By Modupe Tonia
The 10th Senate will no doubt witnessed more first timers as about 40% of the Senators won’t return having lost the primaries of their respective parties. To represent Ondo State at the 10th National Assembly in 2023 are freshers; two of the serving senators, Senator Nicholas Tofowomo and Senator Ayo Akinyelure lost the PDP primaries to Ifedayo Adedipe SAN and Agboola Ajayi, a former Deputy Governor of Ondo State while Senator Robert Ajayi Borroffice never participated in his party primaries, APC which led to the emergence of Pastor Jide Ipinsagba.
If everything goes as planned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), February 25, 2023 will be another watershed in the history of Akure South Local Government Area Council of Ondo State as one of the sons of the soil will be elected as Senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, first of its kind since return of the country to democracy in 1999.
The concerned sons and daughters of Akure have long been agitating and eager to have their son in the Red Chamber but it is unfortunate that no political party is ready to give its ticket out on a platter of gold without fighting for it; politics is not a buffet or tea party that comes easily.
Ondo Central Senatorial District consist of Akure South, Akure North, Ondo West, Ondo West, Idanre and Ifedore Local Government Area Councils and since the beginning of the 4th Republic, Akure South is yet to produce a senator from the Senatorial District. Senator Gbenga Ogunniya from Ondo spent three terms, Dr Ayo Akinyelure from Idanre replaced the Ondo politician spending a term before Senator Donald Alasoadura of Akure North took over and today, Senator Ayo Akinyelure made a comeback in 2019 serving as the current senator at the National Assembly.
The two leading parties in Ondo State have presented two prominent sons of Akure South as candidate for the February 25 election; their emergence didn’t come easily, they slugged it out with other interested aspirants in their respective parties.
Chief Ifedayo Adam Adedipe SAN, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party slugged it out at the primaries with the current senator and former state Chairman of the party. Adedipe polled 82 votes to beat the duo of Dr. Ayo Akinyelure who scored 58 votes and Engr. Clement Faboyede with 56 votes.
On the part of Adeniyi Adegbonmire SAN of the All Progressive Congress, faced a tougher opponent during the primaries but emerged victorious polling 144 votes to beat his closest rival, a former senator and Minister, Chief Donald Alasoadura who polled 88 votes. Others in the race were Hon Omowunmi Olatunji scored 2 votes, Dr Tola Awosika 44 votes, Shileola Akinpelu 45 votes.
Another son of the soil that is determined to break the jinx is Prince Afolabi Obasuyi, the Agbaka of Alagbaka. Though, his party, All People’s Party (APP) might not have the desire structure and popularity like APC and PDP in Ondo State but 2023 election might be more of personalities than party affiliation.
In all these, the front liners in the race for Ondo Central Senatorial District are Akure men. Whatever might be the outcome of the poll in February 25, it is a win-win for Akure people. What are the chances of the trio of Adedipe, Adegbonmire and Obasuyi?
The duo of Ifedayo Adedipe SAN and Adeniyi Adegbonmire SAN shared a lot in common aside coming from Akure. They both attended University of Ife Now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife to study Law, though at different times. They are both members of inner chamber as Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN); their family lineages are well respected and recognized in Akure Land.
Ifedayo Adedipe SAN is the Bashorun of Akure Kingdom. Born in 1956 to the royal family of Elemo Adedipe dynasty. A successful lawyer by all standards with a law firm in Port Harcourt where he has been practicing for the last 35 years. He graduated from the ivy tower of the University of Ife with 2nd Class Honour (Upper Division), bachelor’s in Law in 1979 where he came out top as the best graduating student of his class. He was called to Nigerian Bar on the 19th of July 1980 and elevated to inner Bar as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2005. He formed Adedipe & Adedipe Legal Firm in 2006.
Adeniyi Adegbonmire SAN was born on the 27th of March, 1968. He obtained Bachelor’s Degree in Law from the University of Ife in 1987. He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He was admitted into Nigerian Bar in 1988 and became Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2015. He is the son of the former Secretary to Ondo State Government, Late Chief Wunmi Adegbonmire.
Prince Afolabi Obasuyi, the first Agbaka of Alagbaka is not a green horn in the Senatorial race. He contested in 2019 and never a push over when it comes to Ondo Politic. He was a member of the APC aspiring to clinch the party ticket but resigned from the party to APP having discovered his slim chance of picking the Senatorial ticket. Prince Obasuyi is a business mogul of international connection, well-travelled, outspoken and a Philanthropist.
As the people of the Ondo Senatorial District are waiting to vote their next representative at the Red Chamber, the duo of Adedipe and Adegbonmire shouldn’t under rate Prince Obasuyi who has been traversing the length and breadth of the six local governments telling the people why he’s the best among all. Whatever the outcome of the election will be, we can only congratulate Deji of Akure, Akure political leaders, stakeholders and sons and daughters on about to be made history of producing Senator in this present dispensation.
