As preparation is in a top gear for the Oyo State Governor-elect, Engineer Seyi Makinde to take over the running of the state from the outgoing Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, come May 29 this year, so also are the many expectations. People are keenly looking forward to who gets what as a new government comes in.
One of these expectations, however, is for a new set of stakeholders to spring up. They are those who contributed, in one way or other, to Engr. Seyi Makinde’s success at the recently held guber election in the state. They are the ones who will also have some kinds of input in this coming dispensation, whether as party members, elders or loyalists of the Governor-elect.
Like the former Governor of the state and the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, who, alongside other guber candidates in the last election, marged their machineries to take power from the ruling party, APC. Ladoja, from Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) formed an alliance with PDP. He is expected to have some percentage in the cabinet formation. So also are Senator Femi Lanlehin, who before the alliance was the guber candidate of ADC, his party too will definitely be part of the new government; Barr. Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli was ZLP’s guber candidate before he joined forces with PDP alongside his leader, Senator Ladoja and Barr. Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), who jettisoned his guber ambition under Social Democratic Party (SDP) for Seyi Makinde.
Dare Adeleke, former South-West zone Youth Leader, will also play a prominent role in this coming dispensation. He is Engr. Seyi Makinde’s right hand man in fact, he was a front runner in the battle for Seyi Makinde’s PDP faction to have gotten recognition at the Federal level back then.
While the likes of PDP Chairman in Oyo State, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha; Chief Jacob Adetoro, the party’s chieftain from Oke-Ogun zone; Hon. Adejumo; former Leader of House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Adeola Akande; Barr. Funto; Engineer Femi Babalola (Jogol) and another party chieftain in Oyo PDP, Alhaji Bisi Olopoeyan, all have different roles to play.
The former senator who represented Oyo North in the Senate, Ayoola Hosea Agboola is going to be a key player in Makinde’s administration too, he has always been a strong plllar in Oyo PDP. One of the few female politicians to also watch out for in the new coming government is the former First Lady in the state, Chief (Mrs) Yinka Ladoja. She has always been in supportive of .Makinde’s guber ambition, even when her husband and Makinde were not on the same page politically, Yinka Ladoja stood her ground. In fact, she being popularly called ‘Iya Gomina’ in Ibadan now.
Other female politicians to also watch out for in the coming administration are Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, she played a prominent role during the campaigns, though she failed in her re-election ambition to represent Oyo Central Senatorial district but was solidly behind Seyi Makinde, she was also the first senator to dump APC for ADC and worked hard for their alliance with PDP to succeed; Chief (Mrs) Bose Adedibu, wife of the late ‘Garrison Commander’ of Ibadan politics, she is been carrying on with her late husband’s political legacy, she threw her weight behind Makinde and top society woman and the wife of late Eruwa-born business mogul, Chief Adeseun Ogunsola, Chief (Mrs) Tina Ogundoyin, whose son has won his re-election bid to represent Ibarapa East zone in the state’s Assembly and who is most likely will emerge as Speaker.
Chief Bayo Lawal, the Director General of Seyi Makinde Campaign Organization will also play a prominent role. He, alongside his Deputy Chief Akin Fagbemi and the spokesperson of the organization, Chief Dotun Oyelade, ran a vibrant, purposeful and result-oriented campaigns. Same thing goes for a former member of the House of Representatives and Majerita Hotel boss, Hon. Babatunde Oduyoye; he contributed greatly during the campaigns. Oduyoye, we gathered, was behind all the strategic advertorials in most daily newspapers as well as other mediums during the electioneering period.
Others who may also have inputs in Seyi Makinde’s administration include his elder brother and a strong politician, Barr. Muyiwa Makinde; Chief Lere Adigun, the CEO of Sahara Engineers; Barr. Ayodele Adekanmbi, Chairman, Disability Empowerment Solutions; former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Kehinde Ayoola and Mogaji Ile’ba, Chief Nureni Akanbi. They all supported Makinde throughout his trying times in politics and during campaigns.
Meanwhile, the Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Saliu Adetunji, being the royal father, has roles to play in the new coming government. Many believe this will be a government that he would really be part of, as he has been having a running battle with the outgoing government in the state.
–Dare Adeniran
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