Ogun Governor, Amosun, Shops For Successor

• As 4 YEWA Politicians Jostle To Replace Him

• Sen. LEKAN MUSTAPHA’s Name Mentioned

Politicians in Ogun State have started warming up for who will become the governor in 2019, when the present administration will end and another election will take place. Even the Governor is shopping for a credible successor. The people of Ogun West are also busy mobilising since they are yet to produce a governor since the creation of Ogun State 40 years ago. Although attempt has been made in the last two elections but the election was lost to Senator Amosun who is from Ogun Central. Amosun is keeping his cards close to his chest.

Some say he favours Senator Gbolahan Dada, some say he is looking in the direction of Ijebu where Senator Lekan Mustapha is being watched closely. The 2019 governorship election in Ogun State is one to look out for as different politicians from Ogun West have shown interest. Apart from the 4 Yewa politicians other names  have cropped up like that of Alhaji Kola Lawal Commissioner for Forestry, Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun, Chairman LG service commission, Rotimi Rahman. We hear, the Governor is also wooing former House of Reps member Lekan Mustapha and former Speaker House of Reps, Dimeji Bankole.  City People Ogun Correspondent BUNMI MUSTAPHA brings you the four politicians who want to be governor come 2019.

SENATOR YAYI

Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly called Yayi by supporters, is gunning for the governorship of Ogun State come 2019 He has already set up structures across the state for his aspiration. Though he represents Lagos West, easily the largest constituency in the South West in terms of population, Adeola is originally from Ago Ishaga Pahayi Ilaro in Yewa South local government of Ogun State. He gunned for the senatorial ticket of Ogun West last year but opted out before the primaries, according to inside source, it was said that he opted out  when the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, persuaded him to drop the ambition to allow Gbolahan Dada emerge the APC’s candidate. He later won the senatorial ticket of the APC in Lagos. The duo was said to have struck a deal that Yayi will return to Ogun State for electoral purposes in 2019.

Since then, Yayi has become a popular commodity in the state, winning over key APC chieftains and supporters, even beyond Ogun West. Sources said the increasing acceptance of Adeola in Ogun State has become a big headache for Amosun, who is angling to install a successor of his own in 2019. The governor, according to investigations, has realized many party chieftains have keyed into the Adeola’s project against his wish. Many of the APC chieftains in Ogun have pitched their tents with Yayi, a politician with generous hands. Yayi has maintained a visible presence in the state with at least two major outings and visits in a month.

Yayi is working with the theory that he remains the only candidate that can deliver the elusive governorship slot to Ogun West. The senatorial district has never produced a governor despite attempts by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to install Gen. Tunji Olurin and former Governor Gbenga Daniels’ endorsement of Gboyega Isiaka from the zone in the past. Yayi has been a two-time member of the Lagos Assembly and became the Chairman House of Representatives Public Accounts from 2011-2015 despite being a first-timer, it was revealed that this is to prepare him for the gigantic political battles ahead in 2019.

Yayi is a sobriquet coined from the Yoruba name of ‘Omoyayi’ with the literal translation meaning “Distinguished Son”.

SENATOR GBOLAHAN DADA

Another politician who will also be taking advantage of Yewa for governor is senator Gbolahan dada, representing Ogun West senatorial district. The Yewa prince contested in and won last election under APC, he is known to be close to the present governor of Ogun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, according to a close source, Prince Gbolahan Dada is also making moves to contest in the governorship race come 2019, banking on the huge support of the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. The present Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun is also  exploring ways to protect his legacy by installing a successor of his choice, an insider claims that it appears that the governor has fixed his eyes on  Senator Gbolahan Dada who his currently representing Ogun West senatorial district, another advantage is that Senator Dada is from the Ogun State district. The only area yet to produce a governor in the west part of Ogun state.

He wants to go down in history on the attempt former Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel made as the man who used the opportunity of the area to become governor.

Governor Amosun who owns the most virile political structure in Ogun state wants to strengthen his chances by tapping in on the age long yearnings of the people of Ogun State.

