With just a few months to the general elections, over 18 aspirants, cutting across major political parties and senatorial districts across Ogun State are already jostling to succeed Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
Aspirants from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and the newly ADCÂ and ADP, top the list of those warming up to take over from Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
Those who have shown interest are Hon. Suraj Adekunbi the Speaker Ogun House of Assembly , Tolu Odebiyi , Ogun Chief Of Staff ,former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka ,former member of House of Representatives from YewaNorth/Ipokia federal constituency, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade and Senator Prince Gbolahan Dada. Below, Bunmi Mustapha brings you the list of politicians who want to be the next Ogun Governor.
WASIU KOLAWOLE LAWAL (KLM)
KLM, as he is foundly called is the current Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry. He is one of the governorship aspirants that have expressed interest in the number one seat of the state. He is a thorough-bred Yewa person. He was born on September 24, 1962 at Eyo Quarters, Oke-Odan, in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.
In 2011, he came close to clinching the Peoples Democratic Party’s ticket for the governorship race when he lost out to Gen. Adetunji Olurin, who was fielded by the PDP.
TEMITOPE KUYEBI
Temitope Kuyebi began his political career over a decade ago with the Alliance for Democracy (AD).
He joined the governorship race recently on the platform of the APC, declaring that 2019 is his auspicious year to govern the state. He hails from Imasayi town in Ogun West Senatorial district and enjoys the support of the people.
He was the first consensus candidate that was unanimously presented to contest for the governorship seat from Ogun West in 2011 on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). But, despite the popular yearning of his people for him to contest the seat at the time, he stepped down for Senator Ibikunle Amosun that year on the directive of the party leaders.
Kuyebi also tried contesting for the ticket of the Ogun West senatorial seat in 2015. But, again, he was asked to step down for Senator Gbolahan Dada, who currently represents the district.
ADELEKE TELLA
Prince Tella is a strong contender in the bid that Ogun West should produce the next governor, but he believes that the royal blessing and support of other zones should be courted to ensure success. But it is not clear if the founder of Tribute Television has enough money to back his aspiration.
He hails from Ilaro, in Yewa South and possesses grassroots mobilization skills. He is also one politician from Ogun West who is of the firm conviction that the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Alake of Egba Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Tunde and Olu of Ilaro and ruler of Yewa Oba Kehinde Olugbenle have roles to play to help Yewa – Awori people achieve their dream of producing the next governor.
BIYI OTEGBEYE
He is one of those eyeing the 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 successor in the APC gubernatorial contest.
GNI
Out of the 2019 gubernatorial aspirants from Yewa, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, is the most popular considering the fact that he has contested twice for the Governorship seats and lost to the present Governor of the state.
GNI as he is foundly called was a card carrying member of PDP until few weeks ago when he left PDP to join the new ADC. As we speak he is not just the only popular aspirants in the race , but he is the only aspirants of ADC and he also has former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s backing.
GNI was the PDP candidate in the 2015 governorship election. He was also the Peoples Party of Nigeria candidate in the 2011 governorship election in the state. Isiaka, who hails from Ogun West, an area that has long been clamouring for power in Ogun State.
RT HON. SURAJ ADEKUNBI
He is another Yewa-born gunning for the governorship seat of Ogun in 2019. He is the present Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Honorable Suraj Adekunbi, the two term Speaker of the house has declared plans to contest in the gubernatorial race come 2019.
For over a year now , the noise of the Speaker of the Ogun State house of Assembly throwing his hat into the gubernatorial Race come 2019 has been trending on social media and he is also called incoming each time he steps out at events , before he finally came out to declare his ambition.
In preparation for the 2019 election , he has also been taking courses from different institutions in and outside Nigerian the last was his two weeks course in Havard a month ago.
SENATOR DADA
Senator Gbolahan Dada is currently representing Ogun West senatorial district. He is from the only area yet to produce a governor in the west part of Ogun State.
From background checks, governor Amosun and Senator Gbolahan Dada’s relationship transcends politics. They are good friends. Senator Gbolahan Dada and members of his support groups have retained their status quietly and providing needed support over the years. That was why it was easy for the Awori Prince to emerge a Senator in the face of myriads of interests from other associates of Governor Amosun , a reincarnation of his success during the senatorial election is what is being plotted for him to succeed Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
Senator Prince Gbolahan Dada was elected Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District on 28 March 2015.
TOLU ODEBIYI
Tolu Odebiyi is another intending Yewa born politician gunning for the seat of Governorship in 2019. He was appointed few months ago as the Chief of Staff to the Ogun State governor and before and after his appointment there has been speculations that Governor Amosun is looking into making him his successor as it was reavealed that they share a close bond and he is someone he can also trust.
