......Top Contenders To Watch In 2019
By Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo
With the tenure of Governor Ibikunle Amosun fast coming to an end, many aspirants have shown interest in replacing him come 2019.
Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo, publisher of Amebofeedsblog writes on just a few desirous of taking over from the imcumbent who has been described as the “Architect of modern Ogun State”.
One hat many heads, although Governor Ibikunle Amosun has some months before the end of his tenure already the battle to succeed him has thickened in Ogun state with many aspirants declaring their intention to succeed him.
In the last one year, aspirants’ campaign posters and billboards have competed for space at all the nooks and crannies in the state.
Those believed to be serious contenders have gone beyond posters and billboards campaigns to the more serious efforts of reaching out to the people at the grassroots, key stakeholders and party executives in state wide consultation tours.
They are also busy mapping out strategies, holding late night meetings and putting structures on ground, all to ensure that they eventually arrive at Oke Mosan in Abeokuta as its occupant come 2019.
Politics of Ogun East, West and Central
The clash of ambitions between the titans of Ogun politics has pitched the senatorial district and the Western zone in contest to succeed Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
While the Eastern zone believes that it is now its turn to produce Amosun's successor adducing the fact that since it is the only zone that has not occupied the seat since the creation of the state, in the spirit of fairness, equity and justice, other zones should allow it to take its rightful turn.
The Zone Kicks Against Rotational Policy.
Those from the Eastern zone are kicking against the idea (rotation) describing it as undemocratic and a contraption that contravenes the provisions of the Nigerian constitution which allows all interested and qualified citizens of the state to contest any elective position of their choice irrespective of his or her senatorial district.
Speaking over this controversy recently, one of the gubernatorial aspirants from Eastern zone, Jimi Adebisi Lawal said: “Politics should be that of fairness, justice and equity.
Ogun state belongs to all of us, if there should be equity and fairness it is obvious that, this time around the governorship should be zoned to Ogun East to balance the political equation in the state, because this is the only zone that has occupied the seat 8 years ago and should return to the Eastern zone.
“There are knowledgeable, capable and very qualified persons from Ogun East that can occupy the seat and serve the state competently.
So for me, any plan to deny the rotational policy that protects and characterises the politics of the state is an invitation to anarchy, disaffection and of course disintegration of the harmonious relationship among various components that make up the state.
The policy should be respected not by a single political party but by all political parties that will participate in 2019 elections in the state”.
The Contenders To Watch In 2019 Gubernatorial Election
1. Dapo Abiodun (APC) Eastern Zone
Prince Dapo Abiodun, Dapo is a native of Iperu-Remo in Ogun state and belongs to a royal family. Prince Abiodun was born by Dr Emmanuel and Mrs Victoria Abiodun from Iperu-Remo, in Ogun East senatorial district on May 29, 1960
He is the father of late Olugbenga Abiodun aka DJ Olu, a close friend of the Nigerian Music star Davido
Education, He studied civil engineering at the then University of Ife (now, Obafemi Awolowo University), Ife, Osun state and subsequently, Accounting at Kennesaw State University, Atlanta Georgia, United States of America (USA), He holds a Honours at Doctorate Degree in Finance from Ekiti State University and another in Business Administration from Adeleke University, Ede, Osun state.
Profession
He is the managing director/CEO of Heyden Petroleum Ltd [HPL], one of the largest indigenous players in the downstream, midstream, and upstream oil and gas industry in Nigeria,He is also reportedly the founder of First Power Limited, among others
Political Background
Dapo Abiodun is a founding member of Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun state, but contested the Ogun East senatorial seat on the platform of the APC in 2015 general elections. Abiodun was elected a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) at a younger age of 33 in 1993. He has served as a member of various presidential committees and organisations, including the Presidential Think-Tank in 2001, appointed Chairman, Oil and Gas Committee, Ogun state in 2009, chairman, Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) in 2012 and also appointed chairman, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2018.
The oil magnate is fully loaded and ready to take over from senator Ibikunle Amosun come 2019 as he has successfully made the candidate list of All Progressive Congress APC in Ogun State.
Prince Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka was born on February 1962 into the family of late Prince Tijani Adebowale Isiaka and Alhaja Adijat Isiaka of Remo Quarters, Imeko in Imeko Afon Local government area of Ogun state. His father was a respected transporter, philanthropist, community leader and politician in the then Egbado district and my mother is a trader.
