Ogun governorship race kicks off

The race for who succeeds the incumbent Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has started in earnest with numerous political game plans. Two contenders presently notable in the All Progressives Congress in the State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola and Chief Tolulope Odebiyi, have begun to change the political atmosphere, which had been unclear some months back, with consultations and meetings.
Adeola, who is known by his supporters as Yayi, inaugurated a group, De Democrats, on Sunday in Ilaro. Eight out of the 20 Local government Chairmen who had worked with Governor Amosun are reportedly with Adeola in the group. The LG bosses include the only female among them, who is believed to be the State Woman mobilizer. One of the political heads of the group is said to be a former Senior Special Adviser to Governor Amosun on Political Affairs and former Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Tunji Egbetokun.
It was confirmed that Senator Adeola declared his governorship ambition during the launching of De Democrats in Ilaro, Yewa South.
In his camp, Odebiyi, the son of former Senate Minority Leader, Jonathan Odebiyi, during Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria era, was also reportedly seen moving round the Local Government areas in Ogun West. His team, which is headed by an APC chieftain, Derin Adeniyi, also includes Chief Wole Adesiji, the APC State Treasurer, and Hon. Kunle Elegbede. They were said to have held meetings with some Yewa leaders.‎
Odebiyi’s team, it is being reported, has been to Ado Odo Ota, Ipokia, Yewa North and Yewa South Local Government Areas as at last week to consult with some leaders and to seek for their support for the governorship race. ‎And so far, investigation revealed that most leaders from Yewa/Awori are positively disposed to Odebiyi’s aspiration considering his pedigree.
Both Odebiyi and Adeola are Christians. They both contested for the Senate seat of Ogun West Senatorial District before the ticket was given to Gbolahan Dada in the 2015 APC primary.
While Governor Amosun is believed to be backing Odebiyi, Adeola is enjoying the support of the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. ‎But it can be recalled that Tinubu recalled Adeola to Lagos when he learnt of Odebiyi’s aspiration in October 2014. It was from there Adeola went to the Senate.
Odebiyi was the Chairman Protocol committee of Chief HID Awolowo’s burial. He is also the Chairman of Alajobi Group, a socio-political group he formed in 2012.