Osun 2018: The Contenders, The Pretenders By Eric Elezuo & Timothy Edaki

Come September 22, 2018, a plethora of political gladiators will lock horns in election combat. The prize? The mantle and seat of Abere Government House, home of the Osun, state governor. Already, campaigns have begun in earnest, promises to take the state to the apogee have been heard, ‘experience is all that counts’ is also a slogan; let new voices be heard is another mantra flying around but the big question on the lips of the voters is how will the elected fare and why should the promises each of the aspirants is spitting be believed?

Importantly, one must commend the women in the race; Mrs. Mercy Ayodele of the Restoration Party of Nigeria and Ms. Jumoke Lawoyin of the National Rescue Movement. Their presence is a testimony that the womenfolk is gradually and steadily rising to the challenge, and picking up the mandate hitherto left with their male counterpart. Whatever the outcome of the election on September 22, the women in the folk will be praised for their efforts – it is a step in the right direction.

Already the Independent National Electoral Commission has said that 48 parties have been cleared for the election. However, it is common that while some are real contenders based on their popularity and structure already put in place, many others are pretenders. Going by the fires the aspirants are spitting, the election promises to be very interesting and keenly contested even as the primaries presented no less an intriguing contest. One cannot, therefore, but consider the prism of fireworks the election promises to dispense.

For the ruling party in the state, the All Progressive Congress (APC), a new card was played which practically deviated from using the delegate system of election which is in fact the routine and opted for the direct method which gave power and franchise to members of the party in the various wards to choose their own aspirants. This move elicited some controversies as some of the party’s members were against the move, stating that it smacks of favouritism and was filled with shenanigans of unfairness to favour the eventual winner, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.

Following the drift in the APC, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti defected to the Action Democratic Party on the last day of submission of candidates name to INEC, and following a hurried primary, he was crowned as the sole candidate for the party.

Meanwhile, the major opposition party had its crises as Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi who came second has vowed to get to the end of the earth to get his mantle from the said winner, Senator Ademola Adeleke.  Petitions were written for the exercise to be conducted again or the votes be recounted, but everything seemed a futile approach.

Senator Iyiola Omisore, a former deputy governor of the state, emerged as the flag bearer of his new party, the Social Democratic Party in what could be termed a landslide victory in a primary election led by Dr. Bayo Faforji. However, that was not without its raise of dust as another primary led by Chief Ademola Ishola using delegates method produced Mr. Kehinde Atanda as its candidate.

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The Accord Party on its part gave its mandate to a United States of America based cleric of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Olopade Okunola.

While a number of the candidates have experience having served in one way or the other in the political space, the people of Osun State would be looking forward to voting that person who appears certain of fulfilling promises made during the campaign, not one who would turn a deaf ear to their pleas once they assume power.  They will be seeking to vote an individual who has what it takes to lead the state to the proverbial Promised Land.

Below are the men and women, one of whom will occupy the prestigious Abere government House.

IYIOLA OMISORE – SDP

A former deputy of the state of the state, Iyiola Omisore was born on September 15, 1957, into a royal family in Ile-Ife, where he also grew up. He is the son of Oba David Olajide Omisore and the grandson of Lowa Omisore, both of Ayepe, Olode.

Iyiola is also the grandson of the Late Olufewara Kabiyesi Oba Titus Adetoba of the Oseganderuku ruling house in Ifewara where his mother, Princess Emila Adejola ruled as Regent until her death in 2006. In August 2006, his father was crowned as the first Olu of Olode Town in Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State.

Senator Omisore began his educational career at the SS Peter and Paul Roman Catholic School in Ile-Ife before proceeding to St. John Grammar School Ile-Ife, Osun State, for his secondary education between 1972 and 1977.

He later attended Federal Polytechnic Owo, Ondo State and the Technology College, Reading UK. Where obtained a diploma Certificate in Electrical/Electronics Engineering.

With two engineering degrees and a postgraduate certificate from Brunel University Uxbridge, as well as a Ph.D. in Infrastructure Finance from the International School of Management, Paris, France, Omisore was set to excel. He is currently undergoing his DBA programme at the same institution.

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A Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, England, and Wales, he has undergone several courses in different high profile institutions including Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA; ABS Academy, Athens, Greece; University of Carolina; West London College; Harvard University and the Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung GmbH, Germany.

In January 2013, he completed and was awarded a Doctorate Degree by the International School of Management in Paris.

Omisore commands so great an influence in the political space of Osun that he won an election while in detention. He has held so many offices as a legislator including chairmanship of committees.

