The political atmosphere is gathering momentum gradually in Osun State as the governorship election scheduled for August 9 this year draws near. The battle for the exalted position of number one citizen in the State is becoming intense. At least, no fewer than eight contenders are on the race for the office of the Governor located at Bola Ige White-House in Osogbo which is currently occupied by Mr. Rauf Aregbesola whose tenure ends in November this year. From all indications, the battle will mainly be fought by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) while the Labour Party (LP) will use the election to launch itself in the State. The aspirants on the platform of PDP include a former Deputy Governor in the State, Senator Iyiola Omisore and a two-term member of the House of Representatives, Oluwole Oke both from Osun East Senatorial District of the State while a former Minister for Youths Development, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, who is also vying for the ticket of PDP is from Osun West Senatorial District. APC is presenting Aregbesola again to run for the second term, considering the level of performance and the implementation of capital projects by his administration which is considered as strengths to attract votes and ensure victory for the party at the election. Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, a former Secretary to Osun State Government during the administration of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who recently dumped PDP, wants to contest on the platform of LP. Niyi Owolade is also contesting on the platform of Labour Party while Afolayanka Olanrewaju is contesting on the platform of National Conscience Party (NCP). Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) has Sunday Akinwusi as its aspirant. Oluwole Busayo Oke (Osun East Senatorial District)Among all the contenders in the fold of the PDP, Oke appears to have shown more seriousness in his bid to slug it out with Governor Aregbesola. His posters and intimidating billboards are conspicuous in strategic places in Osogbo, the State capital and other towns and communities across the State. Apart from having age to his advantage, the 46-year old politician represented Oriade/Obokun federal constituency at the Federal House of Representatives between 2003 and 2011. His solid education background and close relationship with the people as manifested in his grassroots empowerment programme will work for him in the PDP primary election which will determine whether he will be the flag bearer or otherwise. Senator Iyiola Omisore (Osun East Senatorial District) His political structure is unprecedented. He is one of the prominent politicians in the State, who has the wherewithal and financial power to tackle Aregbesola in the 2014 governorship election. Apart from the support and acceptance he enjoys from the grassroots, many believe that Omisore will give the incumbent governor a run for his money and influence the forthcoming poll. He was a deputy governor under the regime of Chief Bisi Akande, when the latter was the governor of Osun State between 1999 and 2003. Besides, he contested and won election into the National Assembly as a Senator in 2003 while he was being held over alleged murder charges at Agodi Prisons, Ibadan. Already, many party members within the PDP are already rooting for his emergence as the candidate of the party before the crucial poll. Alhaji Fatai Akinade Akinbade (Osun West Senatorial District) Alhaji Akinbade is contesting on platform of the Labour Party which is not well known in the State. But the party is gaining popularity gradually because of Akinbade’s factor. Akinbade has the clout and pedigree to challenge the incumbent governor in the election. Some of his backers and supporters have begun underground campaign and mustering support to ensure that his dream of becoming the next governor materialized. He was the Chairman of PDP in the State before he became Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in the administration of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi (Osun West Senatorial District) Olasunkanmi contested and won a seat in the Senate. He represented the Osun West Senatorial District in the Senate. He was picked as a minister after the expiration of his term in the senate. Akinlabi is also very popular in the State. But political analysts said his structure seemed very weak compared to those of his contenders. Also, his chance of winning PDP ticket suffered setback when the new minister from Osun State, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan who hails from the same town where Akinlabi comes from, was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan. The consequence is that PDP may not pick governorship candidate from the same place where the minister comes from so as to enjoy statewide support. Mr. Rauf Aregbesola (Osun East Senatorial District) Aregbesola has already been chosen as the candidate of APC as no one is contesting it with him. He believes that he has performed well and that this will assist him to return. “We have changed the face of governance in this State by creating platform for steady economic growth, through the creation of employment opportunities for teeming youths roaming the streets and provision of infrastructural facilities, including effective road networks, among others,” he bragged at a function. Aregbesola is believed to be a strategic political actor who seems to be overconfident about winning the election. No doubt, the current popularity of APC in the country will further assist his own political structure in Osun while his Lagos factors will still add to his chances. Afolayanka Olanrewaju of NCP Afolayanka Olanrewaju who also signified intention to contest on the platform of National Conscience Party (NCP) hails from Boripe local government area. The 43-year-old politician holds a B.Sc degree in Economics from the University of Ilorin and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from University of Benin. He contested for Osun Central Senatorial seat in the 2011 general election on the platform of NCP. His governorship ambition is not well known. But his political strategists say he will soon roll out his campaign on a large scale. According to one of his political associates, who is also a chieftain of NCP, “Afolayanka’s campaign will be anchored on the 10-care programmes of NCP which include provision of employment, food, health care, housing facility, quality education, potable water, electricity, transportation, telecommunication and security”. Segun Akinwusi of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN)Mr Segun Akinwusi, the immediate past Head of Service in Osun State who retired last year, also has joined the 2014 gubernatorial race. He may emerge as the flag bearer of the resuscitated Unity Party of Nigeria. Akinwusi, while announcing his intention to run for the office of the governor, said he wanted to turn the fortune of the State around as he was “on a rescue mission”. He said what Osun needed was an urgent surgical operation to save it from the current economic suffocation, adding that it was high time pretension stopped as all was not well in Osun State. While acknowledging the newness of his party in the State, Akinwusi noted that the party drew its strength from the yearning and desire of the people for a change. He stated that as a former top civil servant, the best he could do while in service was to offer quality advice that would benefit the State, noting that right now he cannot force the political leadership to act in accordance with his wishes.“As a civil servant when you advise your political head and he thinks otherwise, there is little you can do. Having put in many years into the service of Osun State, I believe I am a greater stakeholder, than anyone that came on a sojourn. I did my best by giving my pieces of advice, but there is nothing you can do to help somebody who does not respect your views,” he said. Akinwusi started his career in the civil service as an Administrative Officer in the Old Oyo State in 1977. He acted as Permanent Secretary/Clerk of the Osun State House of Assembly, between 2002 and 2003. He was confirmed a Permanent Secretary in May 2003, before he was elevated to the head of service.Akinwusi was Head of Service in Osun State under former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and also served the incumbent Governor Aregbesola before he retired in 2012. Barrister Niyi Owolade of LP Niyi Owolade, the Ifetedo-born politician was the Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice during the regime of Governor Oyinlola. The legal practitioner declared his ambition to contest the 2014 governorship election on the platform of the Labour Party and promised to lessen the over-dependence of funds from the federation account.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 16:41:20 +0000
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