commission, Rotimi Rahman; the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Adedayo Adeneye; and the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Modupe Mujota, among others.

    A reliable source in the political family told The Nation that contrary to the governor’s expectation, some of his allies chose not to go with Akinlade to the APM for various reasons. The source said:”The plan is to move into one party and continue the struggle to install Akinlade as the next governor of the state. It took us time to agree on APM. Before then, we have considered a couple of other options like the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), the Labour Party (LP), among others.

    “But at the end of the day, the leadership of the group settled for the APM and instructed that we all move into the party. Sadly, some of our prominent members decided to stay put in the APC, while some others moved over to the DPP and the LP. We even have some who announced their resignation from politics outright. All these are making it difficult for us to mobilise the whole house for the governorship election ahead of us.”

    The Commissioner for Sports, Afolabi Afuwape, Amosun’s Senior Special Assistant on Environment, Dewunmi Onanuga, and Hon. Lanre Edun, another highly placed ally of the governor, have stayed put in the APC as its candidates for the House of Representatives election while there are indications that Hon. Kazeem may have opted to contest on the platform of the LP instead of joining the APM.

    Continuing, the source said:”We are aware of their decisions and when asked, they all gave various reasons for choosing to stay out of the movement to APM. But as politicians, the question we are asking them is: how they will work for Akinlade’s victory while running on the platforms of other parties? “We really don’t see how this will play out easily and everybody is worried over that.”

    It was also gathered that the senatorial contest in Ogun west is another issue currently tearing the governor’s camp apart. While Amosun’s Chief of Staff, Tolu Odebiyi, is running as the candidate of the APC, another of the governor’s close aides, Bolanle Gbeleyi, who was a consultant to the governor, is the senatorial candidate of the APM in the same election.

    “It is not true that the governor is using any of the two politicians to tackle the other. They are both loyalists of the governor and there is no rift between any one of them and His Excellency as being insinuated. What happened is that one of them is merely refusing to follow the directives of our political family as agreed. But I believe it will soon be resolved.”

    The Nation also gathered that some of the governor’s allies whose names appeared on the list of DPP’s national assembly candidates a few weeks back may have resolved to still run as candidates of the party in the forthcoming elections. It was gathered that most of those planning to do this had again lost out in the race for the APM ticket contrary to their expectations.

    “We were told we would be given the ticket of any party we moved to. That was why we agreed to leave the APC in the first place. But following the move, we were left out of the list sent to INEC as candidates of the APM. Good enough, we have our names with INEC as DPP candidates. We have met and we have decided to go on with our aspirations,” one of those concerned told The Nation.

    On the DPP list as candidates for the House of Representatives are former APC chairman for Egbado South Local Government, Odebiyi Safiu Abiodun, a younger brother to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Adekunbi Fatai Aremu, Alhaji Taofeek Olabode and a serving chairman of Abeokuta North Local Council Development Area.

    Others on the list are the General Manager of the State Housing Corporation, Olajumoke Akinwunmi, the current chairman of Odogbolu Local Government, Wale Shittu, Odumosu Olugbenga, a Commissioner in the Civil Service Commission, Mojeed Ekelojumati, the current chairman of APC in Ifo LG, Saheed Ariori, and Lamidi Rasheed from Ado-Odo/Ota.

    Oshiomhole’s hammer

    And just as the governor and his men were working round the clock to bring all their men together before the official flag-off of the governorship candidate of APM, Akinlade, the national leadership of the APC, in a move that further troubled Amosun’s political family, dissolved the executive committees in Ogun states at the state, local government, and ward levels.

    The dissolved executives, who are staunch loyalists to Governor Amosun, are accused of anti-party activities ahead of the 2019 general elections. “So those executives, right from the state to the ward level are not people we can trust to work honestly, for the success of our party in the next election,” Lanre Isa-Onilu, spokesman of the APC said while giving reasons for the dissolution which also affected the APC leadership in Imo state.

    He said the party viewed such action as anti-party activities. Therefore, it will not be in its interest to allow their structure to be used to undermine their chances in those states. “It is within our powers to ensure that we protect the interest of the party and also to activate relevant sections of our constitution which prohibit members from carrying out activities that are inimical to the interest of the party,” he said.

