2023 : Oyo State APC & Her Galaxy of Stars As Governorship Aspirants , Nigeria Super Eagles France 98 World Cup Squad As Metaphor !! Sunday Concord With Fatai Adesokan

2023 : Oyo State APC & Her Galaxy of Stars As Governorship Aspirants , Nigeria Super Eagles France 98 World Cup Squad As Metaphor !! Sunday Concord With Fatai Adesokan .

Greetings compatriots, that I am a football fanatic is an understatement. My childhood aspiration was to be a footballer/writer/football commentator as I was privileged to hail from a fanatical football enthusiastic family whose by their exposure as traders in Temale, Kumasi & Accra, Ghana, Lome, Benin Republic and Burkina Faso has developed passion for football as an average Indigene of Saki, Ogbomoso, Offa, Ede, Oyan, Inisa, Okuku, Iwo, Ejigbo among others were fond of Ghana, Abidjan, Lome, Benin Republic, Bamako, Burkina Faso in the 40’s till 70’s. Just like some Ijebuss , Ibadans, Egbas , Lagos Islanders did during the same period in United Kingdom(UK).

I am from Balogun Compound, Idi Ose, Otun area, Saki, Oyo State .

My place of birth in Mayaka Street, off Capitol road, Idi-mangro Agege, Lagos State was also a good platform to nutured such dreams. I joined street football competitions among my peers at the Ibadan born Late Aboderin Punch Newspaper Estate, Idi-Mangoro Express via Ile Zik/Ikeja Along Airport road, Lagos State. Also, on Oredapo Street, Onibeju street, Sunday Farm field Cement/Aluminum Village/Oniwaya/Dopemu, Adetona street, Elicana/ Sule Street/Sebiotimo/ Shomide street/St. Joseph Secondary School area, Salako field on Ajibose/Ishola Yusuf Street, Mangoro area, Pako Amoo field, upper Markaz Area at Shofunde/Ibido Street, all in Agege & Pako/Alimoso field Lagos State.

At a very young age I co- founded local football team named “Gentle Movers” in 1993 alongside Bello Abass, a chattered accountant, Ajiboye Wasiu, Olaoye Tajudeen, Onawole Tobi , Badru Musiliu and Aliu, and some others. I developed this passion with keen interests way back dramatic come back of Saudi Arabia 89 competition where Nigeria Under 20 team in the Semi Final matched against defunct USSR which Headmaster, Oluyole born Mutiu Adepoju, Philip Osondu and co made Nigeria proud before we lost in the final match to Portugal stars of Luis Figo and co after being over being pampered by Late Business Mogul and Africa Pillars of sport, the winner of June 12 Presidential election, a collosus, Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yorubaland, Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola GCFR.

Late Akinloye Oyembanji, Late Yinka Craig anf Ahmed Adio of NTA were also inspiring while we were oftentimes gathered at our family friend house on 6, Mayaka Street of Late Alhaji Yinusa Ajiboye from Ile Bara Compound, Gaa Masifa , Ogbmoso whom he and my dad lived in Ghana before Nigeria were sent off in late 60’s to watched the matches or sometimes listened on Radio Nigeria for commentary as NEPA epileptic mode is for long in Nigeria.

That I reduced and later dropped my passion for football for Politics is story for another day.
The import of my preambles is to marry thoughts on what informed theme of my today’s Sunday Concord column. “Oyo State APC & Her Galaxy of Stars As Governorship Aspirants and Supper Eagles France 98 World Cup Squad As Metaphor”.

No doubt, Oyo State APC boasts of Exceptional Established Individuals that have distinguished themselves in their various endeavors. I would not want to bore you with their individual Curriculum Vitae’s as they are brands and a click on search engine web for their names will avail you their rich profiles that this page could not entertain so, permit my short briefs on them all and not in order of sequence.

(1) Adebayo Adekola Adelabu FCA: He was APC 2019 Gubernatorial candidate that lost to the incumbent Governor Makinde. Event has taken over debate on why and how he lost. My today’s intervention is brief ahead of 2023 not 2019. Oloye Bayo Adelabu, will be 50years officially later this month and he has achieved in his chosen field. He is an exceptionally brilliant young man, a product of prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife with a first class in Accounting. He was Executive Director (ED) at First Bank and later Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) before he resigned to venture into politics.

(2) Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe FCA : He is an ‘Omoluabi’ exceptional. He is exceptionally brilliant. He attended Federal Government College, Ogbomoso, FEGO. He is a product of prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife. He is a first class graduate of the institution. He is a policy expert, a financial guru, resourceful consultant and he is a partner with KPMG, multinational financial firm. JT as fondly called is a resource person and highly connected personality. He was an Oyo State APC 2019 governorship aspirant.

