•As Senator LEKAN MUSTAPHA Dumps PDP For APC
As 2019 general elections draw nearer, politicians in Ogun state are also warming up , especially aspirants from different Senatorial Districts. Although, there is a slogan of Yewa Lokan, which literally means it is the turn of Yewa considering the fact that citizens of Ogun East Senatorial District have not govern the state since its creation. Governor Ibikunle Amosun has also given his words that he would give support to only an aspirant from Ogun West, this has not stopped other aspirants from other Senatorial districts especially those in the Apc to stop their campaign. Other aspirants from other parties have also buckled up and stepped up their games compaigning for 2019 guber race. Bunmi Mustapha brings you the list of Ijebu politicians, who want to be Ogun State Governor come 2019.
OTUNBA BIMBO ASHIRU
Otunba Bimbo Ashiru is from Ijebu, Ogun East Senatorial District. He is Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry. Last year, the technocrat made it known to the public that he would contest the governor’s seat, come 2019.
Although, Governor Amosun has made it clear that he would be pledging his support for a Yewa aspirant, but if he is looking to support an Ijebu aspirant, supporting Bimbo Ashiru would carry a lot of weight , because apart from the fact that Ashiru is closer to the Governor , he is also an associate of the governor and one of his core loyalists from the popular Ashiru family in Ijebu-Ode, Otunba Bimbo has the full backing of Oba Sikirulai Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland. The Paramount ruler has never hidden the fact that Otunba Bimbo is the Ijebu’s favourite and they both share a deep father-and-son relationship. No doubt, this is going to be a huge influence for him as Governor Amosun has lately been close to the Awujale and might support an aspirant the Awujale blesses to keep their relationship.
Ashiru was born in Ijebu-Ode to the illustrious Ashiru family. His father, the late Pa Simeon Adeyemi Ashiru, was a distinguished Ijebu statesman, while his mother ‘Omo’ba (Princess) Moradeun Ashiru, is from the Fidipote royal family of Ijebu Ode and the ruling house of Owu-Ijebu.
Ashiru bagged a degree in Marketing, Purchasing & Supply, and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Management. With this background, he entered the services of the then Chartered Bank in the year 1989.
His banking career spanned two decades and it took him to various institutions.
His last position was as Group Head, Public Sector with Stanbic IBTC Bank. He was the pioneer head of the department.
Otunba Ashiru, is a man with a desire for developing people around him and this translated into his appointment as the representative of the Awujale of Ijebuland on the Ogun State Poverty Alleviation Task Force. He distinguished himself in the field and represented his people favorably to the best of his ability and was well-commended by the Awujale.
In recognition of his selfless service to the society and having distinguished himself as a true son of Ijebuland and as an astute banker of repute, Otunba Ashiru was presented a royal title of Otunba Adeona Fusigboye of Ijebuland in December, 2006 by His Royal Majesty, The Awujale, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.
JIMI LAWAL
Jimi Lawal, whose real name is Shakiru Olajimi Adebisi Lawal was in the 90’s, a popular Whizkid banker, who set up and ran one of the hottest banks in that era called Alpha Merchant Bank. He is an Adviser to the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai.
He is the only non-Hausa Special Adviser to Gov. el-Rufai. He is from Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, but Jimi Lawal was made a Special Adviser on Investment promotion to the Kaduna Governor, who has been his friend for close to 30 years.
Jimi Lawal has begun serious campaign to strengthen his bid to contest the Ogun Governor’s seat in 2019 and he has the support of the Kaduna State governor, who is also close to President Muhammadu Buhari.
He has also received the blessing of President Buhari. He is also close to Awujale and has severally visited him for consultation and advice.
Jimi Lawal has always kept a low profile until 1999, when his close friend, Mallam Rufai, was appointed Director-General of the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) and made him a Technical Adviser in the agency. Later in 2003, following el-Rufai’s redeployment to the FCT Ministry as a Minister, Lawal again moved with his friend and was appointed a Special Adviser. Expectedly, el-Rufai’s election as Kaduna State governor and appointment of Lawal as his Special Adviser on Investment did not come to anyone as a surprise.
Lawal is the closest to the governor and most influential. He now spends more time in his country home in Ijebu-Ode where bBoth Bimbo Ashiru and Senator Lekan Mustapha who are close to Gov. Amosun and the Awujale also have influence. Ashiru in his case is like Awujale’s son and the Governor is his political godfather.
PRINCE ROTIMI PASEDA
Otunba (Prince) Rotimi Paseda is the only man sustaining Awo’s political legacy, which is the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).
He has been in the Ogun State Guber race for a while and he has also started a strong campaign to contest in the next Guber election in the State.