    In their place, the NWC said it would inaugurate caretaker committees that would take charge of party affairs in the two states ahead of the general elections. Findings by The Nation however revealed that the move by the NWC may have further decimated Amosun’s support base across the state as many of his staunch loyalists are now reconsidering their continued support for the governor’s actions against the party and its candidates.

    “Governor Amosun assured us that the national leadership of the party will not sanction us. He said he has an understanding with some prominent leaders of the party to do anything he feels is right ahead of the 2019 governorship election. But look at what happened. It is now clear he is fast losing relevance in APC and we are seriously considering what actions to take next as it is,” a member of the dissolved executive committee told The Nation.

    Expectedly, Amosun’s loyalists have dismissed the dissolution of the state executive committee of the APC by the NWC. The chairman of the dissolved Ogun APC executive, Derin Adebiyi, described the dissolution as “an exercise in futility.” He said the matter was sub judice, “as it is before a court of competent jurisdiction, presided over by Hon. Justice Jude Okeke of the FCT High Court, Abuja.”

    “The Ogun APC views its purported dissolution as a brazen disregard for the judiciary, hence the Nigerian constitution and flagrant abuse of power by the Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee. The action of the NWC is patently illegal; it is an assault on the APC constitution and outside the bounds of acceptable standards in the conduct of party affairs the world over.

    It was such acts of impunity that led us in the first place to seek legal protection for a four-year mandate freely given to us by the overwhelming majority of party members in Ogun State in May 2018. There is no iota of truth in the charge of anti-party activities levelled against us, as we remain committed to the ideals of the APC. You cannot dissolve a legally constituted body, such as Ogun APC exco on a whim. When a matter is in court, all parties are expected to maintain the status quo.

    “What Oshiomhole-led NWC has done amounts to self-help and bare-faced attempt to render nugatory the judicial powers granted the courts by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We condemn this attempt to foist a faith accompli on the judiciary, undermine its powers and turn it into a toothless bulldog. The NWC is legally represented in the present suit. We urge it to allow the judicial process to run its full course,” Adebiyi said, setting the stage for a fresh crisis in the party.

     More cracks

    And while the governor and his lieutenants are battling to resolve the issues forcing their loyalists into diverse political parties, more cracks are appearing on the wall of Governor Amosun’s political home as more and more of his erstwhile trusted aides and allies are pitching their tents with Abiodun, the APC gubernatorial flag-bearer he vowed never to support.

    During the week, leaders of the ruling party met at Frontier Hotel, Ilaro, Yewa South in a well publicised attempt to rally support for the Ogun APC governorship candidate, Abiodun, in the zone amidst widespread fears that the people of Yewaland may have resolved not to have anything to do with Abiodun’s aspiration following the refusal of the party to pick one of them as its candidate.

    The Ilaro meeting, held last Friday, was actually a follow up to an earlier stakeholders’ meeting held in Abeokuta on Monday. Following uncertainties over which of the APC bigwigs in Ogun West are actually with Abiodun in his quest to rule the state, it was agreed that a meeting of APC chieftains in the zone be called so that a roll call of pro-Abiodun members of the APC in Ogun West can be taken.

    “Before the Friday meeting, we were hearing all sorts of things about how many of our leaders in Ogun west have allegedly resolved to work against the candidate of the party in the next election. Many of them, being known allied and aides of Governor Amosun, were not even asked for their position on the crisis within the party before being tagged anti-party.

    “It was for this reason we resolved to have a meeting where those of us in the zone who are ready to let bygone be bygone and remain with the party would be present and all doubts would be cleared. The decision turned out a good one because many of those being labelled anti-Dapo Abiodun showed up at the meeting to the happiness of many of us. Even those some people claimed have joined the APM were at the meeting,” a source told The Nation.

    The Nation gathered that the leaders who attended the Ilaro meeting included Senator Akin Odunsi, former chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), Chief M.A Ajibola, Hon. M.A.O Obanla, former Commissioner, Hon. Samuel Aiyedogbon, Ogun APC governorship aspirant, as well as Hon. Hunye Abayomi and Hon. Tunji Akinosi.

