ONDO GUBER; WHY ROTIMI AKEREDOLU (SAN) WON.
The peculiarities of the sunshine State political aura, the dynamic magnitude and the changing directions of the just ended political race to occupy the most respected office in Alagbaka - Ondo State, were the reasons for my no-speculations and no-predictions stance. However, let me say that Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu's victory at the Ondo State gubernatorial polls did not get to me with any unpleasantness. Dear friends, please read a brief about the 3 major contenders and my submission just below each.
Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) – (PDP)
Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) was born in Owo LGA of Ondo State. In 1983, he bagged a Degree in Law from the University Of Lagos and qualified as a lawyer in 1984. In 1992, he was appointed a Notary Public and in the space of less than 10 years was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
In 2009, he was appointed as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State. In 2012 and 2016, Eyitayo won the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party back to back. In 2016, it is noteworthy to say that Barr. Jimoh Ibrahim was the Alimodu sheriff PDP national leadership governorship candidate. But, after a fiercely contested legal battle, the Appeal Court pronounced Mr. Jegede as the authentic gubernatorial flag bearer of the PDP. He pulled 150,380 votes at the polls.
Objectively, permit me to refer to Mr. Eyitayo as the GAME CHANGER in the just concluded Ondo State governorship elections. Indeed, he was the game changer but he was also the most destabilized candidate in the polls. Well, his drawbacks in the race must be credited to the outgoing Gov. Olusegun Mimiko and the fractures in the national leadership of his party. Sad, he was reintroduced into the race at the eleventh hour but could still become the first runner up. No doubt, he was loved by many and enjoyed the support of party loyalists. Perhaps, he could have won if he had no legal battles to fight, if the outgoing governor had evenly distributed his infrastructural development program in the State, if the outgoing Governor is not owing the work force a backlog of salaries and if he does not come from the same constituency as the outgoing governor of the State. In brevity, he won the battle but lost the fight.
Barr. Olurotimi Akeredolu (SAN) - (APC)
Olurotimi Akeredolu was born on 21 July 1956 in Owo Local government Area of Ondo State. In 1977, he graduated from University Of Ife and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978. Akeredolu was appointed Attorney General of Ondo State from 1997–1999. In 1998 he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He was Chairman of the Legal Aid Council (2005–2006). On 28 July 2012, Akeredolu became the ACN flag-bearer for the Ondo State governorship polls in 2013. On September 3, 2016, in a controversial primary election that rocked the ruling party, Akeredolu won the ticket to represent the APC at the 2016 governorship elections.
On Sunday, 27 November 2016, he was declared winner of the keenly contested Ondo State gubernatorial elections by pulling 244,842 votes at the polls.
Akeredolu’s campaign witnessed one of the worst hit in the history of Ondo State governorship polls. He was not supported by the ranks of his party in the southwest, to include the party’s national leader and Governors. One of sources reported that Aketi’s campaign materials and other forms of inducements were even rejected by the Ondo people and many party members. Well, i am of the opinion that his chances of winning the election got a boast, after Mr. President’s visit to the State and after the court verdict that brought the rancor in the major opposition party to standstill. Not only that Mr. Akeredolu hails from a less populated LGA is Ondo State and but his close rival is also from his LGA. A factor that was capable of thwarting his emergence at the polls. No doubt, he is expected to collapse the wall of rivalry between him and notable people in the southwest wing of his party, and then build bridges of harmonious relationship with all.
Chief Olusola Alexander Oke - (AD)
Chief Olusola Alexander Oke was born on 7 April 1956 in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State. In 1986, he bagged a degree in Law from University Of Ife and was called to the Nigerian bar in 1987. In 1991, he was made Local Government Legal Adviser of the SDP and was a member of Board of Internal Revenue in Ondo State from 1991-1992. In 1992, he was elected a member, Federal House of Representatives representing Ilaje/Ese-odo federal constituency. In 1996, he became the Secretary of the NBA, Okitipupa Branch. Between 1997 and year 2000, he was the chairman of NBA, Okitipupa Branch. He was a member of the National Executive Committee of NBA from 1997 - 2000. In 2000, he was appointed into the pioneer NDDC. In 2004, he was appointed Executive Chairman of OSOPADEC. He was the National Legal Adviser of the PDP between 2008 and 2012. He was appointed the Chairman of the Federal Polytechnic Bida in 2009 and also appointed Chairman, National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency between 2009 and 2011.
In 2012, he was a governorship candidate in Ondo State. In 2016, Chief Olusola Oke contested for the APC governorship ticket but he lost. Later, he decamped to the AD and was the party’s governorship candidate. He pulled 126,889 votes at the polls.
Not only that Chief Olusola Oke enjoyed the support of many social media strategists but his public declaration of interest and other campaign rallies witnessed the largest crowd during the Ondo State gubernatorial elections. In addition, he is from one of the most populated LGAs in the State and was expected to maximize this advantage. One should not bother why such a large followership was unable to coast him to victory because we live in a society where a larger population of political rallies attendees and social media overloads don’t vote or were not eligible voters. Well, i must say that his decision to leave the APC for a party that is almost defunct is heroic and legendary but to some it is an abuse of party supremacy.
He gave a good fight with good boxing gloves but the rectangular ring and the referee dictates the winner. Considering the infractions in the Ondo State APC, Chief Oke’s campaigns enjoyed undaunted supports from aggrieved members of the APC in Ondo State.
NB: In-arguably, no election is flawless but it is believed that the just concluded guber election was not conspicuously rigged. Rather, it is the most monetized election in the history of the State. Hey, the 3 major political parties in the race are very guilty of this allegation.
#Dibo ko’sebe.