Many, however, believe that his administration, if he wins, will be full of excuses and complaints having been quoted as saying that it will take 22 years to clean up ‘Aregbesola’s mess’ in Osun State. They said he would blame whatever inadequacy on the previous administration.

ADEMOLA ADELEKE – PDP

The PDP flagbearer gained political limelight when his brother, a serving senator, died in mysterious circumstance. He promptly filled the vacuum after winning the by-election in what many called ‘sympathy vote’.

A serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ademola Adeleke was born to the family of Ayoola Adeleke – a Muslim father and Nnena Esther Adeleke – an Igbo Christian mother on May 13th, 1960 in Enugu. His father was Late Senator Raji Ayoola Adeleke the Balogun of Ede land in Osun State, a second republic Senator with the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

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Adeleke commenced his primary education at Methodist Primary School, Surulere Lagos then relocated to Nawarudeen Primary School, Ikire in the Old Oyo State. He progressed to The Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School, Ede also in the then Old Oyo State and later moved to Muslim Grammar School Ede. However, he did not finish his education at Muslim Grammar School[ as he later left Nigeria to study abroad with his two other brothers on a scholarship. He started higher studies at Jacksonville State University Alabama in the United States of America where he was majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Political Science.

He is known as an accomplished businessman and administrator, making waves with lake brother, Isiaka. The man who has come to be known as ‘dancing senator’ will need to fight off the stigma of certificate forger to lure voters to his side if he must have anything to do wit Abere Government House after September 22.

GBOYEGA OYETOLA – APC

Currently the Chief of Staff to the Governor of State Osun, Gboyega Oyetola is described as a man endowed with untold skills that cut across politics, finance management, business and public administration. Through a dint of hard work, Oyetola has steadily progressed in the affairs of life.

Born in his native Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area of Osun clan, Oyetola attended Ifeoluwa Grammar School in Osogbo for his secondary school education which he completed in 1972 and proceeded to the prestigious University of Lagos where he bagged a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Insurance in 1978. He followed it up with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the same institution in 1990.

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Oyetola’s professional life kicked off in 1980 when he joined Leadway Assurance Company Limited as Area Manager and worked there till 1987 and joined Crusader Insurance Company Limited as Underwriting Manager between till 1990. He moved again in 1990 to Alliance and General Insurance as Technical Controller and served in that capacity until 1991. In the same year, he set up his own Company, Silvertrust Insurance Brokers Limited, which he managed until his appointment as Chief of Staff in 2011.

A technocrat of great repute, Gboyega Oyetola’s progress in politics has been encouraging. He was a founding member of Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the state of Osun and has been a chieftain of the party through its metamorphosis to Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now All Progressives Congress (APC). Also, he has assisted the party nationally, particularly in the State of Osun.

Political watchers believe he can swerve the votes to his side with the help of the much-touted Federal might. Already, his party has unleashed a 63-member committee comprising men versed in election matters.

Below are the parties and candidates ready to slug it out on September 22

1. Party – Accord

Governor – Julius Olapade Okunola

Deputy Governor – Azeez Kayode Jimoh

2. Party – AA

Governor – Ogunmodede Adeloye

Deputy Governor – Adepoju Timothy Adetunji

3. Party – ABP

Governor – Oludare Timothy Akinola

Deputy Governor – Halimat Bunmi Ibrahim

4. Party – ACD

Governor – Genga Afeni

Deputy Governor – Oni Esther Oluwatoyin

5. Party – ACPN

Governor – Rufai Adebisi Mujidat

Deputy Governor – Agboola Peter Oluremi

6. Party – AD

Governor – James Olugbenga Akintola

Deputy Governor – Abdulhakeem Oyeniyi Bello

7. Party – ADC

Governor – Fatai Akinade Akinbade

Deputy Governor – Arowolo Oladele

8. Party – ADP

Governor – Adeoti Moshood Olalekan

Deputy Governor – Durotoye Adeolu Akinbola

9. Party – AGA

Governor – Kehinde Olufemi Lawrence

Deputy Governor – Lawal Oluseyi Afusat

10. Party – AGAP

Governor – Adejola Adebayo Rufus

Deputy Governor – Adebayo Adewale Olaolu

11. Party – ANRP

Governor – Alarape Babatunde A.

Deputy Governor – Adelu Ayoade David

12. Party – APA

Governor – Adeleke Adesoji M.A

Deputy Governor – Agbonmagbe Tosin Omowumi

13. Party – APC

Governor – Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola

Deputy Governor – Benedict Olugboyega Alabi

14. Party – APGA

Governor – Oluwatoki Adetokunbo Adedayo A.