(3) Senator Teslim Folarin: He became a Senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria at the age of 39years and he would later become a powerful Senate Leader and a de-facto Senate President at the age of 43 just as Dr Olusola Saraki, a Senate Leader that was de-facto Senate President in 1979. He is Maverick politician with rich political experience , he is humble, principled, sound, tough and talk less.

(4) Lekan Ali: He was former Secretary to the State Government ( SSG) for over five years under the last administration of Late Governor Abiola Ajimobi. He is a product of Lagelu Grammar school. He is from Idi Omo in Ibadan. He is a sound mind with deep knowledge and great charisma.

(5) Bimbo Adekanmbi: He was former Deputy Chief of Staff ( DCOS) in the first tenure of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi and he would later become Oyo State Commissioner for Finance for another 4years in the last administration. He is a young man full of financial insights, especially on etiquettes of governance and rules of engagement. He is a consistent character, accessible with high sense of humility and candour. He is from Beyeruka in Ibadan North East Local Government Area (LGA) .

(6) Sunday Akin Dare: He is currently the Nigerian Minister of Sports and Youth Development. He is a soft spoken and intelligent man from Ogbomoso. He is a veteran journalist of note and a travel wide personality. He worked and stayed in Washington DC at a period before he would later become Chief of Staff/Media Aide to former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for over 6years.

(7) Adeniyi Akintola SAN: He has been around for a while as Deputy Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly (OYHA) in third Republic. He is a consistent progressive party stalwart and a legal luminary of note with rich network. He was Oyo State APC 2019 governorship aspirant.

(8) Dr Azeez Adeduntan: He is from Oja Oba, Ibadan. He is a medical doctor, an international cardiovascular surgeon. He was commissioner for health in the last administration under late Governor Abiola Ajimobi. He is a brave, eloquent and cerebral man that any party could be proud of.

(9) Ayodeji Ismail Karim: He is from Ibadan North East Local Government Area (LGA). He is a former Managing Director (MD) of construction giant, Costain West Africa PLC and he was at a time the youngest Chief Executive Officer (CEO) listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange at the of 37years ahead of Ladi Balogun of FCMB. He will also be 50years later in December this year. He is CEO of Winchester Farms, Homes & Construction in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria .

(10) Adesoji Williams Eniade Mni: He was former Oyo State Head of Service(HoS) for four years and he would later be appointed by late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi as Executive Assistant(EA) to the Governor on administration when he retired in 2018 after 35years in public sector . He is an Alumnus of prestigious National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Jos. He served as Permanent Secretary in various ministries. Eniade is 21st century Simeon Adebo, Doyen of Nigeria Civil Service. He is from Ibadan.

(11) Isaac Ajiboye Omodewu : He was former Oyo State Commissioner for Land, and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for eight years under the last administration of Late Governor Abiola Ajimobi. He is from Itesiwaju Local Government Area (LGA) and currently, he is a law student at Nigeria Law School, Abuja. He is respectful and diligent. He understands the political terrain and he is a man of short words.

(12) Dr Sola Ayandele ” Eruobodo” : He is another achiever . He is a big player in the Nigerian economy as a stakeholder in the power sector. He has rich network around corridor of power and he is humble to a fault. He is from Ibarapa zone of the State.

(13) Barrister Akeem Agbaje: He is a son of the known famous large Agbaje family in Ibadan. He was former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) chairman, prestigious Ibadan chapter. He is humble, soft spoken, Intelligent and versatile.

(14) Morohunkola Ambaliyu Thomas Esq: He was former Commissioner for Education, Agriculture, Information and Sports under late former Governor, the Great Lam Adesina in 1999 to 2003. He would later become Executive Assistant to former Governor Ajimobi on Political Matters in 2017 to 2019. He is a PhD holder and political veteran that understands Oyo State political terrain. He is a product of University of Benin and OAU, Ife. He is from Ibadan.

The affore-mentioned gubernatorial aspirants are 14 which connotes as first 11 and 3 reserves in a given football team as the bench is as good as the first 11on the pitch in a real sense of what Super Eagles of Nigeria squad was at the France 98 World Cup.

Nigeria World football pedigree is an open book and at France 98 World Cup tournament, the group D consists of almighty Spanish team with star players playing top clubs in Europe. With top strikers with Real Madrid, Raul Gonzalez, Barcelona Luis Enrique, Real Madrid Fernando Hiero, Sergi, Goal Keeper Zubizarreta, Ivan Campo yet Nigeria Super Eagles sophisticated team defeated almighty Spain tipped as one of favourite team to win the world cup in the opening match 3 goals to 2 .

Oluyole born, Headmaster, then Real Sociedad in Spain Mutiu Adepoju equalised with powerful header from a corner kick across by Rivers State born and then Real Betis of Spain player George Finidi.

