•For IBADAN North-West/South West Fed. Constituency Seat
As the 2019 general elections draw nearer by the day, one election that promises to be keen and interesting apart from the guber race in Oyo State, is Ibadan North-West/South-West Federal Constituency. Four other popular politicians are battle-ready to slug the contest for the constituency seat out with the incumbent honourable, Saheed Akinade-Fijabi.
Fijabi, if he emerges winner again, would be representing the constituency for a third consecutive term. He is about to set a record as the only Federal honourable to have achieved such feat in Oyo State.
Saheed Fijabi attended Mayflower School, Ikene where he obtained his Senior Secondary Certificate in 1994. He proceeded to The Polytechnic, Ibadan where he studied Urban & Regional Planning. He later had his first degree in Facilities from the University of Greenwich, United Kingdom and his Master’s degree in Project Management from the same institution in 2008. In 2010, he had an MBA in Real Estate from the University of Reading, United Kingdom.
The other political party candidates’ prepare redness is an indication that the poll may not be a smooth ride for Saheed Fijabi.
While Oil & Gas big boy and BOPOY’s boss, Alhaji Kunle Busari, aka ‘GooduGoodu’, has emerged candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) to contest the seat; Hon. Wasiu Olatunbosun, Abayomi Fagbenro and Stanley Olajide Adedeji (Odidiomo) are also contesting the slot under the auspices of ADC, YDP and PDP respectively.
The battle for the seat would be hot considering the calibre of the contestants. Hon. Saheed Fijabi who is serving the constituency in the Federal House of Reps for the second time and his father is a socialite and businessman; Kunle Busari is widely known within Oyo political circle as ‘GooduGoodu’ is quite popular too. He is a grassroots politician and one of the die-hard followers of a former Governor of the state, Chief Rashidi Adewolu until he recently dumped ADC to join Akala in ADP. For years, he has not been given a chance to prove himself and many believe strongly that the opportunity has presented itself to do that. Also in the contest is a former Caretaker Chairman of Ibadan North-West L.G, Hon.
Wasiu Olatunbosun. He was part of the engine room team of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who campaigned for him in 2011 and 2015 respectively before he quit APC and joined ADC alongside the Unity Forum Group. He is a great grassroots man. Olatunbosun was said to know the periphery of Oyo State, especially that of Ibadan. He knows where to and who to meet to make things happen politically. Olatunbosun also oversaw Ajumose Coalition Movement (ACM) , a movement that consists of over 200 groups and associations, which played a significant role in the eventual emergence of Governor Ajimobi as a two term Governor in the history of Oyo State.
If Olatunbosun’s political connection could be said to cut across different social groups and ages, that of Abayomi Fagbenro, the candidate of Young Democratic Party (YDP), is more appealing to the youth. He commands respect among the youth as it is believed that this is the right time for the young people to take over political control at different levels of the country. Fagbenro attended IMG Primary School and Government College, Ibadan for his primary and secondary educationrespectively. He later travelled abroad and joined the United States Navy. He acquired Associate degree in Computer Technology at ECPI College of Technology. He also has Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Technology from Strayer University, majoring in Programming and minoring in Accounting. He was discharged from U.S Navy for medical reasons in 2003.
While Odidiomo’ is also popular in his own right, he is in tune with those in corporate and political class. He is a seasoned administrator, computer scientist and an oil magnate.
Though, he was based in the United States of America (USA), but he has political appeal back home owing to his philanthropic gestures. He is a professional to the core. He attended Alaafia Primary School, Mokola, Ibadan and his secondary education was at Methodist High School, Ibadan. He later went to Rutgers State University of New Jersey, USA for his first degree in Computer Science and minoring in Management. He proceeded for his Master’s degree at the University of Phoenix in Business Administration, after which he moved into public-America, where he cut his teeth in the Units System Administrator in charge of computer programming. He has worked for many companies mostly fortune 50 company as a consultant, directing diverse companies from various backgrounds.
The import of the whole thing as far as Ibadan North-West/South-West seat contest is concerned, however, is that as the old player in the game are not ready to leave anything to chance, the new comers too have many points to prove. They have to put up their best in the contest to show the stuff they are made of. It is going to be money for money and might for might. As these politicians are ready to upstage the incumbent honourable, Saheed Fijabi.
Dare Adeniran
08057639079.
Send Us News, Gist, more... to citypeopleng@gmail.com | Twitter: @CitypeopleMagz