Congratulations, Governor-Elect Olurotimi Akeredolu
May your leadership bring good tidings to the Sunshine State. Amen
Twitter & Instagram: @MrSteam_
The peculiarities of the sunshine State political aura, the dynamic magnitude and the changing directions of the just ended political race to occupy the most respected office in Alagbaka - Ondo State, were the reasons for my no-speculations and no-predictions stance. However, let me say that Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu's victory at the Ondo State gubernatorial polls did not get to me with any unpleasantness. Dear friends, please read a brief about the 3 major contenders and my submission just below each.
Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) – (PDP)
Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) was born in Owo LGA of Ondo State. In 1983, he bagged a Degree in Law from the University Of Lagos and qualified as a lawyer in 1984. In 1992, he was appointed a Notary Public and in the space of less than 10 years was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
In 2009, he was appointed as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State. In 2012 and 2016, Eyitayo won the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party back to back. In 2016, it is noteworthy to say that Barr. Jimoh Ibrahim was the Alimodu sheriff PDP national leadership governorship candidate. But, after a fiercely contested legal battle, the Appeal Court pronounced Mr. Jegede as the authentic gubernatorial flag bearer of the PDP. He pulled 150,380 votes at the polls.
Objectively, permit me to refer to Mr. Eyitayo as the GAME CHANGER in the just concluded Ondo State governorship elections. Indeed, he was the game changer but he was also the most destabilized candidate in the polls. Well, his drawbacks in the race must be credited to the outgoing Gov. Olusegun Mimiko and the fractures in the national leadership of his party. Sad, he was reintroduced into the race at the eleventh hour but could still become the first runner up. No doubt, he was loved by many and enjoyed the support of party loyalists. Perhaps, he could have won if he had no legal battles to fight, if the outgoing governor had evenly distributed his infrastructural development program in the State, if the outgoing Governor is not owing the work force a backlog of salaries and if he does not come from the same constituency as the outgoing governor of the State. In brevity, he won the battle but lost the fight.
Barr. Olurotimi Akeredolu (SAN) - (APC)
Olurotimi Akeredolu was born on 21 July 1956 in Owo Local government Area of Ondo State. In 1977, he graduated from University Of Ife and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978. Akeredolu was appointed Attorney General of Ondo State from 1997–1999. In 1998 he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He was Chairman of the Legal Aid Council (2005–2006). On 28 July 2012, Akeredolu became the ACN flag-bearer for the Ondo State governorship polls in 2013. On September 3, 2016, in a controversial primary election that rocked the ruling party, Akeredolu won the ticket to represent the APC at the 2016 governorship elections.
On Sunday, 27 November 2016, he was declared winner of the keenly contested Ondo State gubernatorial elections by pulling 244,842 votes at the polls.
Akeredolu’s campaign witnessed one of the worst hit in the history of Ondo State governorship polls. He was not supported by the ranks of his party in the southwest, to include the party’s national leader and Governors. One of sources reported that Aketi’s campaign materials and other forms of inducements were even rejected by the Ondo people and many party members. Well, i am of the opinion that his chances of winning the election got a boast, after Mr. President’s visit to the State and after the court verdict that brought the rancor in the major opposition party to standstill. Not only that Mr. Akeredolu hails from a less populated LGA is Ondo State and but his close rival is also from his LGA. A factor that was capable of thwarting his emergence at the polls. No doubt, he is expected to collapse the wall of rivalry between him and notable people in the southwest wing of his party, and then build bridges of harmonious relationship with all.
Chief Olusola Alexander Oke - (AD)
Chief Olusola Alexander Oke was born on 7 April 1956 in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State. In 1986, he bagged a degree in Law from University Of Ife and was called to the Nigerian bar in 1987. In 1991, he was made Local Government Legal Adviser of the SDP and was a member of Board of Internal Revenue in Ondo State from 1991-1992. In 1992, he was elected a member, Federal House of Representatives representing Ilaje/Ese-odo federal constituency. In 1996, he became the Secretary of the NBA, Okitipupa Branch. Between 1997 and year 2000, he was the chairman of NBA, Okitipupa Branch. He was a member of the National Executive Committee of NBA from 1997 - 2000. In 2000, he was appointed into the pioneer NDDC. In 2004, he was appointed Executive Chairman of OSOPADEC. He was the National Legal Adviser of the PDP between 2008 and 2012. He was appointed the Chairman of the Federal Polytechnic Bida in 2009 and also appointed Chairman, National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency between 2009 and 2011.
In 2012, he was a governorship candidate in Ondo State. In 2016, Chief Olusola Oke contested for the APC governorship ticket but he lost. Later, he decamped to the AD and was the party’s governorship candidate. He pulled 126,889 votes at the polls.
Not only that Chief Olusola Oke enjoyed the support of many social media strategists but his public declaration of interest and other campaign rallies witnessed the largest crowd during the Ondo State gubernatorial elections. In addition, he is from one of the most populated LGAs in the State and was expected to maximize this advantage. One should not bother why such a large followership was unable to coast him to victory because we live in a society where a larger population of political rallies attendees and social media overloads don’t vote or were not eligible voters. Well, i must say that his decision to leave the APC for a party that is almost defunct is heroic and legendary but to some it is an abuse of party supremacy.
He gave a good fight with good boxing gloves but the rectangular ring and the referee dictates the winner. Considering the infractions in the Ondo State APC, Chief Oke’s campaigns enjoyed undaunted supports from aggrieved members of the APC in Ondo State.
NB: In-arguably, no election is flawless but it is believed that the just concluded guber election was not conspicuously rigged. Rather, it is the most monetized election in the history of the State. Hey, the 3 major political parties in the race are very guilty of this allegation.
#Dibo ko’sebe.
Congratulations, Governor-Elect Olurotimi Akeredolu
May your leadership bring good tidings to the Sunshine State. Amen
Twitter & Instagram: @MrSteam_
