Politics
OGUN 2019 AND THE PASEDA FACTOR
By Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji
The number of prospective occupant of the exalted number one seat in Ogun State is increasingly day by day, yet, majority of them have no clear cut of what entails to become Governor.
Incidentally, majority of those seeking to become the number one citizen of the Gateway state are bereft of ideas and policies to invent in transforming the state. Many of those parading themselves to become Governor are opportunists who are riding on the endorsement of the power above.
About 19 aspirants on the platform of All Progressive Congress, APC are jostling for the party’s ticket, while intending aspirants in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP are still engulfed in supremacy battle over who controls the affairs of the party between Senator Buruji Kashamu and Hon. Ladi Adebutu. Despite numerous court rulings, there seems to be no end insight on the intractable crisis.
While the electorate are still pondering on their choice of candidate come 2019, Otunba Olatunde Rotimi Paseda did not waste time in submitting himself for the busy but difficult job of Ogun state Governor.
Paseda’s ambition was inspired by the political stewardship of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Awo’s unsurpasing ideology on education made the Southwest, Nigeria, the educational knowledge centre of the nation. Going beyond that, gainful employment and rural integration and development formed the central pattern of Awolowo’s unprecedented stewardship.
Prince Olatunde Rotimi Paseda may not have held any political office in the past, but his experience in the private sector as a reputable mechanical Engineer and captain of industry will soar him high in taking the Gateway state to another level of industrial revolution against the toga of being a civil servants state Ogun state is known for.
No doubt, the state has witnessed tremendous turn around since the inception of present administration, but only few individuals and zones have benefited from the ongoing transformation in the state leaving majority of the residents, especially Yewa and Ijebu zones in absolute shambles.
Otunba Rotimi Paseda is a born servant leader who exhibits the characteristics that only exceptional people possesses in politics. His humble life is a tapestry of success and accomplishment in all human endeavors. His excellence services in the service of humanity and community have placed him in the league of the few emerging leaders to look forward to transform Ogun state to eldorado of sort where the state will become an industrial hub of the nation people come 2019.
China today becomes the strongest technology advancement country in the world due to the involvement of the youths in the formulation of policies by the government. This is Paseda’s commitment with our young, dynamic, but energetic youths in the Gateway state. He had promised on different fora that his cabinet shall be dominated with our highly enterprising and resourceful youths in his
*Agenda for Good Governance* .
A visit to Paseda’s foundation’s website www.pasedalegacyfoundation.org.ng shows the numerous humanitarian programmes in the last three years which will be his scorecard during the electioneering campaign include but not limited to, scholarship to 20 Future Promise College Students, provision of six electrical transformers to the neglected Omu – Ijebu community, payment of medical bill of an amputated patient at Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, flying abroad of kidney transplant of 9year-old Oluwatobi Solanke , payment of tuition fees a final year law student of Olabisi Obasanjo University, payment of tuition fee of students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, employment of two best mass communication graduates at his foundation, creation of skill acquisition programme for youths, Free Holiday Coaching for Ogun Primary and secondary schools students, donation of N2million naira for 18 Graduates of his entrepreneurship programme, payment of operation bill for an 8-day old baby with jaundice at Otunba Subomi Pediatric hospital, Ijebu-Ode among many others.
On his zeal and determining effort to provide free education for indigene of the state come May 29, 2019, if elected, Otunba Paseda organized free holiday lesson for over 15,000 students both in private and public schools across the three senatorial districts, while another 2,250 NECO and WAEC candidates were given special tutorial, with over 50 teachers employed for the assignment with extra pay during the long holiday.
Not only that, in fulfilment of his human capital development programme, Otunba Paseda through his foundation, gave out N10million naira zero interest loan to petty traders, Market women, Artisans to boost their businesses in October, 2017.
Today, Paseda, the son of a village teacher and Store-keeper now rules the world with his chain of businesses spread across Europe and America where over 4,500 workers were on his payroll monthly, not minding the over bearing cost, Paseda recently recruited additional 3,000 staff to his companies in Nigeria to reduce the high rate of unemployment in the country.
Speaking in Germany, during the recently organized annual lecture of Ijebu Descendants in Diaspora, Otunba Paseda affirmed his readiness in taking over the baton from Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
Paseda told the Ijebus in Germany that, Ogun state should have been more industrialized as the next neighbour to Lagos State which is more congested now, but bad governance, lack of continuity and poor implementation of policies prevented the investors to actually bring their companies to the Gateway state.
According to him, “the socio-economic and political stability of our dear state is collapsing in the hands of the current gladiators and the need to urgently rise to rescue the dwindling fortune of the state’s resources cannot be entrusted any more in the hands of the charlatans who are parading themselves today as true democrats.