    More surprising were the presence of Ogun West APC Senate candidate, Tolu Odebiyi, who was, until a couple of days ago, the Chief of Staff to Amosun, Yewa South/Ipokia APC House of Representative candidate, Hon. Biyi Otegbeye. Both Odebiyi and Otegbeye were key members of the governor’s political camp and have been tipped to be among those who will follow his dictates against Abiodun.

    Speaking at the meeting, Odebiyi said he told the governor that he can’t leave APC for another party while the governor stays back in APC. He also said he told the governor that he has a root in politics and he won’t want to destroy that all because of selfish interest. He made it clear that it is very absurd to go to another party and campaign for President Buhari while some stay in APC and also campaign for another party’s candidate.

    “Odebiyi’s presence at that meeting and his utterances have shown that the political family of Governor Ibikunle Amosun is no longer in harmony. It is true that many of his associates are frowning at his decision to remain in the APC while encouraging them to move out and populate the little known APM in pursuit of Akinlade’s governorship ambition.

    “As we speak, the inability of all our people to assemble in one political party as earlier agreed, and the continued recanting of people like Odebiyi, who are now openly identifying with Abiodun contrary to Governor Amosun’s dictates, are sources of fresh worries within the camp. And until and unless these worries are promptly allayed, the struggle to enthrone Akinlade as governor will suffer more setbacks,” another source added.

  • Ogun 2019: We’ll reconcile with Amosun, others, says Dapo Abiodun

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, on Friday, met with party leaders from across the state, assuring that aggrieved members, including Governor Ibikunle Amosun, would be appeased.

    Abiodun said the party primaries have come and gone, but added that the important things today are reconciliation of all members because of the crisis arising from the primaries and forge a “common front” as team to deal with the electoral contest ahead.

    The oil magnate who spoke with reporters at the residence of former governor, Segun Osoba, in Ibara GRA, Abeokuta, the state capital, shortly after the political meeting there, described Amosun as his “long time friend.”

    Abiodun noted that the fact that there was a disagreement between them over the primaries, does not negate both still being members of APC.

    He added that the disagreement is a “party family issue” that would be resolved, assuring that the Ogun State APC would enter 2019 electoral contest “strong and united.”

    He disclosed that his running mate would come from Ogun West Senatorial district, and pledged to improve the welfare of civil servants, particularly teachers in the state.

    He also pledged to embark on aggressive agricultural drive to enhance food supply and create jobs for the state’s teeming youth.

    Abiodun promised to improve the state’s current Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by harnessing all her potentials if elected into power in 2019.

  • Ogun 2019: Whoever is not happy should face us on D-Day – Amosun

    •Says 40 APC candidates ready

    •Peju Adebajo emerges as Akinlade’s running mate

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun has revealed  that the list of 40 candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 elective positions in the state has already been drawn and dares whoever that is not comfortable with it to meet him and the team on the day of direct primary.

    Amosun added that the party elders are aware of the selected 40 candidates and that the list will be displayed on Monday at the appropriate location.

    The list included the governorship candidate, Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade, and his running mate, Mrs. Peju Adebajo, Amosun’s Commissioner for Agriculture, from Sagamu.

    The governor made this known at the Government House, Isale-Igbein, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while addressing party members from Ogun East and Ogun West shortly after the former had adopted the candidature of Hon. Akinlade as the party’s governorship candidate even as the chairman of the party, Chief Derin Adebiyi, used the occasion to announce Mrs. Peju Adebajo as Akinlade’s running mate.

    Amosun recalled that some people, who joined APC in the state in mid afternoon, were accepted in the spirit of “magnanimity” but said such people do not want to follow the right procedure in dealing with issues in the party.

    He noted that he met the party in “carcass” in Ogun State and had to build it to the attractive APC it has become, wondering if he had left it unattended to, whether such people would have had a place to run to today.

    “We have said we are having consensus. We have done the consensus, we have arrived at the candidates, not just for the governor, we have arrived at all the 40 candidates in Ogun State.

    “We have 26 Assembly members, nine House of Representatives members, three senatorial members, deputy governor and the governor. We are going to display the names of the 40 on Monday.

    “Anybody that is not in agreement, we are not going to say he is not a member of our party, they will come and try; that is the beauty of democracy.

    “By the grace of God, by May 29, 2019, Akinlade will be our governor. I congratulate everyone for the success recorded by the party, and appreciate all other aspirants for their cooperation. We will have a landslide victory in the coming elections.

