By Kayode Ajala
The race hots up among indigenes of ogun state on who should succeed Governor Gbenga Daniel as executive governor. Who are the real contenders and who are the pretenders, for now its only those who indicated interest that one may say are ready, but even among those who have indicated interest, its still to be seen who will snatch the ticket of the political parties.
For now, it seems just aspirants from the PDP had commenced campaigns, while no aspirant on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Action Congress (AC) is said to have come out openly to indicate interest in the governorship seat. However, there are strong indications that the ANPP gubernatorial aspirant in 2007, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who was a strong opposition to Governor Daniel in the last general election, may defect to the Action Congress (AC) and contest for the same position.
The PDP governorship aspirants include the senator representing Ogun West Senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Kola Bajomo; Honourable Jelili Kayode Amusan, representing Abeokuta North/ Odeda/ Obafemi-Owode Constituency in the House of Representatives; Honourable Abiodun Akinlade; Honourable Durotolu Bankole; Honourable Olusoji Eweje; Dr. Leke Otegbeye; Mr. Kola Lawal; Mr. Gboyega Isiaka; Mr. Ireti Oniyide; Mr. Seun Akinbiyi; Dr Bashiru Akinyemi; Chief Kola Lawal; Mr. Tunde Soyemi; Dr. Femi Majekodunmi and Chief Jide Taiwo.
Senator Kola Bajomo
Bajomo, a serving senator from Ogun West, appears to be the strongest of the aspirants based on his antecedents. His ambition has generated so much interest. Aside being in constant touch with his constituency through his grass-root-oriented projects, Bajomo is equally visible in Ogun politics.
A former chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, he would have become governor in 2003 had he agreed with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to defect from the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and contest on the platform of the PDP against former Governor Olusegun Osoba.
But in 2005, he defected from AD to the PDP and in 2007 contested for the Ogun West Senatorial seat in the National Assembly and won. He has shown interest in vying for the governorship seat in 2011.
Chief Kola Lawal
Lawal, an oil magnate, is a philanthropist per excellence. The Harvard, United States-trained technocrat tends to market himself through his NGO, Kola Lawal Movement (KLM), which has been on ground in the Yewa area of the state. KLM, as popularly called, according to feelers available to the Nigerian Tribune, is a new entrant into politics.
His programmes have clearly shown that he is not playing to the gallery, but mean business to serve his people.
Dr. Leke Otegbeye
Leke, a medical doctor, is the son of the late elder statesman and politician, the late Dr Tunji Otegbeye. His expression of interest in the number one office in the state gave rise to the saying ‘contenders and pretenders to the office’ among the people. Leke is hoping to ride to power on the crest of his father’s acclaimed credibility and seeming closeness to the Governor Gbenga Daniel. But, how far this can assist Leke in his ambition? Time, indeed, will tell.
Honourable Kayode Amusan
Amusan is a serving member of the Federal House of Representatives. He is from the Ogun Central Senatorial district, which is clamouring for a chance produce a successor to Governor Daniel. Amusan has just indicated his governorship ambition at a political rally at Odeda area of the state recently, but he is being viewed by many not to be a serious contender. The thinking is that he won’t go far, even if the slot was allocated to the Egba.
Mr Gboyega Isiaka
Isiaka is the General Manager of Gateway Holdings. The technocrat, who was brought from Lagos by Daniel to help him pilot the investment profile of the state, is seen as Daniel’s likely successor because of the presumed governor’s disguised plot to have Isiaka from Ogun West to take the baton from him.
The challenge before Isiaka is that of opposition within the PDP who may prefer a career politician to a technocrat as successor to Daniel.
Chief Jide Taiwo
A seasoned estate valuer and developer is another contender from Yewaland. He is banking on his widespread connection garnered over the years in the property business within and outside Ogun to coast home with the PDP ticket. Already, his foot soldiers had gone to the field spreading the gospel of Taiwo ahead of decision time.
Revd Jide Awosedo
Revd Jide Awosedo is back in the race, this time, as a governorship contender. In 2007, he indicated interest in Ogun East Senatorial seat but lost the ticket to Senator Lekan Mustapha. Now, he is aspiring to succeed Daniel and he is going to draw a sufficient support, not only from Mustapha, but also from the founding fathers of the PDP in the state.
But the major hurdle before Awosedo, an indigene of Odogbolu Local Government, is that he hails from the same senatorial district with Governor Daniel. His challenge will come from Egba and Yewa contenders who are both locked in a battle of wits, each clamouring that the next governor belongs to their respective zone.
Pastor Tunde Soyemi
He is a minister of God at the Redeemed Christian Church of God. He, before joining politics, was a banker, a Human Resource Manager and an entrepreneur. He was also considered to be fresh in politics, but he describes himself as a politician having served as the Ogun State Secretary of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) and also a member of the Youth Wing of the then Action Group (AG).
Soyemi believed that his utmost goal, if he becomes the governor, is to work tirelessly with others to ensure citizens of the state have a government committing to meeting the needs of the people. He also advocates for peace and atmosphere of law, order and economic stability.
Political watchers are waiting to know if the experiences he had garnered, so far, in the world of politics would take him to the Promised Land.
Honourable Durotolu Bankole
Bankole, no doubt, is the youngest of them all. He is currently a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly. He is not green in politics, to say the least. He has cut his teeth in politics.
His late father was a prominent politician in the state. Bankole hails from Yewa. He was a student union president in his days at the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
He belongs to the G-11 in the House believed to be loyalists of Governor Daniel. He has close affinity with OGD and one of the advocates of “Yewa Lokan Agenda” which literally means “It’s Yewa’s turn.” He is the chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports.
To some people, Bankole is not a serious contender, while others insist that it is the turn of the young at hearts to rule the state.
Dr Femi Majekodunmi
A medical doctor and Egba chief, Majekodunmi is another contender people should watch out for. He is a close ally of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and also has affinity with the incumbent governor.
FMG, as he is popularly called, believes that he has the wherewithal to contest and govern the state, having been successful in his medical profession.
Honourable Abiodun Akinlade
He is currently in the House of Representatives, representing Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency. He is the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology. He is a grass-roots politician to the core.
Akinlade believes that power belongs to God. He said that he is not looking for Ogun West governor, but the governor of Ogun State. He believed that everybody has the right to vie for the governorship seat in Ogun, irrespective of where the person comes from.
Akinlade believed in equity, fairness and justice and appealed to other Senatorial districts to concede the position to Yewa/Awori.
cede the position to Yewa/Awori.
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