Politics
Semi Guber Contest: Men eyeing Oyo south’s senatorial seat
SENATORIAL election in the Oyo South district promises to be one of the most keenly contested, as the countdown to the elections of 2023 begins. Battle Royale will be the primary election for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and then when the opposition candidate faces the Governor Seyi Makinde – led PDP government-imposed candidate – Engr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe.
To pave way for Tegbe, the incumbent Senator, Mr. Kola Balogun was edged out by the Seyi Makinde ruling cabal on the pretext of the incumbent Senator’s non-performance. Meanwhile, attempts by members of Governor Seyi Makinde’s (GSM) cabal allegedly led by former State House of Assembly Speaker and Senator, Monsurat Sunmonu to foist Tegbe as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial candidate was fiercely resisted by a serial contender for the Oyo Central Senatorial seat, Chief Bisi Ilaka.
Instead, Tegbe, long-standing, close association with the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi family, and a renowned management consultant but unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate under the All Progressives Congress (APC) was handed over the Oyo South Senatorial ticket while other long-standing PDP aspirants were ordered to step down for the new bride.
Interestingly, the incumbent Senator Kola Balogun, junior brother to the newly crowned, highly revered Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, has since decamped to the opposition APC in protest to the treatment meted to him by Governor Makinde – the South West emperor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
So Tegbe and PDP would be banking mainly on Governor Makinde’s incumbency and the declining political hold on the politics of the state.
Housed by nine local governments, Oyo south senatorial district is the nucleus of Oyo state and ad rem to the emergence of state government because the district is not only the most populated but also possesses a significant voting strength.
The nine local governments included: Ibadan North, Ibadan North East, Ibadan North West, Ibadan South East, Ibadan South West, Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, and Ido Local Government Areas.
The All Progressives Congress (APC )candidates who have obtained forms too are many. No doubt, the candidate APC presents against Joseph Tegbe would determine who carries the day.
This Magazine, however, attempted a holistic consideration and evaluation of contenders, not pretenders in the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC)
Chief Adesoji Akanbi
The Okanlomo of Ibadanland and a leading member of the Southwest Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA ‘23) – a prominent political group championing the presidential bid of former governor of Lagos state, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu has joined politics early in his career.
Adesoji Akanbi better known as SOJ represented Oyo South Senatorial District between 2015-2019. He hails from Ebuadi Compound of Inalende area of Ibadan North West Local Government.
As Senator, he had many projects to his credit and understands the political terrain, but allegedly not readily available to political gatekeepers in his district until very recently when he wanted to contest the same seat. SOJ is sure highly connected and strategic, based on his political experience, he may spring a surprise and if imposition is possible, he’s also a sure candidate.
Dr. Olusola Ayandele
Ayandele popularly addressed by his supporters and admirers as ‘Eruobodo’ is from Ibarapa axis of Oyo State and the only aspirant from that axis. The Ibarapa born industrialist, including Joseph Tegbe, Adeniyi Akintola, Azeez Adeduntan were among the governorship aspirants forced to step down in 2019.
A technocrat and well-funded politician. He has consistently oiled, maintained his political structure, networks, and contacts. It will be difficult for other candidates to get meaningful votes under whatever primary mode adopted, from the Ibarapa Local Governments who have been noted to stand by their kinsmen when in political contests with others.
Herein lies the unique strength of Eruobodo in this contest, however his weakness being rumoured was that he romanced politically with Governor Seyi Makinde before the 2019 election.
Kolapo Kola-Daisi
Highly educated, the brilliant son of wealthy and revered High Chief of Ibadanland, Chief Kola -Daisi, and son in law to Late Governor Abiola Ajimobi. He is quite new in political contests: not much think-tank was put into his political pursuit, except for the contributions of a former council gaffer of his Ibadan Northeast Local Government, Hon. Lekan Afuye.
To announce entrance into Oyo State politics, the political hot seat of South West, Nigeria, at Senatorial level, now, is not so strategic for the financial expert. Moreso, his father-in-law is no more and the same father-in-law lost election to the same seat in the immediate previous poll.
Also, his brother-in-law, Alhaji Idris Ajimobi will be contesting in the same 2023 elections as he had earlier declared and obtained forms to contest the Ibadan South-West State Constituency II seat.
Although, the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi has remained a subject of discussion in Oyo state politics and beyond due to his performance, especially in the areas of security, infrastructure, and urban renewal programmes among others with a clear tripod policy of Restoration, Transformation, Repositioning. However, thinking in political circles is that the late governor’s family members are finding subtle ways to re-dominate the political landscape of the state again after eight years as Governor plus four years as Senator (12 years).