    “The entire state in unity has adopted Akinlade. We thank God for the success we have achieved in Ogun State. No state in the federation has achieved what we have achieved in this issue.”

    Earlier, elders of the party from Ogun East met with the state party leaders among who were the national financial secretary, Alhaji Tajudeen Bello, and Derin Adebiyi.

    Adebiyi later presented Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade to the leaders of the party from Ogun East, seeking their support.

  • Ogun 2019: Oil magnate, Abiodun declares for governorship

    …Lauds, PMB, Tinubu on direct primary

     

     

    Oil magnate and entrepreneur, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has declared for the Ogun State governorship race, expressing the confidence that he would not only clinch the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket, but also succeeds Governor Ibikunle Amosun on May 29, 2019.

    Abiodun who lauded President Muhammadu Buhari and APC national leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, for their position on direct primary as the right approach to select its candidates for electives offices, said he would focus on “mass centric” programmes and not “ones that cater for the elites or “have only visibility value,” if he emerges  as Governor in 2019.

    Read Also:Ogun 2019: Isiaka dumps PDP, cites intractable crisis as reason

    The APC chieftain and Real Estate investor, made this known to reporters in Iperu, his home town, Ogun State on Thursday evening while declaring his ambition to succeed Governor Amosun.

    He urged the Ogun State chapter of the APC to adopt direct primary system as the right approach for selecting governorship candidates, saying it remains the way to give party members the unfettered freedom to pick the right person from the pool of aspirants.

    According to him, the pronouncement of the party leaders like President Buhari and Tinubu – on direct primary as advocated by both, actually saves the party from further hemorrhage due to defection, since direct primary assured every party member equal chance of participation in the race in a fair and free level playing field, devoid of impositions.

    Abiodun assured that he has the intellectual capacity, experience, pedigree to govern the state and “raised the bar” because of veritable leadership and management skills garnered over the years from the private sector, adding that it would be “laughable” for anybody sit in a “corner of somewhere and appoints who should be Governor of Ogun State.”

     

  • Ogun 2019: APC and challenge of succession

    No fewer than 12 aspirants are struggling to succeed Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun on the platform of the All Progresives Congress (APC). Correspondent ERNEST NWOKOLO examines the issues that will shape the primary and the party’s preparations for next year’s poll.

    The die is cast. The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which conducted relatively peaceful ward, local government and state congresses in May, is bracing up for the challenge of next year’s general elections. The party is working to retain power.

    The first critical step was the election of ex-Senior Special Adviser on Political Affairs to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Chief Derin Adebiyi, as the  chairman, the emergence of Patrick Ogunde as secretary and Wole Elegbede as publicity secretary. The congress was devoid of rancour.

    Adebiyi is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear on the running of the party.The hope of many is that the party will also conduct a rancour-free governorship primary next month.

    No fewer than 12 aspirants on the platform of the party are itching to succeed Amosun, who wil complete his second term on May 29, next year. They include: House of Assembly Speaker Suraj Adekunbi (Ogun West), Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s Chief of staff Tolu Odebiyi (Ogun West), the  Commissioner for Forestry, Kola Lawal (Ogun West), Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Bashorun Muyiwa Oladipo  (Ogun East), Abayomi Hunye(Ogun West) and Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Rotimi Rahmon (Ogun West).

    Also, former Deputy Governor Gbenga Kaka (Ogun East), Commissioner for Commerce Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru (Ogun East), Jimi Lawal (Ogun East), Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade (Ogun West),  Adekunle Akinlade (Ogun West) and Abayomi Hunye (Ogun West) are in the race.

    The crowded race is a source of concern to partly elders and leaders.Their worry is not misplaced. Since the return of civil rule in 1999,  no political party in Ogun State has been able to transmit  power from one person to another, in an unbroken pattern after the incumbent had served two terms of eight years as witnessed in Lagos, Edo  and Anambra states. This is significant for APC, which is aspiring to break the jinx.

    Until the last congress, the camp loyal to former Governor Segun Osoba and and Amosun’s group had engaged in a protracted over alleged  marginalisation and hijacking of the party structure by Amosun and his group, shortly after the 2011 governorship victory.