“Hence, my resolve to take over the leadership mantle in 2019 with your support and prayer. We have had enough of mouthing to effect changes in our leadership style, deliberately inflicted underdeveloped and socio-economic depression. What we need now is actually to make the overdue change for better and the universal good living. That’s what I am running for Ogun governorship to effect.
“But for those that are in myopic desperation and unjustified tribal sentiments, foolishly imposing on us unconstitutional zoning arrangement to beguile the sensibility of our people for their wishful thinking and selfish interest, I will advice we do away with tribal sentiment and work together for a better candidate who will deliver the dividends of democracy to all nooks and crannies of the state. Paseda will not be an Ijebu governor, but Ogun state governor, especially the Year zone, where junk of our IGR comes from shall witness tremendous transformation in my reign as Governor come 2019”.
Though, the call for a Yewa governor has rented the political space in the last three years, but what we should ask those saying that they felt cheated in the political setting of Ogun state to explain what they meant; you will be amaze from their answers that it is more of politics than anything else.
Those who have controlled the state politically in the last 40years and now have shown no capacity to explore their immense power to the overall benefit of the people. All they have succeeded in doing was to empower few of their cronies who become tin-gods during their reigns.
It is high time we take our destiny into our hands in pragmatic terms now. I enjoin our people to rightly make the right choice in voting person of unblemished character above party and tribal interest for the job at hand.
The time to embrace logics over tribal sentiment has come. The stakes are too high for rhetorical sentiments and innuendo. Let us consider the Paseda factor.
-Ógbèni Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji Is the Media Assistant to Otunba Rotimi Paseda
Politics
2027 BATTLE: How Much Nigeria Can Save, Invest In Infrastructure By Rotating Power Among Six Geo-political Zones For A Single Term Of Five Or Six Years
2027 BATTLE: How Much Nigeria Can Save, Invest In Infrastructure By Rotating Power Among Six Geo-political Zones For A Single Term Of Five Or Six Years
As a Southernern, particularly from the South East Geo-Political Zone, I believe the most potent argument for us in 2027 is that the North/South zoning arrangement of political power at the center is a scam. It’s a scam because it has only benefitted the South West and the North West geo-political zones since the return of ‘democracy’ (civil rule) in Nigeria on May 29, 1999. Nigeria, it must be clarified has six geo-political zones, not two.
Nigeria was divided into six geo-political zones in 1996 by the military government of General Sanni Abacha. This new zoning arrangement was a brainchild of the 1994/1995 Constitutional Conference chaired by the late Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte and empaneled by General Sanni Abacha.
At that Conference, no less a person than former Vice President Chief Alex Ekwueme and a group called Mkpoko Igbo proposed that since Nigeria will now be divided into six geo-political zones, to give all zones a sense of belonging within the Nigerian State, that power at the center should rotate among the six geo-political zones for a single term of five or six years. In their thinking, if power was rotated among the six geo-political zones for a single term of five or six years, within 30 years or 36 years, all six zones would have had one of their own leading Nigeria, particularly, from their first 11 (primus inter pares). The North and the South West delegations at that conference pooh-poohed Chief Alex Ekwueme and summarily shut down that all-important proposal. The rest they say is history.
More than 30 years later, there is yet no national peace, national cohesion, national political stability, national unity, and national loyalty to the Nigerian State. Had the proposal of Chief Alex Ekwueme and Mkpoko Igbo been adopted and implemented since 1999, at least, the 5th Geo-Political Zone would have had one of their own in Aso Villa today, and by 2035, the last geo-political zone would have being sending us one of their own to contest the Presidency across Nigeria’s current 18 political parties. This mathematics is if we had gone with a single term of six years (the maximum limit) as proposed by Dr. Ekwueme and the South East and South South delegates in that 1994/1995 Constitutional Conference.
Fast forward to today, in his recent Arise TV interview, and in some other public and private fora, H.E. Atiku Abubakar asked for Dr. Ekwueme’s forgiveness as he was among key Northern delegates in that Constitutional Conference from the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua group that opposed the rotational presidency among Nigeria’s geo-political zones. Waziri Adamawa had disclosed that he even apologized to Alex Ekwueme when he visited Oko, Anambra State, to pay homage to the former late vice president sometime in 2017/2018.
By and large, for 2027, I believe that the most potent argument that will sell in the South East is that the North East where Waziri Adamawa hails from, just like the South East (our region), had also been marginalized in the scheme of things in Nigeria. Aside from Alhaji Tafawa Balewa from Bauchi State (North East), nobody from the region/zone has been head of national government, head of state, or even president since 1966.