Deputy Governor – Adefila Mary Olaitan (Nee Olaleke)

15. Party – APP

Governor – Ekundayo Ademola Precious

Deputy Governor – Ojo Olugbenga Samuel

16. Party – BNPP

Governor – Olapade Olajide Victor

Deputy Governor – Dunmade Adejoke Wuraola

17. Party – C4C

Governor –Ilori Titus Oluwafemi

Deputy Governor – Alabi Temitayo Kadijat

18. Party – DA

Governor – Mutiu Abiodun Ibrahim

Deputy Governor – Fafioye Hammed Abiodun

19. Party – DPC

Governor – Aderemi Aree

Deputy Governor – Onitayo Yemisi Mary

20. Party – DPP

Governor – Solomon Ayodeji Oni

Deputy Governor – Issa Ademola Aderibigbe

21. Party – FJP

Governor – Babatunde Salako Joseph

Deputy Governor – Onifade Saheed Alade

22. Party – GDPN

Governor – Adetipe Adebodun Abiola

Deputy Governor – Ajiboye Funke

23. Party – GPN

Governor – Rafiu Shehu Anifowose

Deputy Governor – Oluwatoyin Adebayo

24. Party – HDP

Governor – Adedoyin Adegoke Joshua Oluwole

Deputy Governor – Olawale Adesoye Adewumi

25. Party – KP

Governor – Fabiyi Oluseyi Olubunmi

Deputy Governor – Ibrahim Adekunle Akande

26. Party – LP

Governor – Babatunde Olaniyi Loye

Deputy Governor – Aderonke Adebayor Jabar

27. Party – MMN

Governor – Raphael A. Feranmi

Deputy Governor – Ariyo Sunday Sina

28. Party – MPN

Governor – Lawal Ganiyu Akanfe

Deputy Governor – Idowu Kayode Olusegun

29. Party – NCP

Governor – Kamarudeen Kalemi Abiodun

Deputy Governor – Lawal Temitope Serifat

30. Party – NPC

Governor – Olaniyi Anthony Fadahunsi

Deputy Governor – Abdulrasheed Afusat Olanike

31. Party – NEPP

Governor – Jegede Hannah Taiwo

Deputy Governor – Rebecca Adeleke Oladepo

32. Party – NNPP

Governor – Adefare Segun Adegoke

Deputy Governor – Adeyeye Nurudeen Adeyemi

33. Party – PANDEL

Governor – Adebayo Rasheedat

Deputy Governor – Ajibola Fatimat

34. Party – PDC

Governor – Kolawole Rafiu Ojonla

Deputy Governor – Oladapo Deborah Oluwatoyin

35. Party – PDP

Governor – Ademola Nirudeen Adeleke

Deputy Governor – Albert A. Adeogun

36. Party – PPA

Governor – Adedokun Musbau Olalekan

Deputy Governor – Ibrahim Bukola

37. Party – PPC

Governor – Ifeolu Kehinde Adewumi

Deputy Governor – Sunday Makinde Babawale

38. Party – PPN

Governor – Akintunde Adesoji

Deputy Governor – Akanmu Saheed Abiodun

39. Party – PRP

Governor –Badmus Tajudeen Adefola

Deputy Governor – Olajire Gbolahan

40. Party – PT

Governor – Adegboyega Aderemi

Deputy Governor – Usman Omobolaji Taofeek

41. Party – RP

Governor – Ayodele Mercy Tosin

Deputy Governor – Adejumo Mukaila

42. Party – SDP

Governor – Iyiola Omisore

Deputy Governor – Lawal Azeez Olayemi

43. Party – SNP

Governor – Ayoade Ezekiel Adegboyega

Deputy Governor – Omolade Anike Adebayo

44. Party – SPN

Governor – Alfred Adegoke

Deputy Governor – Lameed Gafar

45. Party – UPN

Governor – Adediji Olanrewaju Adewuyi

Deputy Governor – Alabi Ola-Olu Adeniyi

46. Party – UPP

Governor – Odutade Olagunju Adesanya

Deputy Governor – Karonwi Festus Olamilekan

47. Party – YDP

Governor – Adebayo Adeolu Elisha

Deputy Governor – Aleem Atinuke

48. Party – YPP

Governor – Adetunji Olubunmi Omotayo

Deputy Governor – Salawu Kareem Adeniyi

The pertinent question, however, remains, who will wear the crown?