    Today, both camps have Senator Akin Odunsi from Ogun West who contested against Amosun in the April 11, 2015 election on the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP) is back in APC.

    Also, the party has also made some in roads into the opposition to poach key members and swell its ranks: Alhaji Sarafa lshola, former chieftain of PDP and ex – Secretary to Ogun State Government, Senator Lekan Mustapha and Tunji Akinosi are now in the APC.

    But, the party should not rejoice, until it has picked its candidate at the primary.

    According to observers, what currently exists in Ogun APC is the peace of the grave yard, warning that the party may erupt, like a volcano, into another major crisis.

    It is expected that on August 15, Amosun would draw to a  close, his hide and seek game on the awaited ‘annointed candidate’ and unveil the ‘whizkid’ to the people.

    Only few weeks ago, Kaka  appealed to the leadership of the APC to give the people free hands to decide who should fly ticket in 2019.

    He reasoned that a free and fair primaries would ensure victory at the poll.

    But, Amosun’s body language suggests he must have an overriding input in the choice of who succeeds him.

    How the party handles this and the booby trap that is the Ijebu agenda amid increasing clamour for power shift to Yewa – Awori in the spirit of justice, equity and fairness, portend danger.

    Already, the signs are there that the party is on a tortuous path to 2019.

    Three weeks ago, a federal High Court sitting in Lagos ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC in Ogun State and the Police to recognise and deal only with winners of May 5, 2018 Congress conducted in Ifo State Constituency Wards 1, 2, 3 and 11 respectively.

    This attests  to the fact that all is not well with the ruling party in Ogun.

    The court also ordered the Party to conduct a fresh congress in Coker ward 10 for election of a new ward executive committee  on the grounds that the May 5 congress was inconclusive.

    The suit was filed by Alhaji Asimiyu Aderibigbe, Tope Lawal, Segun Abolade, Ramon Sodipo,  Solomon Isola,  Folorunso Ojerinde, Chief Kola Olutola, Hon. Monsuru Akinyele, Alhaji Okesola and Mr. Dare Aninkan on behalf of themselves and other winners of  party congress elections in ward 1, 2, 3  and 11 and contestants in Ward 10.

    Also, last week, the chairman, Adebiyi, dropped what looked like a bombshell at the party secretariat on Abiola Way, Abeokuta, when he said certain key positions have been zoned to the senatorial districts. Adebiyi said the party executives are just “umpire” and would provide a level playing field and ensure free and fair primary for members seeking elective offices. But, he said the governorship ticket is already allotted to Ogun West and the deputy to Ogun East while the party chairman went to the Ogun Central.

    He made the revelation in response to a governorship aspirant, Jimi Lawal from Ogun East, who was at the secretariat to unfold his ambition.

    The chairman admitted that Lawal “has the experience” and fit for the job but regretted that were it not for the zoning arrangement in place as well as the forthcoming primary designed  to give everybody a level playing field, he would have said straight away that the ticket should go to him.

    The implication of the arrangement is that any governorship aspirant from Ogun East has a slim chance of getting the ticket.

    Lawal is already kicking against it, saying zoning is not in the party’s  constitution. He said zoning and level playing field do not go hand in hand, stressing that the party should use direct primary to select the candidate.

    He argued that zoning would shortchange Ogun people and rob them of the opportunity to pick the best from the array of aspirants across the state.

    Again, the party may play into the hand of ADC with former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the arrowhead through his Coalition of Nigerian Movement (CNM) to contend with ahead of 2019.

    Obasanjo had not hidden his desire  to support the Ogun West Senatorial District to produce the next governor in 2019 provided the zone fields a “credible candidate for the governorship election.”

    He said that since the creation of Ogun State over four decades ago,  the zone has produced a governor.

    Although, his earlier  support for the zone  in 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) failed, but he used the occasion of  the burial service for the former Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Deacon Adepoju Adeyemi, in Ayetoro, Yewa North Local Government Area to reiterate his commitments to Ogun West agenda for governor.

    The promoter of the Believe Movement, Prince Gboyega Isiaka is contesting the 2019 election on the platform ADC.

    The pioneer Managing Director of the Gateway Holdings, during the administration of Gbenga Daniel, said ADC is the third force that will offer Ogun people an escape route from the failed promises of APC.

    However, an APC chieftain, Yomi Olojeloju, said APC had a brither future.