Combination of Late Rashidi Yekini and Garba Lawal earned us a goal to equalise Raul Gonzalez goal before Sunday Okechukwu Oliseh fired a television 3rd goal from outside yard to earn us deserved victory over Spain.

That Super Eagles defeated Spain was not a miracle as, there was team spirit, uniform goal in the team. When Olympic gold Medalist Mobil Oparaku was substituted for all time Nigeria top scorer, Late Yekini, Mutiu Adepoju was drafted back to defence by Yugoslavian coach, Bora Milutinovic alongside Taribo West, Uche Okechukwu and Celestine Babayaro.

If only Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) digests importance of team spirit and her gubernatorial aspirants exhhibits healthy rivalry, it will be more easier to defeat incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde like Super Eagles did against almighty Spanish team.

Daniel Amokachi was on the bench in the match against Spain but, in the second match against Bulgaria ,he was on the starting line up with Victor Ikpeba and their combination with Nigeria most stylist player, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha broke the Bulgarian defence with Prince of Monaco, Ikpeba scored the only goal that earned us six points straight to qualify for Round 16.

The Yugoslavian coach, Bora Milutinovic featured another set of player’s like Wilson Oruma, Kanu Nwankwo, Godwin Okpara, Ben Iroha, Uche Okafor among others against inspired goal Keeper, Chilavert Paraguay team and we were defeated 3 goals to 1 by the South American team.

That APC boasts of intimidating academic, economic and political credentials of exceptional brilliant characters is not enough to conclude 2023 election in the state is a settled one in her favour.

The party is the ravaged with tendencies and as the reconciliation committees are working round the clock, the issue of who is Oyo State APC leader is brewing after the unfortunate death of Former Governor Abiola Ajimobi(RIP) while the incumbent Governor Makinde is daily confused with system of governance, borrowing has become order of the day, unnecessary funding of projects that could be proper achieved through PPP/BOT ( Public Private Partnership/Build Operate & Transfer).

Bus terminals or motor Parks’ projects of 15billion naira , 28billlion naira light Oyo projects among others monumental misplaced priorities projects and the government 149Billion naira loan within 14months in office have not been encouraging .

In all political honesty, the incumbent Governor Makinde is the most determined Guber candidate ever emerged in Oyo State political history as he was more of a very strategic gubernatorial aspirant cum candidate ahead of the 2019 poll and he is underneath placing himself better politically for second term despite his not too encouraged performance.

Oyo State is a traditional state. Performance is among the indices but it is not the only index factored to win election in Oyo State. This is also topic for another day.

None of Oyo State APC gubernatorial aspirants can boast of a vibrant constituted team structure like Governor Makinde had while Late Governor Abiola Ajimobi was in power. Makinde spent his way heavily to discredit APC Government and exposed lapses of the former Governor in the media with millions of naira. The intellectual APC guber aspirants engage on skeletal mode or on paper in engaging the government and putting the incumbent Governor Makinde on his toes and by extension enlightening the Oyo State populace to see clearly that the present government is just struggling to be a populist one.

The State APC party Executive in the state is docile. Her docility is an understatement with some top executive members have already pitched their tents with gubernatorial aspirants openly for crumbs, even, when elections are not tomorrow morning, Monday 7th of September 2020.

The State Publicity Secretary of the party , Dr Olatunde Azeez had disappeared off radar unknown to many that, the poor man has been politically submerged and sidelined deliberately at Oke Ado, APC State Secretariat where another top member of the state exco collected money from party patriots run into thousands of naira to supplant his office and the tasks of being opposition’s voice in the state is expensive in monetary and material forms as one’s life is at risk bearing in mind brutal mode of politicking of PDP elements.

I, Fatai Adesokan escaped from unknown assailants on February 5th this year at Fresh FM radio office junction immediately after I left the studio with Oyo State Waste Management Chairman, Prince Seun Adelore, My very good Egbon, PDP stalwart but, humanist who hurriedly drove me off the scene in his tinted Toyota Camry ” muscle car” before Hon Rotimi Ajanaku sent his escorts with my brother, Tope Suleiman to get me from my hideout in Felele area. This is also topic for anothr day.

The political dilemma is some chieftains who worked against the party or even still in ADC are calling for dissolution of state executive of the party led by Baba Akin Oke which is politically dangerous not because, the state excos also deserve political sympathy but, for to avoid political trouble ahead as witnessed in Zamfara APC and Rivers State APC.

The Oyo State APC is in proper context of Super Eagles of Nigeria squad that Denmark trashed out before 80,000 spectators at the France 98 World Cup with over 40million viewers at a swoop globally.

To be continued next week Sunday.

” I write to appreciate all the guests that honored me on 22nd of August 2020 at ESV TAYO HASSAN LAMUYE COLLOQUIUM. I am eternally grateful. By His Grace,a dedicated advertorial page for you all will be out soon. God bless you all “.