A Chartered Accountant (ACA) in 1988. also completed a Masters programme in Business Administration (MBA) from University of Lagos in 1995 and attended the Senior Management Programme (SMP) of the Lagos Business School in 1998. After a decade of post-Associate membership, he was bestowed with the Fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) in 2003.
In addition to being a Chartered Accountant, he is an Associate of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (ACS) having completed the Institute's three stage examinations in 2001, and an Associate member (ACIT) of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). In furtherance of my bid to attain professional and leadership excellence, he has taken and undergone several courses in different parts of the world including Investment Banking & Corporate Finance Course by Euromoney, United Kingdom, Leadership in the 21st Century from the prestigious John F. Kennedy Centre, Harvard University, United States of America and Institute of Public Private Partnership , Washington DC courses on Development, Structuring and Execution of Public Private Partnership transactions to mention but a few.
The former General Manager of Gateway Holdings Ltd consolidated the shareholding of the State and he ensured an optimal and effective management of the state’s quoted stocks which hitherto were not only scattered in various ministries and parastatals of government but were not been effectively managed. From near zero revenue on gross reliance on subventions from the state government in previous years, the company generated revenue to the State Government coffers that was close to #1billion during his tenure. He contested under the People's Party of Nigeria in 2003 and People's Democratic Party in 2015 but lost the contest to Senator Ibikunle Amosun of All Progressive Congress APC. He is now ready to battle for the forthcoming election as he has been given ticket in African Democratic Congress ADC in Ogun State.
3. Otunba Olatunde Rotimi Paseda (SDP) Eastern Zone
People call him Pasewonda; others called him Omo – Iya teacher, while in political clime he is best known as ORP, but his real name is Olatunde Rotimi Paseda.
Sometimes, he is described as ‘Arole Awolowo’ (the heir apparent of the late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo) because of his belief in Awo’s political ideologies of free education, free and Qualitative healthcare, job opportunities and rural /urban integration, but today Otunba (Prince) Rotimi Paseda is the only man sustaining the political legacy of Pa. Obafemi Awolowo which is the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).
At the sound of his name exudes humility. He is a mentor, philanthropist, father and grand father.
Prince Olatunde Rotimi Paseda hails from Omu-Ijebu in Ogun State, he is a UK/Mexico based business tycoon. He came from a family of five, his mother was a retired teacher in public service and his dad was a store keeper at PZ, Paterzon Zokalis Nigeria Limited in the 60s. He started his career in PZ and ended his career in PZ. He was the longest service staff at that point. Today, he is well-known as Omo Iya Teacher.
Paseda attended Baptist Academy for his O’level at Ikorodu, Lagos state. He thereafter travelled abroad for his University education. He attended the University of London, UK where he studied Transport Management and later got his Masters Degree in Tourism and Recreation Management from University of Cardiff, Wales.
He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Transport, United Kingdom, and worked briefly as European Air Tour Operator with Euro Skylup International before establishing Skylink Travels and Tours over twenty-five years ago. This was his commencement of his self-employment venture in the United Kingdom and World wide.
Afterwards, he established his own company in UK which is currently being managed by his wife.
Along the line, he stumbled into a company in Mexico that manufactures heavy duty equipments. He recognizes the opportunity, bought into it and it became one of his main businesses. It is a big firm in Mexico and he is one of the three partners in the company. He is also into fire engines construction, which sells mostly in Eastern Europe, and Asia and Latin America. He has successfully established two engineering firms that are into fabrication and building of heavy machinery; they manufacture water tankers, fire engines, garbage /compacting trucks and the likes and they are doing very well.
Otunba Paseda owns four major companies across the world (UK, US, and Latin America). In Nigeria, he owns a couple of hotels spread across different parts of the country, little wonder, he was recently awarded alongside President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Olusegun Osoba as Most Influential Industrialist among 100 Most Influential Ogun Indigenes Still Leaving.
One important principle that had helped him in life and which is always with him is MODESTY. He was not at anytime, right from his youthful days been swayed by peer pressure. The Yoruba adage “Ranti Omo Eniti Iwo Nse” interpreted as “Know The Son of Whom You Are” as been the guiding.
He contested under Unity Party of Nigeria UPN in 2015 but lost to Senator Ibikunle Amosun of APC.