According to background checks, governor Amosun and Senator Gbolahan Dada’s relationship transcends politics, they are good friends. Senator Gbolahan Dada and members of his support groups have retained their status quietly and providing needed support over the years. That was why it was easy for the Awori Prince to emerge a Senator in the face of myriads interests from other associates of governor Amosun , a reincarnation of his success during the senatorial election is what is being plotted for him to succeed Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

PRINCE GBOYEGA NASIR ISIAKA

Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka is not new in the gubernatorial race of Ogun state, recall that he was the Guber candidate of Peoples democratic party in 2011, before the crises in the party which led into two factions of the party, with different candidates. Few months to the election GNI as he is fondly called pitched his tent with another political party, peoples party of Nigeria PPN, but lost the election to Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

He did not bury his ambition as he contested again in the 2015 election under PDP, which he also lost. Come 2019, he will also be contesting for the same office, although he is still a card carrying member of PDP but no one can tell if there will be another development as to which party he will be contesting under in 2019.

His political career started in his early life but the involvement of his family in politics ensured he sooner than later got involved considering the fact that his father, Late Pa T. Ade Isiaka was a notable politician in Yewa land. He began his political journey right from his university days when in 1983/84, he was elected the Director of Organization of the Egbado (now Yewa) Students Association of the University of Ife. He was subsequently elected the President of the Association in the 1984/85. Thereafter, his politics was basically in the boardrooms of corporate organizations and some of the experiences were invaluable and revealing.

HONOURABLE SURAJ ADEKUMBI

Rt. Hon. (Prince) Suraj Ishola Adekubi, is a 2 term serving member and also the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, an office he held during his first tenure in office. He is also one of Governor Amosun’s favorites. Honorable Suraj is also among Yewa politicians who wants to be governor come 2019, he is also in the same political party with Senator Yayi and Senator Dada who are also aspiring for governorship in 2019. He was born on March 8, 1975 in Ayetoro, Yewa North Local Govt. Area of Ogun State into the family of Alhaji Rahmon and Madam Elizabeth Adekunbi.

  Prince Suraj Ishola Adekunbi began his academic career at St. Paul Anglican School, Ayetoro where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1986. His secondary education was at the prestigious Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro where he obtained his Senior Secondary School Certificate in 1993. The following year, Prince Suraj was admitted into the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro to study Mechanical Engineering. On completion of his Ordinary National Diploma in 1996, Suraj proceeded to The Polytechnic, Ibadan for the Higher National Diploma which he achieved in the year 2000 with Upper Credit.,

Prince Suraj did his mandatory National Youth Service at the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of NNPC in Edo State in year 2000. After his Youth Service, Suraj wasted no time in applying knowledge and creating value taking a teaching job at the Government Technical College, Idi-Aba Abeokuta. He later had a stint with the Ogun State Civil Service with his appointment as Higher Technical Officer in Bureau of Transportation from year 2004 to 2006 before he voluntarily resigned. Unrelenting in his resolve to attain higher academic heights, Rt. Hon. (Prince) Suraj Ishola Adekubi proceeded to the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) for the

Post-Graduate Diploma after which he progressed to the University of Ibadan (UI) and obtained Masters Degree in Project Development and Implementation (MPDI) in year 2011. An astute businessman and administrator per excellence, Rt. Hon. (Prince) Suraj Ishola Adekubi sharpened his entrepreneurial teeth in Petroleum Products Marketing under the tutelage of his father who was

then Chairman and CEO of Al-Rahman Oil & Gas Limited. Having attained a comfortable level of financial independence, Suraj decided to give himself to the service of humanity by offering to represent his Constituency of Yewa North at the Ogun State House of Assembly. Though unsuccessful at first attempt, Suraj never gave up, showing the resilience and other stuff champions are made of; re-launching his ambition in 2011 on the platform of the same Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) winning and going ahead to represent Yewa North State

Constituency. Subsequently, he was elected Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly 2011and 2015.

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