As you read this, Prince Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka (GNI) is in a happy mood. He turned 60 on the 17th of February, 2022 and celebrated it last Sunday in Lagos, with a Diamond Jubilee birthday dinner.
Since he turned 60, he has been in a happy mood. He is a happy man. Everything looks good. He is looking forward to the coming dispensation with great optimism. A lot of his close associates wants him to run for public office. They want him to run for the Ogun West Senatorial seat, currently being occupied by Senator Tolu Odebiyi. They think he has the image and experience to manage the office.
For those who don’t know, let’s remind you that Isiaka, who is popularly called GNI, is a seasoned politician. He has been involved in the politics of Ogun State for years. Because of his brilliance and political sagacity, he has been put up twice for the governorship race. But for the Gentleman’s agreement that OGUN East people be allowed to complete their 8-year term, he would have been put forward as a guber candidate come 2023.
Why pressure is mounting on GNI is his growing political influence in Ogun politics and that of Ogun West.
He made a BIG political statement on Sunday, 17th October 2021, when he held the Fidau Prayers & Final Burial ceremony for his mum, Alhaja Kuburat Agbeke Isiaka, the late Iya Adinni of Imeko, at AUD Primary School grounds in Imeko, Imeko Afon LG in Ogun State. Although it was meant to be the celebration of the life of his dear mum, the quality crowd he pulled to Imeko that day spoke volumes about how influential GNI is.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was there. Prince Dapo Abiodun, the governor of Ogun State was also there. So also were all the key office holders in the state and beyond. Very many political stakeholders left all they had to do that day to storm Imeko Afon to support GNI. Apart from the attendance, the brochure of the Life & Times of Alhaja Kuburat Agbeke Isiaka contained tributes and condolence messages from bigwigs in politics.
A former head of state, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, sent a one-page Condolence. Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, also wrote a one-page letter with the intro-”My dear brother”. Lagos Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu also wrote a one-page Condolence Message, just as Ondo Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN). Akeredolu commended the Sterling qualities of GNI and his good upbringing. Another Ogun political leader, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, sent his condolence letter. He referred to GNI as My Brother. Of course, his former boss, OGD, also wrote his condolence letter. He called GNI, Dear Gboyega. He said GNI’s mum’s outstanding parenthood could be seen in GNI, who has taken on the mantle of being a Child of Promise.
Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (CON), Minister of Transportation, also wrote a Condolence letter. So also was Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso who attended GNI’s mother’s burial party. Many more notable politicians sent condolence letters.
At that event, VP commended him. “I was introduced to Gbenga Nasiru, very many, many years ago when he was serving in the government of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, by my younger brother, Akin Osinbajo, who was also serving in the same government.” “And he said to me then that if you are looking for a reliable man, this is the man. He is a reliable man. And I remember those words very, very well. I think through the years, just like Gov. Dapo Abiodun has said, he has proved to be reliable at all times, focused and reliable and extremely brilliant mind.”
“That is the testimony, like everybody has said, because as a politician sometimes, it is difficult to be described as reliable. But if a politician can be described as reliable, trust me, he is reliable. So, I think it is a very great pleasure indeed that at least we are able to come here and celebrate with you. And you can see, there are so many different people here to celebrate with you. All the way from Kano, Senator Kwankwaso. And there are others here.”
So, who is the real GNI? He revealed this in a recent interview “I was born in February 1962 into the family of the late Prince Tijani Adebowale Isiaka and Alhaja Adijat Isiaka of Remo Quarters, Imeko in Imeko Afon Local government area of Ogun State. My father was a respected transporter, philanthropist, community leader and politician in the then Egbado district and my mother was a trader. Growing up in Imeko was not much of a challenge for me as a little boy as I learnt very early in life that, to become great you must endure whatever situation you find yourself, and coming from a very strict, religious and disciplined home, I had no choice but to conform to the best standards possible. This, to a large extent, moulded me into the person I am today.
“My quest for academic excellence began from the Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Imeko between 1968 and 1973 after which I proceeded to Nazareth High School, Imeko between 1973 and 1978.
