​Analyzing 13 Governorship Contenders in Ogun State

By Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo 
1. Hon. Suraju Adekunbi – Is a known expert in oil business and exporting with high profile record of exporting petroleum products to Benin Republic. He was elected by the very unsuspecting electorates as member representing Egbado North 1 state constituency in 2011, he was strongly supported for the Speakership position by Amosun to rubber stamp the Governor’s questionable budget and loan request. An action he didn’t deny recently even on a radio programme aired in the state capital. The state’s budget and loan request process since 2011 also corroborated the assertion. He’s now jostling to succeed his mentor as governor in 2019. His choice is before the party for consideration if at all there will be any credible primary election in Ogun APC.
2. Barr. Biyi Otegbeye (BOT) – Is in the news for eyeing the state’s APC ticket. Biyi is yet to declare and decamp formally to APC. He is a board member of UTH Calabar and a member of SDP on whose platform he contested for Ogun West senatorial seat in 2015 having lost in the struggle for the PDP ticket. He is now a member of Ogun State Judicial Commission in Ogun State. Governor Amosun is reportedly looking towards him as a likely “joker” in the APC gubernatorial contest. how possible is this “political abracadabra” is left for the future to determine.
3. Jimi Lawal – Is the former manager of the defunct “wonder bank” Alpha Merchant who was convicted for massive bank fraud. This is not new to the people who are abreast of information and national news. He is also a divorcee in the United State. He has different fraud cases with the EFCC and there is a conflicting argument about his educational claim, Not many homes in Nigeria, have fully recovered from the bitter memories of the agony the mismanagement of Alpha Merchant Bank under Jimi brought. He currently serves the Kaduna State Governor as Special Adviser on Investment and bank on the connection of Governor Nasir El-Rufai to make him the Ogun state APC gubernatorial candidate in 2019.
4. Hon. Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade (Tripple A) – who has served tirelessly at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. He currently represent Yewa South /Ipokia federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Abuja. He is also gunning for the seat of Governor of Ogun State come 2019.
5. Kola Lawal Moboluwaduro (KLM) – Was publicly accused by Governor Amosun for mismanaging forestry funds under his watch. The case was later covered by the government in order to avoid public scrutiny and embarrassment for the Senator Ibikunle Amosun administration. This same man was a colossal failure in the last local government elections as he lost his ward to the relatively unpopular Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) candidate. Such material is also on the table for Ogun APC consideration for 2019 governorship ticket.
6. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola – the man also known as Yayi has a controversial ancestral and background issue which has casted so many doubts to his Ogun origin. Many believed he is coming to Ogun state to reap where he didn’t sow. His major albatross is his fallout with the incumbent governor Ibikunle Amosun who has called him many names like Tekobo and Atohunrinwa. Some people called him a moneybag politician for daring to fund a faction of the APC in the state and mobilizing people for 2019 gubernatorial elections all alone. 

Notwithstanding his eloquence and active participation in the current Senate, many believe that it takes more than such attribute to govern Ogun state. He is presently representing Lagos West at the hallow chamber NASS, and he is the chairman house committee on local content among other committee which he is a member. 
7. Hon. ‘Biodun Akinlade. He’s a total misfit who cannot speak simple and correct English without committing a blunder. The three term lawmaker also lacks the ability to engage the public on issue based discussion. Apart from being able to facilitate federal jobs for few of his constituents which is a plus for him anyway, he couldn’t take active part in the real business of lawmaking for twelve consecutive years in Abuja. The reason is not farfetched, only an intelligent person, vast with broad knowledge of national issues combined with good communication skills can perform creditably well in this regard. Coincidentally, Biodun Iziaq Lack courage to face a large audience on topical issues. A simple phone call to him will attest to the fact. This is someone priding himself as the incoming Governor of Ogun state, the state of Obafemi Awolowo, Jonathan Odebiyi, Wole Soyinka and others! Apart from this, Biodun is fond of jumping from one party to the other like his fellow political prostitute. Until very recently, he was a member of the PDP where he failed to realize his fourth term ambition in 2015. Before then, he dumped the ACN platform where he realized his third term ambition for the Labour Party. He became a member of the House of Representatives in 2003 on the platform of the PDP. Call him a betrayer; you may not be far from reality. He left OGD political camp for Amosun. From there back to OGD to Buruji Kashamu and back to Amosun. The public is left to draw a conclusion on his aspiration.
8. Prince Olatunde Rotimi  Paseda, a two time gubernatorial candidate of Unity Party of Nigeria who believes in Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s free education legacy among others. Paseda is from the eastern part of Ogun state, Omu to be precise. He is a business mogul,Transport Management expert, successful air travel operator, an astute hotelier and committed philanthropist, is a politician with special mission.

This prince who hails from Omu-Ijebu, Ogun State, was born on 22nd June, 1966. Today, Paseda whose mother is a retired teacher, is nicknamed and fondly called Omo Iya Teacher (Teacher’s son).

EDUCATION

He attended Baptist Academy, Lagos State, where he obtained his Ordinary Level Certificate before traveling abroad for further studies.

In United Kingdom, he attended the University of London, Berberck College, where he studied Transport Management. He later got his Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Tourism and Recreation Management from University of Cardiff, Wales, UK.

BUSINESS

He became a member of the Chartered Institute of Transport, United Kingdom, and worked briefly as European Air Tour Operator with Euro Skyhop  International. Paseda who was then a young man in his mid-20s embarked on air-travel agency business by establishing Skylink Travels and Tours; over twenty-five years ago.