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 and his dad was a store keeper at PZ, Paterzon Zokalis Nigeria Limited in the 60’s. He started his career at PZ and ended his career at PZ. He was the longest serving staffer 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 Master’s 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. That was the commencement of his self-employment venture in the United Kingdom and World wide.
Afterwards, he established his company in UK, which is currently being managed by his wife. Along the line, he stumbled on a company in Mexico that manufactures heavy duty equipment. He recognised 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 of the company.
He is also into fire engines construction, which sell 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.
SENATOR MAMORA
Senator Olorunibe Mamora is also in the Ogun 2019 guber race. He was a 2-time speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly. He was also a two-term senator. He is from Ijebu-Ife, Ogun East.
Mamora was born on 16 February, 1953. He obtained a B.Sc, Health Sciences, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) University of Ife, Ile-Ife and became a Medical Practitioner. He was the Medical Director of a Medical Centre (1987 – 1998), and a Company Medical Adviser (1988 – 1992).
Mamora was a National Delegate for the National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1990, and Secretary, Lagos East of the United Nigerian Congress Party (UNCP) in 1998. He was elected to the Lagos State House of Assembly in 1999 and was appointed Speaker. He was a Chairman of the Conference of Speakers (2000 – 2001). Mamora was elected to the Senate in April 2003 and reelected in 2007. He was also a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament (2003 – 2006). In 2003, he was appointed chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
After resuming his seat in the Senate in 2007, he was appointed to the committees on Upstream Petroleum Resources, Selection Committee, Health and Federal Character & Inter-Government Affairs. In a mid-term evaluation of Senators in May 2009, ThisDay noted that he had sponsored bills on Tenure of Office, Surgeon-General of Nigeria and amendment of the Tobacco Control Act. He sponsored or co-sponsored motions including one to amend Senate rule 111 to bring it into conformity with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mamora was described as a master of parliamentary procedures.
HONOURABLE LADI ADEBUTU
Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu, who is a current House of Reps member is intensifying his interest in the race. He has consulted widely and he is spending big. He is believed to have a big war chest. The Ijebu son is also the son of Chief Kesington Adebutu, popularly called Baba Ijebu. His father has also met with all the big stakeholders in the state from former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, to the Awujale. Though, Ladi is from Iperu Remo, he is coming out from Odogbolu, his mother’s hometown constituence. His father , Baba Ijebu, who is very influential in the state, is also close to the Governor.
BASHORUN MUYIWA OLADAPO
Ogun State one-time Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Bashorun Muyiwa Oladipo, otherwise known as BMO is also on the 2019 Ogun Gubernatorial Race. The seasoned politician, who is also the present Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, has made his intention known that he is not only contesting for governor, but also the man to beat in the Ogun 2019 guber race.
He was born in Ikorodu, Ikorodu Local Government Council, Lagos State to the Oladipo family of Makun, Sagamu Local Government council, Ogun State.
He received his early education at Adeola Elementary School, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, where he obtain his first school leaving certificate in 1973. He proceeded to Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode, where he obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC) and also had his higher school certificate in 1981, in the same school.
In his quest for higher academic pursuit, he was given admission to the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, in 1981, where he pursued a course in History in the Department of Arts and bagged Bachelor of Arts (Hons) History in 1984. His determination to further broaden his horizon and understanding made, Olumuyiwa Oladapo proceed to Ogun State University, Now Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, where he studied Law and obtained his Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree in 1989. He became a Barrister at Law (BLS) after his one year at the Law School, Ikoyi Lagos, Nigeria in 1991.
His working experience started with his one-year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme at the Nigeria Customs and Excise, Area 1, Port Harcourt, Rivers State from 1984-1985. In 1985, he began his working career at H.F.P. Engineering Limited, Victoria Island , Lagos and left in 1986.
From 1991-1996, Rt. Hon. Muyiwa Oladapo Oladipo joined Gbenga Oni & Associates, a Solicitor & Advocate Firm, in Ewusi Street, Sagamu, Ogun State, and worked from 1996-1998.
In his bid to be self- sustaining, having garnered a lot of professional experience, he established his chambers, called, Muyiwa Oladapo & Associates, Solicitors& Advocate in Lagos. It has now moved to No,58, Oke-yeke NUD road, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He was also at various times a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), during the regime of a former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, the party later metamorphosed into the Alliance for Democracy (AD) after the annulment of June 12 presidential election in 1993.
A man of many parts, Olumuyiwa Oladapo Oladipo began his political career as a member of the youth wing of the then Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Ogun State branch. He as a member of Alliance For Democracy won on the party’s platform a seat into the Ogun State House of Assembly to represent Sagamu II State Constituency and was elected the speaker of the House of Assembly.
He was made Basorun, Oke-Ado, a chieftaincy title in Ijebu in 2001.
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