So, H.E. Atiku Abubakar is right in contesting the Presidential election billed for January 16, 2027, to right this wrong, and return Nigeria’s presidency to an equitable distribution of power at the center. When elected, and it’s entrenched in the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended), that power rotates among the six geo-political zones for a single term of five or six years, this new formula will bring about national peace, national cohesion, national unity, and tremendously commandeer national loyalty among Nigerians from across the six geo-political zones for their beloved country, the Nigerian State.
As a budding political scientist of repute and ardent student of contemporary Nigerian history and politics, let me tell us what this formular would do for the Nigerian State. The battle for the soul of the Nigerian State will be ferocious at the zonal level, while the center will become unattractive. So, let’s say it is the turn of the North East Geo-Political Zone to produce the Presidency in 2027, the battle to gift Nigerians their First 11 (primus inter pares) will be ferocious across the States in the region. The people of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe will now be more interested in partisan politics, thus being proactive participants within the current 18 political parties in Nigeria.
Giving Nigeria’s configurations and peculiarities, one of the positives of this political proactiveness is that it’s a win-win situation for the entire region if a man from Adamawa becomes President of Nigeria in 2027. The people from Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Gombe, and Bauchi will be largely happy, contented, hold their peace, love Nigeria better, and be more loyal to the Nigerian State because one of their own is now the GCFR, the primus inter pares, and the No. 1 Citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The steep insecurity that has ravaged the North East Geo-Political Zone since 2009, largely owing to perceived agelong marginalisation, oppression, injustices, would largely die down.
This will be the same case for the South East Geo-Political Zone. Biafra secessionist agitations, IPOB, ESN led by Nnamdi Kanu, will die a natural death. Justice and equity for all breeds contentment among men, and contentment among men births peace, unity, commandeers loyalty, and tremendously brings about prosperity. I stand to be challenged on this self-evident truth on any national television station.
When it is the turn of another region to produce the Presidency, after the North East has had their turn, all political parties in Nigeria must constitutionally present a Presidential candidate from the region whose turn it is to produce the presidency for a single term of six years. This rotational presidency formula must be entrenched in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended) by May 29, 2027.
I avow that rotational presidency among Nigeria’s six geo-political zones for a single term of five or six years is the best political science solution to the agelong hydra-headed problem of Nigeria, especially in the guise of disunity, unpeaceful, and disloyalty problems among Nigerian citizens. Doing this will also largely curtail the executive rascalities, legislative rascalities, and judicial rascalities currently being perpetrated by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Executive arm; the Godswill Akpabio led Legislative arm; and the CJN Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun led Judiciary arm.
The over desperation of getting re-elected for a second term in office, as shown today by Bola Tinubu, will be eraced for future Nigerian Presidents. The humongous money and depletion of Nigeria’s national treasury just for seeking re-election at all cost, and conducting elections will also be erased.
The Highfalutin, Draining Cost Of Conducting Elections In Nigeria?
For the 2023 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) proposed N305 billion in May 2022, which was a 62 percent increase over the 2019 budget. Ultimately, the National Assembly approved N355 billion for the exercise, though the commission spent N313.4 billion as of September 2023.
For the 2027 general election, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan proposed a total budget of N873.78 billion to the National Assembly in February 2026. This proposal includes N375.75 billion for election operations, N209.21 billion for technology, and N92.31 billion for administrative costs. The Bola Ahmed Tinubu led APC regime had previously allocated N1.01 trillion to INEC in the 2026 budget presented in January 2026.
Ladies and gentlemen, INEC’s election budget ballooned from N355 billion in 2023 to a whopping N873.78 billion for a re-election season in 2027? This is approximately a percentage increase of 146.13%. This is unacceptable, opprobrious, and insalubrious.
If we entrench in the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended), zoning the presidency among the six geo-political zones for a single term of five or six years, this proposed N873.78 billion to coduct the 2027 re-election season would have been eliminated.
What Can N873.78 billion Do For Nigerians In Terms Of Infrastructural Developmental Projects?
If hypothetically redirected or matched in scale for infrastructure development, N873.78 billion could significantly advance Nigeria’s infrastructure across key sectors:
1. Roads and Transportation: This amount could fund the rehabilitation of over 10,000 kilometers (6213.712 miles) of rural and urban roads, especially when combined with technical support from institutions like the World Bank’s RAAMP-SU project.
It could complete critical projects like the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway or support the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, enhancing regional connectivity and trade.
2. Railway Development: Based on past projects, N873 billion could finance a new 600–800 km (373-497 miles) standard gauge rail line, similar to the Abuja-Kaduna or Lagos-Ibadan lines, which were partially funded by Chinese loans.
