Ogun West Senatorial District has renewed its agitation for power shift in 2019. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE examines the profile of the aspirants and the factors that will aid their success.
The Ogun West Senatorial District, in its quest to clinch the governorship ticket in the 2019 general elections, has thrown up some aspirants.
They have embarked on consultations with party chieftains and elders. They are seeking for endorsement at the local and state levels.
The zone has complained about marginalisation, urging other zones to support its bid to produce the governor. The aspirants are not leaving any stone unturned. They believe that the West should produce the governor to ensure the equitable distributions of state resources for development.
Stakeholders have denounced the domination of the political space by the Ogun Central and Ogun East districts. They said the loopsided application of state fund has reinforced the strong agitation for a power shift to the West.
Ogun West is made up of five local governments: Imeko-Afon, Ipokia, Yewa South, Yewa North and Ado-Odo/Ota and sub – ethnic groups, consisting of the Yoruba, Eyo, Anago, Awori, Ketu, Ifonyin Egun, with significant economic contributions to the state.
Some of the aspirants have intimidating credentials that cannot be brushed aside.
Notable among them are the Chief of Staff, Chief Tolu Odebiyi, the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon Suraj Adekunbi, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, Hon Abiodun Akinlade and Senator Solomon Adeola (aka Yayi).
Adeola is representing Lagos West Senatorial District at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly. He is a strong contender for the position. He enjoys considerable support of loyalists, including Chief Bode Mustapha and Hon Tunji Egbetokun, who worked immeasurably to see to the emergence of Governor Amosun in 2011.
Adeola, a Chartered Accountant and an indigene of Ago-Isaga, was born on August 10, 1969.
But, he is not enjoying the support of Amosun. So far, the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure in the state is in the grip of Amosu and he may determine who succeeds him in office.
The entry of Odebiyi, has continued to send jitters down spines of co-aspirants who see his foray into the contest as a threat.
He hails from Iboro, Yewa North Local Government Area. Odebiyi holds a B.Sc in Building Construction and Engineering Technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusssets, United States of America (USA). He was the Managing Director, Agbara Estates Limited, a development and investment company with over N20 billion in assets.
In recognition of his skills and competences, he was selected to serve as a member of the transition committee on housing in Ogun State in 2003.
His supporters say he is more concerned about the plights of the people of the Ogun West Senatorial District having passed through similar experience over the years.
His love for the people, led to the formation of his pet project, ‘Alajobi’, in 2011, to promote Yewa governorship candidate.
Adekunbi is another contender for the number one plum job. Born on March 5, 1975 in Aiyetoro, Yewa North Local Government Area, he holds HND in Mechanical Engineering from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and a Master’s degree in Project Development Implementation (MPDI) from the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA). Adekunbi represented his constituency of Yewa North in the House of Assembly. He was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly on July 6, 2011.
Anisulowo is among the front runners. The 65-year-old politician is a former Secretary to the defunct Egbado South Local Government Area, a two-time Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry and a former Minister of State for Education. She represented Ogun West in the Senate between 2003 and 2007.
Prince Isiaka hails from Imeko, Imeko – Afon Local Government Area. The 52-year-old politician has participated in the governorship race twice on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) .
Giving the numbers of aspirants, it is feared that the agitation for power shift may suffer a setback, if nothing is done to prune down the rising number.
The Nation