Odebiyi who hails from Ewekoro Local Government area of the State, was until his latest elevation the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs.
Odebiyi’s late father, Chief Jonathan Odebiyi, was a grassroot politician of repute during his lifetime.
Tolu Odebiyi himself is said to be making underground moves and to people around him that he will be throwing his hat into the 2019 gubernatorial race in Ogun State.
HON. AKINLADE
For 3-time House of Representatives member who once represented Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency, it is time for him to take the baton as the Governor of Ogun State. He stressed this recently in his 60th birthday interview recently that he has been short changed three times but this time he wont let anyone take his mandate.
He was the chairman, House Committee on Science and Technology. He was originally elected into the National Assembly on the PDP platform.
In the run-up to the 2011 elections, Akinlade defected to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and was a frontline gubernatorial aspirant in the party. He, however, lost the ticket to Amosun. In a bid to realize his governorship ambition, the lawmaker has switched camp to People’s Democratic Party
Come 2019, Abiodun Akinlade is contesting for Ogun Governor as consultation and strategy is already in playing underground , he is now a member of Apc and a also a close pal of Governor Amosun.
Akinlade is presently the Special Adviser to Hon. Yusuf Suleiman Lasu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
OTUNBA ASHIRU
Otunba Bimbo Ashiru is from   Ogun East Senatorial District. He is the Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry.
Last year the technocrat made it known that he is contesting for the governorship seat come 2019.
He is a close associate of Gov. Amosun 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 their favorite 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 he blesses to keep their relationship.
JIMI LAWAL
His real name is Shakiru Olajimi Adebisi Lawal. He 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 now an Adviser to Kaduna State Governor, 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 for Ogun Governor in 2019 and he has the support of the Kaduna State governor, who is also close to President Buhari.
He now spends more time at his country home in Ijebu-Ode.
SENATOR LEKAN MUSTAPHA
Senator Lekan Mustapha, a former Senator from Ogun East is also nursing a governorship ambition come 2019. Though he is in PDP, the former Senator, who is from Ijebu Igbo is very close to Governor Amosun and the |Governor has not hidden his friendship with Senator Lekan Mustapha. He is also close to the Awujale too. Both factors give him an upper hand to get the support of Governor Amosun in 2019.
PRINCE ROTIMI PASEDA
Otunba (Prince) Rotimi Paseda is the only man sustaining the political legacy of Pa. Obafemi Awolowo 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 Ogun State.
Prince Olatunde Rotimi Paseda hails from Omu-Ijebu in Ogun State.
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 a 2-term Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly. He is from Ijebu-Ife, Ogun East.
LADI ADEBUTU
Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu, who is a current House of Reps member has intensified 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 Kessington 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. His father , Baba Ijebu who is very influential in the state is also close to the Governor.
MUYIWA OLADAPO
Ogun State one time Speaker. Rt. Honourable Bashorun Muyiwa Oladipo is also in 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.
SEGUN ODEGBAMI
Segun Odegbami was a former Green Eagles captain. Few weeks ago, he declared his interest to run for the governorship election in Ogun State in the forthcoming general Elections in 2019.
He says he is taking a plunge into the uncharted rivers of Nigerian politics, and would be doing so as a member of the Labour Party.”
Stressing that what Ogun State needs right now is the “right kind of leadership”, Odegbami says he hopes to make the state, dubbed the Gateway State in Nigeria, “a model State in progressive governance with focus on the people, their general well being and welfare, plus unprecedented rapid development.”
DIMEJI BANKOLE
For the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, his quest to become the governor of Ogun State come 2019 under his new found political party, the Action Democratic Party (ADP), is not hidden. Posters of the former speaker have been spotted across Abeokuta, the state capital. However, it is not clear if the party could make any meaningful impact in the coming elections.
Hon Dimeji Bankole is also an aspirant, struggling to wrest power from the APC. Bankole is believed to be penetrating the grassroots, especially youths in Ogun Central Senatorial District through his Dimeji Bankole Movement (DBM).
His concentration on his Senatorial district has made some political watchers to believe and speculate that the former Speaker may be planning to go for the Senate and use the platform to slug it out with Amosun, who is believed to be nursing the ambition to return to the Senate, after his eight year sojourn as the Chief Executive of the state.
MUHAMMAD OMOLOJA
Prof. Mohammad Omoloja is an APC Chieftain who wants to be governor Omolaja hails from Ogun West senatorial district. His agenda has been captured in the acronym OGUN REJOICE.
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