    “The atmosphere portends a window of opportunity for APC to win convincingly come 2019 in Ogun State. Unlike in 2015 when some of us were in SDP, some UPN and all the rest. The major opposition party in the state too is now in disarray because they were expecting to reap from the crisis that never happened, but alas, no bounty to reap from. So, it’s a new beginning, and we are very happy about it,” Yomi said.

  • Motley crowd of aspirants jostle for Ogun 2019

    The next governorship election in Ogun State promises to be an interesting contest. Over 18 aspirants from different platforms are seriously jostling to take Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s job, come 2019. Correspondent ERNEST NWOKOLO examines the relative strengths and weaknesses of the aspirants and their political platforms.

    LESS than a year to the general elections, over 18 of aspirants cutting across major political parties and senatorial districts across Ogun State are already jostling to succeed Governor Ibikunle Amosun, whose second term tenure will end on May 29, 2019.

    Some of the major contenders are: Speaker Suraj Adekunbi (Ogun West), Amosun’s Chief of staff, Tolu Odebiyi (Ogun West) and Senator Solomon Adeola (Ogun West). The list also includes former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (Ogun West) is aspiring to succeed Amosun; House of Representatives member, Ladi Adebutu (Ogun East), who represents Remo North, Sagamu and Ikenne Federal Constituency at the National Assembly; Commissioner for Commerce Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru (Ogun East) and Otunba Rotimi Paseda who hails from Omu-Ijebu.

    Others are: Jimi Lawal who hails from Ijebu-Ode; Temitope Kuyebi, who wants to run on APC platform; and Prince Adeleke Tella, another aspirant on the platform of the APC.

    The aspirants have their relative areas of strengths and weaknesses. For instance, Bimbo Ashiru, a technocrat, joined Amosun’s government right from inception in 2011 and may have a pool of goodwill on his side. He also appears to have some integrity. But he rarely talks about politics and it is not clear if the promoters of Ijebu Agenda for 2019 have him in mind. Nevertheless, the commissioner appears to be doing well in his job; at least he has continued to attract investors to the state.

    It is equally left to be seen if Ashiru enjoys a wide acceptance from his Ogun East constituency. His people say he is not their best foot forward for the governorship office in 2019. His aspiration is also not helped by the fact that other zones do not agree with the notion that an Ijebu person should aspire to become governor in 2019. This is mainly because the Yewa/Awori axis of the state has not had a chance since the state was founded over four decades ago to occupy the position.

    Adebutu, comes from the same constituency with Ashiru, has on his part not concealed his ambition to govern Ogun in 2019. This son of a billionaire philanthropist, Sir Kensington Adebutu, controls a faction of the PDP which has also zoned its governorship ticket to the Ogun East and Ladi is expected to be the beneficiary when the race begins in earnest.

    The federal legislator who is the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Rural Development is adjudged to be credible, not controversial and has the financial strength to help the PDP return to power in 2019. But his albatross is the crippling crisis in Ogun PDP, which has proved intractable.

    The national body seemed favourably disposed to the Sikirulai Ogundele-led faction of the party, which Adebutu belongs to. But the Bayo Dayo-led group considers itself the authentic faction of the party. This is a challenge to Adebutu’s ambition. The lawmaker also has the clamour by the Yewa/Awori axis, otherwise known as Ogun West district, to produce the governor in 2019 to contend with.

    Paseda has been striving to become governor on the platform of the revived Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). He first contested for the seat in 2011 and later in 2015, but lost in both instances to the incumbent governor.

    He however remains undaunted. It is not in doubt that the aspirant has the good of the state at heart. In fact, the poor and less privilege constitute the bulk of his support base. But this has not translated to electoral victory for him.

    Paseda is the sole financier of the UPN in the state. His biggest drawback is that the party has not been able to attract heavyweight politicians that could join forces with him to actualise his governorship ambition.

    Lawal is one of the governorship aspirants from Ogun East district on the platform of the APC. The former chairman of Alpha Merchant Bank Limited is also currently a Special Adviser to Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State. He believes he is more qualified and accepted in Ijebu than any other aspirant from the area.

    But his influence or popularity is not yet felt beyond Ijebuland.