This writer thinks that Oyo State of Nigeria is too maverick, cosmopolitan, and sophisticated politically for that kind of barber-chair revolving or recycling political chess game. But, Kolapo Kola-Daisi has a bright future politically, if he remains consistent.
Bimbo Adekanmbi
Has also obtained and submitted the expression of interest and nomination forms for the Oyo South Senatorial contest. Adekanbi was the financial emperor and brilliant egghead in the late Governor Ajimobi’s Government where he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) and Commissioner for Finance respectively.
The seasoned financial expert from Ona – Ara local government started his senatorial consultations earlier and he had since maintained consistency in touching lives in the senatorial district especially the Youth through his various educational programmes, but his political adventure for the Senate is faced with the herculean task of justifying the perpetuation of political governance and indirect rule through him and the late Ajimobi family.
Adekanbi, though very sharp-minded and loaded financially, does not have the political structure of his own in the nine local governments that he will be contesting. Political analysts opined that giving the APC ticket to Adekanbi or Daisi to face PDP’s Tegbe would be a subtle way of re-enacting late Governor Ajimobi’s senatorial ambition of 2019 indirectly through his surrogates while their principal Ajimobi has left the political scene.
Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli
Lawyer, former council chief of Ibadan North Local Government, Chief of Staff, and Secretary to the Oyo State Government (SSG) in ex-Governor Rasidi Ladoja’s government, is a vast grassroots politician with a wide network. Analysts submitted that it will make more political sense if contestants from Ibadan axis can adopt the former Chairman, Board of Directors, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Alli as the Senatorial candidate.
They added that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) will be playing a smart political card by giving Alli the ticket as he is High Chief Ladoja’s boy. However, Alli may not personally have a deep purse to pursue a Senatorial election except if a coalition of financers rises for him.
Olooye Adegboyega Adegoke
Olooye Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke, the Aare-Onibon Balogun of Ibadanland, is also a contender for Oyo South APC Senatorial ticket. The rich philanthropist and owner of Solutions FM is not a formidable grassroots politician.
Apart from being a fat cat, and city spender, his philanthropic gesture through his foundation seems to be opening doors for him as he had successfully empowered several residents of Ibadan. Also, the businessman looks more prepared and determined for the challenges ahead.
Yes, he has been making waves through the mass media and engaging with relevant stakeholders like his competitors but winning a Senatorial election in a politically enlightened state such as Oyo requires more.
Senator Kola Balogun
The incumbent Senator Kola Balogun is warming himself and getting the consent of Senator Teslim Folarin’s group to re-contest but now under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Those who are having that ambition already in APC do not like that arrangement.
According to sources who confided in Mega Icon Magazine, Balogun seems to be coming in as the consensus candidate as the ‘Ibadan agenda’ wants to use his candidature to pacify the Olubadan palace and nullify the alleged insult that they think Governor Seyi Makinde has done for the lawmaker, younger brother to the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
No doubt, the game is getting more interesting!
Also, ready funds to mobilise delegates and voters, capacity for collaboration and alliances, what mode of primary and ability to manage the fallouts and discontent, working relationship with the Party’s Guber candidate, and whether imposition is possible from higher quarters, are other factors that are expected to be considered by the eventual winner.
But, suffice to say that former Governor Rasidi Ladoja still holds the ace as the only living political godfather in Oyo state in the choice of a possible candidate for Oyo South senatorial in the forthcoming elections.
Political Desk, Mega Icon Magazine,
08058893736.
The lawmaker representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency of Oyo State, Olafisoye Akinmoyede, has denied allegations of violence at the All Progressives Congress (APC) state secretariat, describing claims that he assaulted a party member as false and politically motivated.
An online platform, IMPARTNEWSNETWORK, had alleged that Akinmoyede assaulted one Gafar Oyebade during a meeting convened by the state chairman of the party, Alake Adeyemo, to resolve issues surrounding the executive list of the APC in Lagelu Local Government Area.
However, Akinmoyede, in a statement on Tuesday, said the meeting was peaceful and attended by key members of the state executive, including the chairman, deputy chairman, and secretary, who witnessed the proceedings.
He clarified that contrary to Oyebade’s claim of being the party secretary, the official list presented by the state leadership recognised him as the Public Relations Officer.
According to the lawmaker, following the clarification, the state executive directed the Lagelu Local Government chairman, Fatai Awoyoola, to proceed with the swearing-in of other party officials.
Akinmoyede also faulted attempts to link the incident with the 2019 killing of a former federal lawmaker, noting that a court of competent jurisdiction had already ruled on the matter.
He said, “In Suit No. I/70c/2019, delivered by Justice Mufutau Adegbola on January 23, 2020, all those accused were discharged and acquitted.”