After his consultation and consolidation he has resolved to gun for governorship under the Social Democratic Party SDP, to battle for Okemosan seat come 2019.
Sabur Oladimeji "Dimeji" Bankole (born 14 November 1969) is a Nigerian politician and 9th Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria he was elected at the age of 37, Bankole is the youngest Speaker in the history of the House of Representatives in Nigeria.
The son of Abeokuta chief, Alani Bankole , he was a businessman before being elected to the House. A Muslim by religion Egba , Bankole was born in Abeokuta in what is now Ogun State on 14 November 1969. His parents are Alani Bankole , a businessman, former National Vice-Chairman and acting Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Seriki Jagunmolu of Egbaland, and his wife, Atinuke Bankole, Ekerin Iyalode of Egbaland. His education background are: Baptist Boys' High School, Abeokuta starting 1979; Albany College , London, England, starting 1985; University of Reading, Reading, England, starting 1989;
University of Oxford 's Officer Training College, Oxford, England, in 1991; and Harvard University , Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, in 2005.
Bankole obtained a Master of Public Administration degree from John F. Kennedy School of Government , Harvard University , USA in 2005. .In 2014, he became a Mason Fellow in Public Policy and Management at John F. Kennedy School of Government , Harvard University , USA.
In 1991, Bankole passed D.A.B selection into Royal Military Academy Sandhurst while taking courses for military officers at Oxford University where he was in the Artillery Corps.
An economist, Bankole is Chairman, Aspire Integrated Consultants Nigeria (since 2012) and Vice President, Africa House London (since 2016).
Previously, Bankole was a Director of Freight Agencies Nigeria Limited from 1995 until 1998, Executive Director of Operations of West African Aluminium Products Limited from 1998 until 2004, and Director of ASAP Limited from 2000 until 2003.
Bankole Oladimeji is ready to succeed Senator Ibikunle Amosun in 2019 with ADP ticket, he has kickoff his grassroots mobilisation towards the forthcoming election.
5. Sir Tope Tokoya Accord Party AP Eastern Zone
Sir Tope Tokoya is a highly successful Businessman, Administrator, Politician and a Knight of John Wesley (KJW).
Born into the family of Chief E.D. Tokoya and Chief Mrs.V.E. Tokoya (Nee – Keshinro) of Ibefun-Ijebu Ogun State, Chief Tope Tokoya is a Fellow of Certified Institute of Management; a trained and season Banker who has flair for figures. He first worked with Lagos State Ministry of Finance, Accountant General office, Treasury department before moving to the Bank of America (Nigeria) Limited, Broad Street Lagos (later known as Savannah Bank of Nigeria PLC) where he distinguished himself through years of excellence and professional service. In 1986, he voluntarily retired as a senior manager to start his own business.
As a Businessman and Entrepreneur, Sir Tope Tokoya has built a conglomerate with chains of activities across different sectors of economy such as Properties/Real-Estate, Finance, Educational services and Agriculture.
Tokoya has served in the following capacities:
Chairman, Local and Circuit Youth Fellowship for many years
Chairman, Harvest Committee for many years. His tenure in this capacity witnessed a new dawn and a complete departure from the past.
In the same vein, Chief Tope Tokoya was appointed:
Chairman Fund Raising Committee charged with the responsibility of raising fund for the construction of a new Cathedral in which by God’s grace we now worship.
Not to be held down when it comes to service in the house of God, He was also at a time – the founding president of Light of The World Association, One of the leading societies in the church. He led the Association for ten years and was later appointed a patron as a reward for his high quality leadership. He was also patron to many societies in the church.
In 1988, he was appointed a class leader, the youngest member ever been so appointed. In the same year 1988, he was appointed a Church Steward.
He voluntarily vacated his position to answer the call for service in his home church- Agbowa Methodist Church when he got his Circuit status under the newly created Ikorodu Diocese in January 1995.
Chief Tokoya became the first senior Circuit Steward of Agbowa Circuit. His service in this position laid a benchmark for development of the Circuit.
At the Diocesean level he served as the first Publicity Secretary/PRO of Ikorodu Diocese for many years and was later elected the second Lay President of the diocese. He is also in the race to succeed Senator Ibikunle Amosun come 2019 with Accord ticket.
