OSUN EMERGING POLITICAL FORCES

BY Ligali Mukaiba.

Consequent upon the change in government and personnel in governance of Osun state in November, 2010 albeit through a verdict of Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division that sacked Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola led Peoples Democratic Party’s government and enthroned Mr. Rauf Aregbesola of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) new governor, the state has witnessed almost a total change in the people that have held power since the return of democracy in 1999.
Many known names with good number of followers, since a change in government in Osun state have had their political fortunes dangerously nosedived, while several others who had hitherto waited in the wings are beginning to show their potentials in the field of politics with sizeable number of followers with which they can negotiate for political gains.
These personalities cut across the two major political parties in the state—the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP)—and in preparation for much anticipated July, 2014 governorship election in the state, the struggle for position that can compel respect from party leaders is getting very intense among these gladiators, who could be aptly described as emerging forces in Osun political arena. They were identified bearing in mind the significance of their present assignment to the success or failure of their parties in the forthcoming poll.

ALHAJI GANIYU OLAOLUWA

He is the incumbent Osun state chairman of PDP and was the last elected chairman of Olorunda local government, one of the two local government areas in Osogbo, the Osun state capital. On the shoulder of this 50-year politician and businessman rest the hope of many followers and sympathizers of Peoples Democratic Party, to reclaim the c0ontrol of government it lost to ACN.

 Since stepping off the shadows of his much older kinsmen and political leaders like Senator Olu Alabi, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipupo and Senator Bayo Salami, the former Special Adviser to erstwhile Osun state governor, Prince Olagunsoye has not looked back. He has continued to grow in politics and expand his frontiers in the field of politics.

Against all odds, he managed to defeat late Prince Kayode Idowu, the supposedly candidate of elders of the party in 2012 state congress and since he managed to stabilize after a storming early days as chairman, Olaoluwa has proven he can actually be more than handful for the ruling party and especially the state governor at whom, the PDP chairman has ceaselessly pelt stones of criticism.

He is clearly the biggest critic of Governor Aregbesola and has, at every given opportunity managed to seep through, somewhat, closely knitted administration in the state and point out the flaws.

While battling with ruling party and government, Olaolowa has not also shirked in his responsibility to reposition his party for better outings in future elections. Not disregarding occasional shrieking among party members, PDP in the state under Olaoluwa is gradually gaining strength and he has facilitated decampment from even the ruling ACN of many members into the fold of PDP.


MR. SUNDAY AKERE

Perhaps one good step Osun state governor took when picking his cabinet was the appointment of Akere as state Commissioner for Information and Strategies.

The Igbajo-born politician is considered one of the three most influential members of Osun state executive council and has demonstrated clear understanding of how strategic Ministry of Information to a survival of any government. 

A Food Technology graduate of University of Ibadan, Akere between 1999 and 2003 served as Personal Assistant to then Commissioner for Education, Dr Demola Onifade.                                                                                              
Before being appointed commissioner, Akere was the Director of Research and Strategy of Action Congress of Nigeria. At the peak of struggle by ACN to dislodge PDP from power, Akere was on top of his game and did exceptionally well to manage the image of the party and protect interest of members even at the expense of comfort and risk of his life. 

One good measure of Akere’s competence is how he managed to project the image of the state governor during the massive demolition exercise the state government embarked on in Osogbo when starting work on Osogbo-Kwara Boundary road.

Akere is not new to politics and as early in this democratic dispensation as 1999, he attempted to be chairman of Boripe local government on the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD) but lost to Alhaji Kareem Afolabi of PDP. As a result of open door policy, Akere has continued to enjoy steady in state politics and clearly he is one of the brightest prospects of ACN in Osun state presently.

BARRISTER KAYODE ODUOYE 

 
He is a son to former Military Administrator of Niger state and a onetime member of Senate, Senator Simeon Oduoye. Until recently, little was known about him but in April this year he shocked many people especially those that doubted his political mastery when he yank-off 2,500 members from the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria in Ifelodun local government and took them to PDP.

Kayode is a product of Faculty of Law of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and upon his call to bar. He practiced law in Lagos and combined this with business. One interesting about Oduoye is his ability to mix with all manners of people despite being from a privileged home. His effort to revive PDP in his local government and Osun Central Senatorial District has not gone unnoticed and his political camp is steadily growing even in a community that has seasoned older politicians. He is one of those that can make the difference for PDP in the next general election.  

DR WALE BOLORUNDURO

An engineer and accountant, Dr Bolorunduro is presently the state commissioner of finance, and he is considered the financial think tank of Aregbesola’s government. The Ere-Ijesa born financial expert earns his place on the list of emerging power houses in the state politics