· Why he beat rivals silly to emerge the APC’s most formidable flagbearer
History is often written by champions, it is said. If this assertion is true, then Ogun State is at the threshold of what could be its sweetest epoch of statesmanship and politics. Following Otunba Bimbo Ashiru’s emergence as governorship candidate of the Ogun East senatorial district of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the nooks, crannies and political circuits of the state are ecstatic with joy.
There is no gainsaying Ashiru, the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, is the sweetest thing that ever happened to the state in recent times.
A technocrat of note, Ashiru turned the ministry around and improved its fortunes by remarkable leaps courtesy his ingenious business strategies. Thus his emergence as governorship favourite has thrown the gateway state into euphoric fits of pleasure and expectation. Several illustrious sons of Ogun state have cast their lot with him and are openly canvassing for him.
Foremost international magnates, billionaires and politicians have congratulated him and they are ready to throw their weight behind him.
Pundits ascribe this to Ashiru’s brilliance, humility and earnestness in dealings with the electorate, associates and rivals on the political turf.
Ashiru was picked at an Ijebu Ode meeting, to fly the flag of the party in 2019 by the Ijebu/Remo Governorship Agenda Elders Forum to battle for the party’s ticket with other aspirants from other zones at the primary.
He defeated Prince Segun Adesegun, former Deputy Governor; Senator Gbenga Kaka, former Senator who represented Ogun East at the 7th Assembly, and Senator Olorunmbe Momora, former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, who were screened by Chief Olu Okuboyejo-led four-man committee.
Other aspirants were Olumuyiwa Oladipo, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism; Abayomi Ogunowo; Dr. T Kazeem, Owodunni Opeyemi and Jimi Lawal.
Dr. Gbolade Osinowo, disclosed that Ashiru scored 89 points to defeat other aspirants in the exercise whom he described as transparent
While Momora scored 88.25 points, Kaka scored 80.25 points, Oladipo 87.5, Adesegun 54 points, Kazeem 58.5 points, Lawal 77 points, Owodunni 42 points and Ogunowo polled 82 points.
Osinowo explained that the exercise was put together to avoid multiplicity of candidates that would scuttle the chance of producing an Ijebuman as governor in 2019.
Describing the panel members as incorruptible, seasoned administrators, Osinowo said, “This is only the first step. There are still many steps to victory and we are going to take those steps. We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that this candidate wins the heart, the minds of everybody in Ogun State.
“After this, we are going to launch a massive campaign. We are to going to go round the state to ensure our candidate carries the day for 2019.”
Ashiru however, described his emergence as victory for all and promised not to betray the confidence reposed in him. He promised to ensure continuation of the mission to rebuild the state, and “turn Ogun to Dubai of this World.”
Elias Folorunsho, the state Vice Chairman of APC, presented Ashiru to party stakeholders shortly after he was declared winner.
Indeed, Ashiru has been around for a while. Cut of solid pedigree, he is well connected in the political and business turf. His former stint as a banker establishes him as a candidate of greater depth in business and political economy of the state than any other candidate in the race.
Ashiru is certainly not your run of the mill politician; he is astute, modest and ideologically grounded in the kernels of administrative politics and socio-economics. Little wonder he enjoys the confidence of the APC’s top politicians.