Rail expansion would boost freight movement, reduce road congestion, and create thousands of jobs.
3. Power and Energy: The sum could support renewable energy projects, such as solar mini-grids for 10,000 rural communities, or fund transmission infrastructure to reduce power losses.
For context, Power Africa facilitated $63 million in renewable energy investments over 26 months—N873 billion could scale such efforts dramatically.
4. Water and Sanitation: Funds could build or upgrade water treatment plants, boreholes, and sanitation systems in underserved urban and rural areas, improving public health and reducing waterborne diseases.
5. Agricultural Infrastructure: The NSIA’s Multipurpose Industrial Platform Ltd (MIPL) in Akwa Ibom, including an ammonia and fertilizer plant, is a multi-billion-dollar project. N873 billion could fund multiple such agro-industrial hubs, boosting food security and reducing import dependence.
Analyzing The Current Infrastructure Spending In Nigeria In Relation To N873.78 Billion?
For comparison, Nigeria’s actual infrastructure allocations are much lower than the humongous money INEC is proposing to conduct the shaky 2027 general elections in Nigeria.
The 2025 Federal Budget allocated ₦4.06 trillion ($2.7 billion) for infrastructure—about 7.4% of total spending.
The National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) aims to raise infrastructure stock to 70% of GDP by 2043, requiring $100 billion annually—far above current spending levels.
Pension funds invested ₦262.57 billion in infrastructure in the first 10 months of 2025. This is below N873.78 billion being earmarked for the 2027 elections.
Without mincing words, let me aver that the N873.78 billion could transform infrastructural developmental projects in Nigeria, But the fact that this amount is proposed for elections, not infrastructural developmental projects, highlights a mismatch between public needs and government spending priorities in Nigeria, especially under the disastrous APC regime of Bola Tinubu.
Conclusion
While N873.78 billion is earmarked for elections, its scale underscores what Nigeria could achieve in infrastructure if similar resources were consistently invested. Redirecting even a fraction of election budgets toward roads, power, rail, water, and agriculture could accelerate economic growth, create jobs, and improve quality of life in Nigeria. However, transparency, accountability, and long-term planning are essential to ensure such investments yield lasting benefits.
Finally, ladies and gentlemen, let’s consider the substantial ingredients of this political seminal and fix this mess of power rotation at the center among Nigeria’s six geo-political zones for a single term of five or six years. Let’s stop wasting scarce resources in Nigeria conducting re-elections at the center and across state levels. Let’s stop wasting everybody’s time in Nigeria.
Ikenna Asomba is a political scientist and journalist. He writes from the State of Illinois, United States.
Politics
2027 BOMBSHELL: Dismantling The Myth Around Kwankwaso’s So-Called Electoral Dominance In Kano
2027 BOMBSHELL: Dismantling The Myth Around Kwankwaso’s So-Called Electoral Dominance In Kano
Politics
I am fully ready for the 2027 general elections”- ADP, presidential aspirant, Prof. Omolaja, declares
“I am fully ready for the 2027 general elections”- ADP, presidential aspirant, Prof. Omolaja, declares.
By Comrade Samson Ajibade Alabi, NLP Media Director
A presidential aspirant under the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Prof Muhammad Omolaja, has said that he is fully ready for the 2027 general elections especially the presidential contest.
Prof. Omolaja who disclosed this in an exclusive interview with pressmen in Abuja on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, said he has done his consultations with leaders of the Party, boasting that he is the next president of Nigeria by the grace of God.
He submitted that he has won the heart of the people at the grassroots across all the States and geopolitical zones including the federal capital territory (FCT); and convinced them about his clear vision and mission for Nigeria.
According to him, Nigerians are tired of the APC government and ready to vote them out in favour of his Party; the ADP!
Prof. Omolaja added that ADP is the only Party that can liberate Nigeria and rescue the citizens from the prevailing insecurity and other challenges facing the country.
The presidential aspirant said “you are asking me if I am ready for the 2027 general elections or not, I hereby inform you categorically that I am fully ready for the election; we have done what to be done, we have systematically carried Nigerians along in our preparations especially the people at the grassroots; and we have let them know that ADP is the only credible alternative Party that can liberate them from all the challenges the country is facing under the prevailing APC government. I am confident that I will get the ticket of our great Party being the leading contestant, and win the upcoming 2027 presidential election by the special grace of the Almighty God”
He therefore urged Nigerians to rally support for him and his Party (ADP) at the polls in the spirit of peace, love, unity, and patriotism in Nigeria.
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