    Odebiyi is son of the late politician, Chief Jonathan Odebiyi. He hails from Iboro community in Iju Local Council Development Area (LCDA) that was excised from the Yewa North Local Government Area. The 55-year old Chief of Staff to Governor Amosun was once a member of the State Judicial Service Commission and Transition Committee on Housing. He is a real estate player of international repute.

    Odebiyi is believed to have been brought in by Amosun to understudy the system — politics, governance and the intrigues — at a close range in the hope of becoming his likely successor.

    But, many see him as a political neophyte who is not keen in adapting to the Nigerian way of doing politics. Some frown at his air of arrogance and the elitism he flaunts with less disguise, which they believe could make him inaccessible to the people, if he is supported to climb the ladder of power.

    But he also cuts the picture of man who can assert himself and capable of summoning the strong political will to follow through with whatever good intention he has for the state and the people.

    At a time, Odebiyi’s name was being bandied as the likely successor to Amosun.  Unconfirmed reports had it that his main backer, the governor, had even resorted to shopping for another candidate, because of the notion that Odebiyi may not enjoy a statewide acceptance. But observers believe that the governor has changed his mind in this regard, by giving the Odebiyi option some semblance of a positive thought.

    Should this favourable disposition persist, he may clinch the APC ticket; more so when he hailed from Ogun West, an area yet to produce a governor.

    Speaker Suraj Adekunbi is from Aiyetoro, the headquarters of Yewa North Local Government Area. He is a faithful ally of Governor Amosun and banks on the renewed strident clamour for “Yewa-for-governor” as an opportunity to aspire for the governorship seat in the hope that he might be the lucky one, if the party goes ahead with the idea of zoning the ticket to the area in 2019.

    The Speaker has been consulting quietly and widely in respect of his governorship aspiration, while his foot soldiers have continued to market him openly and clandestinely in many quarters.

    Adekunbi, 43, has age is on his side at a time the clamour for the young blood to take the mantle of leadership at all levels of governance in the country is rife. He believes he enjoys the support of the Egbas and Ijebus, which might be pivotal to the success of his aspiration.

    By virtue of his office as Speaker, coupled with his closeness to the governor, Adekunbi is largely perceived as someone who has gotten more than a passing knowledge of the intricacies of governance at that level.

    It is believed that such experience is valuable to a would-be governor. But, beyond that, a good number of people consider Adekunbi weak and pliable in the hands of the executive. He is not known to disagree with Governor Amosun on any issue and it is being counted as a serious disadvantage in some quarters.

    Adeola, who represents Lagos West at the uppere chamber of the National Assembly, has become a household name with his 2019 governorship aspiration. The senator who is popularly called Yayi appears to be the one of the favourites in the eyes of the people, as far as actualising Ogun West’s long quest for the number one office is concerned.

    He is well accepted in every zone, but his absence during the recent party congresses in the state has made observers to start wondering if he is still in the race for the governorship.

    But his media aide, Chief Kayode Odunaro, maintains that Adeola is still committed to his aspiration to govern the state, but is consulting widely across board in respect of it. Besides, Odunaro says Adeola is a senator representing Lagos West and cannot leave that constituency unattended to during the party congresses there.

    The senator’s strength, the aide added, lies in his experience as a politician, lawmaking, faith in God and the good people of Ogun State, as well as genuine intention to drive development across the state.

    He said: “He intends to re-invent governance in the state, reverse the pitiable fortune of the local governments through massive rural development, youth empowerment, food subsidies, investment in education among others, if given the chance.”

    Adeola is notorious for always saying only God and the people that can determine who becomes governor of the Gateway State in 2019.

    Isiaka, who is popularly known as GNI, has contested the governorship twice, in 2011 and 2015, on two different platforms. He was compelled to contest on the platform of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in 2011, when he lost out in the race for the PDP ticket. But in 2015, he is aspiring on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    This time around his ambition to govern the Gateway State is unabated. Indeed, Isiaka has tested his political might on the field twice and made impressive showings on those occasions, even though he did not emerge victorious.

    GNI now has a quantum of experience on his side and is a familiar political brand in the state. He is a technocrat, intelligent, cool headed, youthful and hails from Ogun West, which is favoured by zoning to produce the next governor of the state. He was the pioneer Group Managing Director of Gateway Holdings Limited (GHL), the investment company of Ogun State government.

