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To Run For OYO Governorship
Will he contest? Or he’s only testing the waters? Those are some of the questions on the lips many since last week that the campaign posters of Senator Hosea Agboola (Halleluyah) surfaced on the Internet. Agboola is a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State. He represented Oyo North Senatorial District at the Senate between 2011 and 2015 under the umbrella of PDP. He’s presently a member of the Oyo State Advisory Council. In fact, he served as Chairman of the Advisory Council during the first term of Governor Seyi Makinde. So it was a bit surprising when the news of his guber ambition filtered into the public space last week.
Though Halleluyah, as Senator Agboola is popularly called, has not made any official statement as to whether he will be contesting in 2027 or not but the poster seen on the Internet suggested that he has joined the gubernatorial race.
The two posters seen online came with different messages. It was in courtesy one Aladie Saki. “Àtàrí Ajanakú KÌÍ SE ERU OMO KÉKERÉ, Support SEN. HOSEA AYOOLA AGBOOLA (HALLELUYAH) FOR OYO STATE GOVERNOR” was written on one. While the other states as follows: PEOPLE CHOICE 2027, Support SEN. HOSEA AYOOLA AGBOOLA (HALLELUYA) FOR GOVERNOR OYO STATE”.
In the same vein, a Group who described themselves as Halleluyah Group within PDP has also endorsed Agboola for Oyo 2027 governorship two weeks ago.
The Group unanimously endorsed Halleluyah at a crucial meeting held in Irawo, Atisbo Local Government, emphasizing the need for Oke-Ogun to produce the next governor as the zone has never had the opportunity to lead the state.
They argued that the region’s growing demand for the governorship position was well known across Oyo State, making it the right time to support a credible candidate from the area.
Halleluyah, according to the Chairman of Group, Hon. Alhaji Oyinloye Jelili Adebare, has a wide political acceptability that cuts across Oyo State and even transends the state. Adebare said Halleluyah’s influence extends beyond Oyo State and Nigeria. He urged members of the Group to remain committed to the cause and pray for its success.
Responding to the endorsement, Senator Agboola expressed gratitude to the group for their confidence in him. He, however, stated, “By the time I get to the river, I will know how to cross it,” signaling a cautious but open approach to the 2027 race.
The meeting had in attendance a good numbers of prominent political bigwigs from the zone including Alhaji Yakubu Ladoja, Hon. Adam Folaranmi, Alhaji Aliu, Chief Isaac Agada, and immediate past chairmen and vice chairmen of local governments in Oke-Ogun, all of whom are members of the Alleluyah Group.
Other men and women leaders from the region were also in attendance, reaffirming their support for Agboola’s potential candidacy.
The endorsement, to some political watchers, is nothing but a sign of likely intense political contest in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 elections.
It has also heightened the level of consultations and lobbying that are currently going on in the state. As those who are familiar with the happenings in the political circle of the state are aware of different permutations presently at display.
In fact, the political actors, as expected, are beginning to testing the waters ahead of the all-important race, the gubernatorial election. While some are aligning to wrestle power from the ruling party in the state, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there are those who are realigning to settle political scores even within their respective parties. And one of such situations, to some, is Halleluyah’s guber ambition.
The believe is that Halleluyah may be planning a revenge at his once most trusted political ally, Governor Seyi Makinde. Of course, it is an open secret in Oyo State that Halleluyah and Makinde are no longer close as before. It’s obvious that Halleluyah, who was seen as the de facto governor during Makinde’s first time, has been missing out of actions for a while now.
Of course, Halleluyah is more than qualified to contest any political office and under a political party of his choice. He has served at both state and federal levels. He was once a commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters under former governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and late ex-governor Adebayo Alao-Akala between 2003 and 2007.
Alleluyah was appointed as the Governor-Elect Transition committee by the then Governor-Elect, Engineer Seyi Makinde in 2019.
Agboola was also the Chairman of the Govenor’s Advisory Council (GAC) to Governor Seyi Makinde. He served as the Ekiti PDP caretaker Chairman for three months. He’s a well known grassroot mobilizer and politician. So he has the required contacts and the political wherewithal to contest. But doesn’t he really want to contest or just want to rock the political boat with Makinde come 2027? Time will definitely tell.
-Dare Adeniran
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