Akeredolu’s Reelection & Akure APC leaders

MY AKURE APC LEADERS OF THE YEAR, 2020… Dr. Akeredolu O.N

Alasoadura, Abena, Ademosu, Tukana, Otetubi, Charles Titiloye deserve my laurels for the roles they played in Aketi’s re-election.

INTRODUCTION

Some political neophytes may not see reasons for celebrating these people despite that Aketi lost his re-election in nearly all the wards in Akure South. For those who understand politics, it goes beyond winning your units or wards for your candidates or political parties. You may not win your wards but work more than people that win their wards and units. The technicality of politics is so complex that sometimes, the more you look, the less you see. In fact, in politics, you may look , not seeing anything and a thousand things may be ongoing .

The late Commissioner for health , Dr. Wahab Adegbenro, when he was counselling me about politics from his wealth of experience, told me that even if you are a Professor in your field, when you join politics, you leave your professorship and learn the nitty gritty of politics, sometimes, you may have to learn it from stark illiterate.

This my late leader was right, during the days of Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu in Ibadan, he never saw the four walls of any higher institution, anybody who wanted to do anything politically during his period in Oyo state must first come and pay homage in his house in Molete in Ibadan otherwise, you might not achieve your political ambition. In a nutshell, politics has its complexity that must be mastered by the players.

I particularly picked interest in celebrating these individuals because they did something unique beyond myopic views of majority of their ethnic group, they went beyond nepotism and shortsighted clamours of the people of Akure speaking areas of Akure South, North and Ifedore local governments of the state. This also reflected in the voting pattern of the areas, in which they voted massively for Mr. Eyitayo Jegede SAN of *PDP* in the last governorship election in the state.

I don’t have anything against the great people of Akure land for supporting their son as expected. In a well educated society of ours in Ondo state, it is senseless for anybody to expect a candidate of a party to win all the eighteen local governments of the state. After all, our Arakunrin, unprecedentedly won 15 out of 18 local governments, it was 83% i.e 15/18, Arakunrin scored high grade *A*.

Senator Tayo Alasoadura (Alash), Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde(Abena), Tayo Oluwatuyi ( Tukana), Idowu Otetubi and Charles Titiloye and Hon.Mrs. Bunmi Ademosu of these areas, worked against the tides of their people to support Arakunrin , now the rest is history, our Arakunrin won the last general election. The supports from these unique people might be based on unparalleled structural achievements of Aketi led administration in Akure, I wrote an article in this jregard that I named seven wonders of Aketi in Akure.

Despite the well studious research on that article, a good friend of mine, Mr Gbenga Fasua, the SDP local government chairmanship candidate for Akure South, who later worked for Aketi’s re-election, pointed out that I left out some ongoing projects in my article which I admitted i.e Aketi has done a lot for Akure that I could not cover everything in my lengthy article.

*SENATOR TAYO ALASOADURA*

The man called Senator Tayo Alasoadura is a household name in Ondo state and entire national politics. He has served in various capacities, from board chairman, commissioner, senator, minister of the federal government of Nigeria, the position he is currently holding in ministry of Niger/Delta, as a minister of state. This man is very unique in terms of loyalty and generosity, he has been there for Aketi since 2012 when he served as our director general of the entire campaign for that year.

He was also a dependable ally in 2016 and was exceedingly committed to the Aketi’s re-election from primary election to general election in 2020, despite that Aketi was contesting against his younger brother, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede SAN, the *PDP* candidate( the same Akure man) . He never hid his feeling against the popular Akure Agenda that dominated Akure speaking areas of Ondo state, this also manifested in general election, though he delivered his ward and all the wards in Iju, Akure North, for *APC* in last governorship election.

I stand to be corrected, Chief Donald Tayo Alasoadura, the Olomimi of Nigeria politics, remains the best Senator that ever represented Ondo central. In fact, I can’t mention a project in the name of his successor, the present *PDP* Senator of Ondo central for almost two years in Red chamber. The differences are clear, according to yoruba adage that says until a lady remarries, she may not know the value of her husband, I’m sure the people of Ondo central senatorial district will not make the same mistake if the opportunity represents itself.

Sir, I want to celebrate you for the roles you have played so far in Aketi’s political career, the history will definitely be fair to you sir.

*ABENA, THE POLITICAL IGODOMIGODO, I SALUTE YOU SIR*

Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde a.k.a Abena, is a political Igodomigodo in Ondo state vis -a -vis the entire nation, he was a successful man both in Nigeria and United States of America where he was living before he ventured into murky water of the Nigeria politics. He started like a joke in 2003 when he contested for house of Rep. under the umbrella of *PDP*, before his political opponents could know, as a man of destiny, he won in landslide, he also repeated this victorious feat in 2011.

He lost the Senatorial primary election to his elder brother, Senator Tayo Alasoadura in *APC* primary in 2015 and became secretary to government of Ondo state in 2016 when Aketi won governorship election as a compensation for his unflinching support for Aketi both in 2012 and 2016 respectively. He finally resigned his appointment following misunderstanding with his boss, Aketi towards the primary election of our party this year.

The crises that nearly crippled *APC* was resolved amicably, this man did the unsual, people expected him to decamp to either of the leading contending parties e.g *PDP* or *ZLP* which were eagerly seeking his large grassroot based support but he listened to the advice of our party leaders like Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu who counselled him not to leave the progressive fold on any ground. He was committed to the last governorship campaign throughout the state, followed our Aketi’s campaign train. We thank God, Aketi won in an outstanding way, the expectation of opposition in the state was cut short. I celebrate you sir, you are such a unique man.

*IN CONCLUSION*

Apart from these duo, others like Mr .Tayo Oluwatuyi(Tukana), Mrs. Bunmi Ademosu, Mr. Charles Titiloye, Mr.Idowu Otetubi, Mr.Gbenga Fasua, Mr. Ifedayo Ologunmeta, and other Akure leaders who worked tirelessly for the party in last governorship election in the state. I also use this medium to congratulate our new attorney general of the state, Mr .Charles Titiloye ( Esq), I pray that you’ll have a nice tenure sir.

Our party leaders in the state from the Jagaban of Ondo state politics, Eng. Ade Adetimehin, the chairman caretaker committee in the state, Rt. hon. Victor Adekanye Olabimtan, the best director general ( *DG*) of political campaign in the world, who was the *DG* of Aketi’s campaigns in the two successful elections and other party leaders in the state, season greetings to you all sirs.

The incoming second term of Aketi will be better for all in the state, from the civil servants, politicians to entire people, Ondo state will be great again, Amen.

Merry Christmas and prosperous new year to APC members and all Ondo state citizens.

#Ensure covid-19 free Ondo state by using your face masks, washing your hands, using hand sanitizer and avoid unnecessary gathering#

Dr. Akeredolu O.N, vice chairman, Aketi/Aiyedatiwa Medical Committee, 2020 campaign.