SENATE 2023: IFEDAYO ADEDIPE SAN On the Verge of History

By DUPSON COLLINS

As the people of the Ondo Central Senatorial District in Ondo State are looking forward to the 25th of February, the major contenders in the race have begun to put final touches to their campaign. The interesting part of this year election is that, the leading candidates in the race are successful sons of Akure Land- Bashorun Ifedayo Adedipe SAN (PDP), Adeniyi Adegbonmire (APC) and Prince Afolabi Obasuyi (APP).

Since the beginning of the fourth Republic in 1999, no daughter or son of Akure Land have been elected into the Red Chamber but this time around, it looks as if all the political parties agreed to throw the ticket open to the sons of Akure Oye alone whereas, it was just a mere coincidence.

Bashorun 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 Senator 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, he 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.

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 he is ready to show his political strength in the polls many described as a win-win for Akure land.

Ondo Central Senatorial District consist of Akure South, Akure North, Ondo West, Ondo East, Idanre and Ifedore Local Government Area Councils. In this current dispensation, Senator Gbenga Ogunniya from Ondo town was the first person to occupied the Red Chamber in the Senatorial District for 12 years (three terms), Senator Ayo Akinyelure from Idanre replaced him spending a term before Senator Donald Alasoadura from Akure North took over and today, Senator Ayo Akinyelure made a comeback in 2019 serving as the current senator at the National Assembly.

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.

ADEDIPE, THE FAVOURS ONE

Bashorun Ifedayo Adedipe is not a green horn when it comes to Ondo State and Nigeria politics. Before his foray into active politicking, Adedipe SAN is a household name in the legal profession in Nigeria. This is a man that has won many electoral cases more than any of his contemporaries in the silk profession. He has won high profile cases from governorship to Senate among other Electoral litigations. His commitment to the People’s Democratic party litigations has earned the party victory at different levels of government; with Adedipe handling your case, you can go to sleep.

In the political setting of Ondo State, Ifedayo Adedipe SAN has shown interest in becoming the governor of Ondo State at one point under the umbrella party but his loyalty and commitment has made him to jettison his ambition and support the preferred candidate of the party. There is no doubt, Bashorun Adedipe had paid his price and sacrifice a lot for the survival of PDP, both at state and national levels.

The race to the Red Chamber is not going to be an easy ride but Bashorun Ifedayo Adedipe stands a better chance of becoming the representative of the people of Ondo Central Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly. Statistics and opinion polls conducted have severally positioned Adedipe as the preferred candidate of the people.

To start with, the votes from the six local governments that constituted the Senatorial District, Akure South, Akure North, Ifedore, Idanre, Ondo West and Ondo East will determine who wins among the three leading contenders.

In Idanre Local Government, the rocky town over the years has been the stronghold of the People’s Democratic party. The serving Senator and House of Assembly member are both PDP members. Despite the fact that, the State Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Engr. Ade Adetimehin is from the town, he has continuously lost to PDP. Dr. Tayo Dairo, PDP BOT members, ex Chief of Staff, Dr. Kola Ademujimi and host of other leaders are working for Adedipe in the Council Area.

Hon Festus Akingbaso is the candidate of the party for Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency and his growing popularity among the people will no doubt be an added advantage to Adedipe. It could be recalled that, Late Adedayo Omolafe Expensive popularity led to the victory of Senator Ayo Akinyelure Allover in 2019 poll. With the synergy between FessyWest and Adedipe, PDP will have edge ahead of other political parties. Senator Ayo Akinyelure, though lost out of the primary that produced Adedipe will rather work for Adedipe than teaming up with the Adetimehin and Small Alhaji of the APC.

Ifedore Local Government is another axis where Adedipe will slug it with the APC candidate. As earlier mentioned, it is not going to be a tea party but the PDP candidate has what it takes to win. Yes, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly is from the local government but how popular and politically strong is Oleyelogun to determine who wins at the council Area? Don’t forget, he was defeated by Hon Tajudeen Adefisoye at his party primaries. What has been his impact in the lives of the people he has represented for past 12 year to determine their voting pattern?

One politician in the local government that we shape the voting pattern of the people of Ifedore is Engr. Clement Faboyede, former PDP State Chairman in Ondo State. He contested the primary with Adedipe but as a loyal political guru and tactician, his loyalty to the party is total. Faboo as popularly called is a strong force that command people’s attention and respect. Adedipe can count on his political structure to win the election.

Igbara Oke is the town with highest voting population in Ifedore Local Government, being the son of the soil well loved by his people, Faboo and other PDP leaders in the Council will definitely deliver. Oleyelogun is from Isharun, a stone throw from Igbara Oke, the people of the town who benefit little or nothing from the Speaker will prefer to key behind PDP as against the ruling APC.