This marked the commencement of his adventure into business in the United Kingdom; which according to him, later spread across other parts of the world..

As an astute business man he saw a company in Mexico some years ago, which was into manufacturing of heavy duty equipment. He quickly recognized the business opportunity that can be unlocked through that and bought into it. He formed a partnership with two other like-minds and this became one of his main businesses.

He is also into fire engines construction, which sell mostly in Eastern Europe, 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.

Paseda owns four major companies across the world (UK, US, and Latin America and Nigeria ). His interest in hospitality business led him into establishing some hotels across different parts of Nigeria. Apart from being a prince in Omu Ijebu, Paseda has managerial accounting skills to drive Ogun State to a greater height without any iota of sentiment. 
9. Otunba Bimbo Ashiru – Is another governorship aspirant with certificate scandal. He allegedly bribed some leaders in Ogun East APC in order to emerge as the consensus candidate of the district amidst controversies which trailed the much touted “Ijebu agenda commission” under Chief Gbolade Osinowo. Asiru is no doubt a desperate politician that should be scolded by Governor Amosun for going against his political master’s believe and equation. Amosun had on several occasions expressed his support for Yewa/Awori otherwise known as Ogun west agenda and not the east where Asiru hails from. On the other hand, some analyst had argued that a recalcitrant Ashiru may have the underground support of Amosun as his Commissioner since the Governor has refused to openly condemn his political moves and campaign making them to doubt the Governor’s sincerity about Yewa/Awori Lokan.
10. Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka (GNI) – With his Deceiving gentle look, he is known for taking advantage of different godfathers whom he later fell out of favor with mainly due to his desperation for power. So many people have seen his campaign train as a gathering that can be likened to a family business of sort. A glance at his political camp tells more about him. Those that know him alleged that he is a serial betrayer that is too desperate to be a Governor and fond of spoiling the chances of Ogun West region due to his selfish believe that he is the only and most qualified person for the position. It is not clear as at today where the first class graduate will realize his ambition judging from the fact that he doesn’t belong to any of the PDP factions in the state. A reliable source in the state hinted that Isiaka may be on his way to the Accord Party or SDP but it is doubtful whether he has the financial capacity to fund a new party structure. His first outing under the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) was largely funded by former Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD) , Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other political appointee in the then cabinet whilst the second outing was on the account of Senator Prince Buruji Kashamu and partly Chief Adebutu whose biological son LADO is now contesting for 2019 governorship under the PDP. 
11. Tolu Odebiyi – The son of a former late Senator from Yewa ,His mother Chief (Mrs) Kemi Odebiyi was a former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State and was believed in some quarters to have made an attempt to alter the 2003 gubernatorial election on the order of former President Olusegun Obasanjo against Bola Tinubu of the then Alliance for Democracy (AD). His greatest undoing is that Tolu is not a grassroot politician. He’s not known even in his Ibooro home town by many people. Despite being a political appointee from his town, he is not in good term with his town head, Oba Salako. He relies on the financial strength and political machineries of the incumbent Governor Amosun to contest the next election. Presently, Tolu is the Chief of Staff to Amosun, a position which makes people speculates that he may be positioned by Amosun to take over from him. Many politician in the state believe that the self-acclaimed successful Estate Manager is too soft for a sophiscated politics of Ogun state and doesn’t know much about the terrain. Some are of the opinion that he will be a Governor to be tele-guided and such is not in the best interest of the gateway state. Like some of the aspirants, his choice is also before the party for consideration if at all there will be any credible primary election in Ogun APC.
12. Lekan Mustapha (LM) – Is a complete corporate guy-man who shouldn’t be allowed to go near any government treasury. Lekan is completely an illiterate without any certificate. He is only lucky that the minimum qualification to stand any election in Nigeria is School Certificate (SSCE). How someone like him whose highest qualification is School Certificate equivalent will ever be bold to want to stand governorship election bothers many. His 8years in the National Assembly as Representative and Senator for Ogun East didn’t also show any good stuff about the guy man. Although, some of his kinsmen have a soft spot for him due to his “local life style”. He has not formally declare his intention but believed to be romancing Governor Amosun for the APC ticket. As at last check, Mustapha is a member of the Labour Party where he contested and lost the 2011 Ogun East Senatorial seat. He’s not being politically active since then.
13. Oladipupo Olatunde Adebutu (LADO) – The seating House of Representatives member from Remo Central federal constituency is another aspirant for the 2019 governorship position in Ogun state. Adebutu is the son of lotto magnate Chief Kensington Adebutu also known as Baba Ijebu. Ladi, a one-time Commissioner II in the local government service commission is a factional leader of the PDP in the state competing enthusiastically with the other faction loyal to Senator Prince Buruji Kashamu. He is seen mobilizing towards his gubernatorial ambition using financial muscle to hoodwink the unsuspecting people. His greatest undoing is reckless life style. Ladi is a terrible smoker, a drunkard who flirts around within and outside the state; a regular customer at Cubans club. The older Adebutu (Baba Ijebu) also believe that Ogun people are for sale and he can buy them in order to make his son a governor by all means, even when he’s not fit for such position. Some people are of the opinion that Ladi, a “Chief gambler” will use gambling machine for youth empowerment programme if elected as governor in 2019 having being pictured recently with Ogun state youths showing off the lotto machine given to them by Ladi. To his credit are the transformers donate to some needy communities. 
The choice is also before the electorates to decide as 2019 elections period draws nearer.