The lawmaker expressed concern over what he described as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, alleging that Oyebade, a public school teacher under the Oyo State Government, should not be involved in partisan politics.
He described the allegation as a “recycled script” aimed at tarnishing his image ahead of political activities, urging constituents to remain calm.
Akinmoyede also called on journalists to verify information before publication and urged security agencies to take action against individuals who file false reports.
“These tactics surface every election cycle. Those behind them should learn to accept the outcomes of political processes. They failed before and will fail again. Power comes from God,” he added.
The lawmaker representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede, has denied allegations of assault levelled against him by a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagelu Local Government Area, Mr. Gafar Oyebade.
Akinmoyede described the allegation as “false” and “a lie taken too far,” insisting that no physical altercation occurred.
The denial was contained in a statement issued on Monday by his Legislative Aide, Dr. Isiaq Akintunde.
Oyebade had alleged that he was hospitalised following a confrontation during a meeting held at the office of the state party chairman in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, convened to resolve a leadership dispute in the local government.
But the federal lawmaker maintained that the meeting was peaceful and attended by top party officials.
“The meeting was convened to clarify Mr. Oyebade’s position within the local executive, and it was attended by the State Party Chairman, his deputy, the secretary, the publicity secretary, and other key state executives, all of whom witnessed the peaceful proceedings,” the statement read.
He added that contrary to Oyebade’s claim of being the party secretary, the official list presented by the Lagelu Local Government Party Chairman, Hon. Fatai Awoyoola, identified him as the Public Relations Officer.
According to Akinmoyede, the state executive thereafter directed Awoyoola to proceed with the swearing-in of the remaining members of the local government executive.
The lawmaker accused Oyebade of fabricating the allegation to advance political interests.
“I wonder why Mr. Gafar Oyebade, a secondary school teacher, would claim he was assaulted in the presence of the State Executive. This is an attempt to justify money allegedly collected from an aspirant to tarnish my image,” he said.
Akinmoyede further claimed that Oyebade was seen walking freely after the meeting and was not hospitalised as alleged.
He also raised concerns over Oyebade’s involvement in partisan politics, noting that civil servants are restricted from active participation in political activities.
The lawmaker called on security agencies and the media to investigate the incident at the party’s Oke-Ado office to ascertain the veracity of the claims.
Efforts to reach Oyebade for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Aderemi Oseni, has declared his intention to contest the Oyo South Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.
Oseni made his aspiration known during a high-level meeting with the Ibarapa APC Elders’ and Leaders’ Forum, comprising the G9 and the expanded G64 caucus, held at the party secretariat in Eruwa, Ibarapa East Local Government Area, over the weekend.
The G9 and G64 groups consist of influential stakeholders drawn from Ibarapa East, Ibarapa Central, and Ibarapa North local government areas.
In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the lawmaker expressed appreciation to the forum for their support and confidence in his leadership and vision.
He said his ambition to represent Oyo South Senatorial District was anchored on a determination to consolidate and expand his record of performance.
Oseni said, “This aspiration is not built on mere rhetoric, but on the continuity and expansion of a proven track record of quality representation and grassroots-oriented governance.”
While soliciting the support of party leaders, he described his ambition as a divine call to serve the people with renewed dedication.
According to him, “This is not a time for self-glory but a sacred responsibility to intensify efforts towards real development, bring more relief to our people and ensure inclusive governance.”
He pledged not to betray the trust reposed in him by party elders and faithful, stressing that his aspiration is rooted in progressive ideals and a genuine commitment to the development of the district.
Oseni also urged leaders in the zone to mobilise support towards delivering one million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the forthcoming election.
Speaking at the meeting, a leader from Ibarapa East, Chief Michael Morawo, lauded the lawmaker for delivering democratic dividends and strengthening the party structure. He added that Oseni has demonstrated commendable leadership through his performance, noting that his impact in stabilising the party within the constituency is evident.
Similarly, a former council chairman in Ibarapa Central, Chief Theophilus Adenrele, commended the lawmaker for not betraying the trust reposed in him. Also, a chieftain from Ibarapa North, Chief Francis Babalola, described Oseni as a humble leader committed to progressive ideals, dismissing speculations about his possible defection if he does not secure the governorship ticket.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the forum, Chief Timothy Jolaoso, said the lawmaker enjoys widespread grassroots acceptance that cuts across political divides.
Jolaoso said, “All indicators consistently point to Oseni as a candidate with acceptance that transcends party lines. He is not only capable but a man of deep faith with proven empathy for the downtrodden.”
He added, “He possesses the goodwill, financial strength, and public trust required for leadership.”
The elder statesman further noted that Oseni’s performance in the House of Representatives, alongside his role as Chairman of the FERMA Committee, underscores his competence and commitment to development.
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