Again, the people of the local government are ready to cast their votes for the Idanre born politician FessyWest by extension, it will translate to vote for the legal luminary.

Ondo West and Ondo East are another local government with massive voting strength in the Senatorial District. Some political pundits and analysts believe that Adegbonmire stands a chance of getting more votes in Ondo City as against Adedipe, premised their conviction on the argument that Adegbonmire’s mother hailed from the Ekinmogun City. Yes, this is no doubt an added advantage to him but politics of 2023 goes beyond kinsmen mostly in who represents the people at the National Assembly. Before now, what has been the contribution of Adegbonmire to the people of Ondo City that will warrant total support to his aspiration?

The political juggernauts in Ondo politics will direct the voting pattern of their teeming supporters. Chief Segun Adegoke is one man that people of Ondo City respect not just his personality alone but opinions. When Segun Adegoke sneezes, thousands of political neophyte bow and shiver.

Baba Adegoke is one man that Adedipe needs to warm into his heart to win the forthcoming poll. Another politician that has influence on the voting pattern of the people is the former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Iroko. You ignore this man at your own perils. Serving for eight years as governor of Ondo State with monumental achievements still enjoy the patronage of his people. During his eight-years tenure as governor, Mimiko brought a lot of infrastructural development to the city, aside human empowerment, he can pin points to lot of things he has done which will definitely make the people to support his choice of candidate for the senatorial seat.

The likes of Lola Fagbemi, Hon Akinlosotu (Commissioners in Akeredolu cabinet), Hon Abiola Makinde, Dr Adeyeye among others APC political appointees are no match to the duo of Baba Adegoke and ex-governor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko who are opinion moulders that over the years have shaped the voting pattern of the people considering their massive support base in all the towns and villages that constituted the federal constituency of Ondo West and Ondo East. Aside these men, PDP has other foot soldiers that will work for Adedipe victory.

The battle ground is Akure South and Akure North, the local government with the highest voting strength among the six local governments. The three leading contenders in the race are from Akure South. They all came from reputable lineages of Akure extraction. Bashorun Ifedayo Adedipe SAN is from Elemo Dynasty of Akure Kingdom; Adeniyi Adegbonmire SAN is also from a respected family, likewise Prince Afolabi Obasuyi, the Agbaka of Alagbaka.

The two major candidates that will share the highest votes from the two local governments are Adedipe and Adegbonmire. From all indications, Akure South has always been a stronghold of PDP and records have shown that in 2019 general election, PDP won both the House of Representatives and Senate for Late Adedayo Omolafe and Senator Ayo Akinyelure. The last bye election in Akure South and North Federal Constituency where APC won, conspiracy and disunity among party leaders were responsible for the lost.

With the candidature of Bashorun Ifedayo Adedipe SAN in a free and credible primary, the party leaders and members in the federal constituency are working assiduously for his victory. The political heavyweight in Akure, the former Deputy Governor, Otunba Omolade Oluwateru, former PDP Governorship candidate, Barrister Eyitayo Jegede SAN, Baba Omodara, Tony Ala, Barrister Adu Olumuyiwa among others are working day and night for the legal luminary ahead of the February 25 election.

Aside the support and influence of the political leaders, Bashorun Ifedayo Adedipe SAN has the pedigree, intellectual capacity and leadership skills to harness the potentialities of the nation and provision of people oriented policies.

Bashorun foray into active politics was borne out of his passion to provide quality representation that will harness dividend of democracy to every nook and cranny of the Senatorial District.One thing that will endeared the voters to the aspiration of Adedipe is the People’s oriented manifestos designed with intent of sponsoring bills that will have direct impact on the people, aside catering for the welfare of the people.

While others in the race are going to the Red Chamber for personal gains, the learned silk, a successful lawyer by all standards is aspiring to be member of the 10th Assembly in the interest of the masses.

Bashorun Ifedayo Adedipe social responsibility to the society and service to humanity is another added advantage that will shape the voting pattern of the voters. Hundreds of people have benefitted directly or indirectly from the largess of the Akure born politician. As a way to saying thank you to his alma mater, CAC Grammar School, Akure, Adedipe built a multi millions naira auditorium named after his late mother, a record that will take decades to break.

As the people continue to count the days, Bashorun Ifedayo Adedipe SAN is on the verge of making history not only as the first son of Akure Land to be elected Senator in this current dispensation but first to be Senator in the Elemo Dynasty. No wonder, the entire family are rallying round him, prioritizing the family lineage above any political affiliation that might jeopardize the chances of one of them becoming Senator.

With Adedipe elected into the Red Chamber, Ondo State can boast of qualified representative, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria with track records to provide good leadership and not a rubber stamp.

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.