“Prior to my tertiary education, I worked as a Clerical Officer at Yewa (then Egbado) North Local Government; and later Office of the Presidential Liaison Officer, Abeokuta. My first point of call for higher education was the Ogun State Polytechnic (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic), Abeokuta where I was admitted to study Mass Communication in 1981. While there, for a few months, my innate drive made me realize that I was not getting a feeling of full satisfaction with the career path I was towing and consequently, I quit the school to pursue a different career path. I was subsequently offered admission into the University of Ife (now OAU) to study Accounting in 1982. I committed myself vigorously to my academics, and after four rigorous years, I graduated in 1986 with a First Class Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting (B.Sc Accounting).
“While in “Great Ife”, my penchant to add value to others committed me to other engaging activities as I was the Director of Organisation, Yewa (then Egbado) Students Association in 1983/1984 and became the President in 1984/1985. A major highlight of my activities in the association was giving career talk and organising what was then called the “Brain Trust Competition” among Secondary Schools in Yewa land. After my graduation from the University, I proceeded to the one-year compulsory NYSC programme in Jos, Plateau State. I served with Joseph Akande & Co, a firm of Chartered Accountants.
In furtherance of my academic attainment, I proceeded to pursue my professional certifications and qualified as a Chartered Accountant (ACA) in 1988. I also completed a Masters’ Programme in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos in 1995 and attended the Senior Management Programme (SMP) of the Lagos Business School in 1998. After a decade of post-Associate membership, I was bestowed with the Fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) in 2003.
“In addition to being a Chartered Accountant, I am an Associate of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (ACS) having completed the Institute’s three-stage examinations in 2001, and an Associate member (ACIT) of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). In furtherance of my bid to attain professional and leadership excellence, I have taken and undergone several courses in different parts of the world including Investment Banking & Corporate Finance Course by Euromoney, United Kingdom, Leadership in the 21st Century from the prestigious John F. Kennedy Centre, Harvard University, United States of America and Development, Structuring and Execution of Public-Private Partnership transactions of the Institute of Public-Private Partnership, Washington DC to mention but a few.
“Upon completion of my NYSC programme, I was retained at the place of my primary assignment from where I left for Lion Bank of Nigeria to commence my 15 years stint in the finance/banking industry 1989. I exited the banking industry in 2003 as the Assistant General Manager/Head of the Investment Banking Group of Lead Bank Plc. I left the private sector with a high sense of fulfilment having led the Lead Bank team to win the best Issuing House in Nigeria for three consecutive years; between 2001 and 2003.
In November 2003, I was appointed the Special Assistant on Investments by the Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Otunba Gbenga Daniel and in April 2004, I was appointed the pioneer Group Managing Director of Gateway Holdings Limited (GHL), the Investment Company of Ogun State whose major focus was effective and professional management of the State investment towards contributing to the revenue generation and socio-economic development of the State.
“I contested for the Governorship of Ogun in 2011 and in 2015 General Elections, coming as first runner-up in 2015 with 35% of total votes against the 53% of the winner, the incumbent governor and winning in eight (8) out of the State’s twenty (20) local governments. During the course of the campaigns and several socio-cultural activities, I have traversed the nooks and crannies of the State. Arguably, I am one of the most popular political players in Ogun State at this time.”
“I currently run the Edgefield Group, which is involved in the provision of professional and non-banking financial services, through Edgefield Development & Investment Partners Ltd (an Infrastructure Development Advisory Firm) which I run as the Chief Executive Officer; Edgefield Capital Management Ltd (a Stockbroking/Corporate Advisory Company) where I serve as the Chairman; and GNI 7 Associates (a Professional Services firm) which I provide with supports on a consultancy basis”.
“I am happily married to Mrs Oluwatoyin Isiaka and blessed with lovely children. Despite my conservative mien, I am measurably outgoing.”
“My life is an open book that can be read. In all I do, I always strive to exemplify hardwork, capacity, competence, honour, dignity, integrity, vision, contentment and unblemished antecedents. Indeed, I have taken a conscious endeavour to add value to my generation and as the saying goes, “Each person must strive to leave his generation better than he met it”. This, I am striving to do.”
City People gathered that the plan is to have GNI run for the Senate seat of Ogun West presently occupied by Senator Tolu Odebiyi. GNI is close to Gov. Dapo Abiodun. He is also close to V.P Osinbajo. So, he is most likely to be the candidate of the Abiodun Group in Ogun APC.
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