    The agitation is rife today for the Ogun West people to produce the next governor in the spirit of equity, justice and fairness and the political wind seemed to be blowing in that direction of power shift.

    All of these represent huge political asset, and if harnessed effectively, could place GNI miles ahead of others politically in 2019.

    It can be said that Isiaka has no personal fault or baggage. His aspiration in the past was affected by bouts of inherited political prejudice that often come from his sponsor(s) and the legendary lack of unity of the Ogun West. But, this time around, such prejudices and lack of unity seem to have disappeared.

    Ogun West district appears to be more united today than ever before, to speak with one voice in respect of the 2019 governorship and Isiaka may run on a clean slate and on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to actualise his governorship dream.

    Kuyebi, a progressive politician, began his political career over a decade ago with the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

    He joined the governorship race recently on the platform of the APC, declaring that 2019 is his auspicious year to govern the state. He hails from Imasayi town in Ogun West Senatorial district and enjoys the support of the people.

    Kuyebi is one politician that had made more sacrifices in the past in the interest of the party and it is believed that the time is ripe for him to reap the benefits of his attitude of consistently listening to the party elders and working for the harmony, peace and progress of the party.

    He was the first consensus candidate that was unanimously presented to contest for the governorship seat from Ogun West in 2011 on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). But, despite the popular yearning of his people for him to contest the seat at the time, he stepped down for Senator Ibikunle Amosun that year on the directive of the party leaders.

    Kuyebi also tried contesting for the ticket of the Ogun West senatorial seat in 2015. But, again, he was asked to step down for Senator Gbolahan Dada, who currently represents the district.

    If there is reward for party loyalty, his supporters are hoping that Kuyebi would get the APC ticket for the 2019 governorship.

    He utilizes his foundation, Temitope Foundation, as the vehicle for grassroots mobilization to actualise his political ambition.

    Tella is a strong contender that Ogun West should produce the next governor, but he believes that the royal blessing and support of other zones should be courted to ensure success. But it is not clear if the founder of Tribute Television has enough money to back his aspiration.

    But, Tella believes that he will leverage on his creativity and innovative spirit to tackle hunger, massive job creation through agriculture and the creative industry, if he gets the people’s mandate.

    He hails from Ilaro, in Yewa South and possesses grassroots mobilization skills. He is also one politician from Ogun West who is of the firm conviction that the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Alake of Egba Oba Adedotun Gbadebo,  the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Tunde and Olu of Ilaro and ruler of Yewa Oba Kehinde Olugbenle have roles to play to help Yewa – Awori people achieve their dream of producing the next governor.

    Other aspirants jostling to become the next governor include the commissioner for Forestry, Kola Lawal (Ogun West); Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Bashorun Muyiwa Oladipo (Ogun East); former Speaker of the House of  Representatives, Dimeji Bankole (Ogun Central); Abayomi Hunye (Ogun West); Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Rotimi Rahmon (Ogun West); Hon. Abiodun Akinlade (Ogun West); Hon. Adekunle Akinlade (Ogun West); and Abayomi Hunye (Ogun West). They are all said to be separately consulting across the state for advice and support.

     

  • Ogun 2019: Adeola disowns campaign posters

    Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, chairman of Senate Committee on Local Content, on Saturday said his attention has been drawn to political campaign posters being posted overnight in some parts of Ogun State, purporting to announce the commencement of his campaign for the Ogun State governor in 2019. He dissociated himself completely from the posters describing them as the ill conceived and ill- motivated gimmick of his political opponents to portray him in bad light.

    Adeola said the posting of such posters is clearly a breach of the Electoral Law of Nigeria and against the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for which such poster pasting is a contravention. Senator Adeola said that currently what is going on in Ogun State are consultations among relevant stakeholders on Ogun 2019, adding that he remains the duly elected senator of Lagos West and will continue to represent them fully in all ways.

    “As a law abiding citizen and a law maker of over 14 years standing presently serving at the highest legislative body in Nigeria, I am not one to be seen to break any law of Nigeria in pursuit of any political or other goals. By the electoral law of Nigeria it is illegal for any aspirant for elections in 2019 to begin political campaign as portrayed in the planted poster of me springing up in parts of Ogun State,” the senator stated.