Ogun Central Senatorial Ticket: Where the Pendulum should Swing in APC

There is palpable anxiety amongst the aspirants for the Ogun Central Senatorial ticket. This is justifiably so, considering the caliber of the hopefuls jostling for the sole ticket.
The incumbent senator from the district, a former two-term governor of the state, who is also on his second term as a Senator is already eyeing a bigger role – the president’s seat. This has thrown the race more open and thus attracted a handful of other hugely qualified aspirants.

1. Alhaji Salisu Shuaib.
Rumors are rife that Senator Amosun is propping his erstwhile Deputy Chief of Staff as his replacement in the Red Chamber. Judging from his frosty relationship with the leadership of the party in the state, the ticket may be a tall order for his anointed candidate. Except there is deft political maneuvering, the party hierarchy in the state may not be favorably disposed to compensating those who openly engaged in anti-party activities in the past and whose actions negatively affected the fortunes of the party.

2. Senator Olugbenga Obadara.
Senator Obadara served the good people of Ogun Central at the Senate between 2011 – 2015 but lost his re-election to the hallowed chamber to Senator Lanre Tejuoso in 2015 who himself was displaced by the incumbent Senator cum former Governor- Ibikunle Amosun. There is no doubt that Sen Obadara is eminently qualified but then maybe it’s time to consider other qualified candidates from the zone. Perhaps the former Senator should consider a bigger role.

3. Mr. Emmanuel Sofela.
The Obafemi-Owode-born politician has thrown his hat into the ring and he is surely leaving no stone unturned in his quest to replace Sen Amosun. His acceptance in the Obafemi Owode LG should be of concern to other aspirants. However, the Senatorial ticket of a party is one of the very big tickets reserved for long-term party faithfuls, and not newcomers. Sofela may need to stay a little longer in the party and demonstrate visible commitment to the ideals of the party before standing a chance for such a ticket.

4. Princess Olatorera Majekodunmi – Oniru.

The executive order signed by Governor Dapo Abiodun mandating a minimum 35%women representation in Government and politics across the state must have buoyed the confidence of Princess Olatorera in purchasing the senatorial ticket. But clearly, politics is laced with intricacies that are very much beyond this permutation. In all, Princess Olatorera's confidence is a great feat for the womenfolk.

5. Hon. Olamilekan Ademolake.

If loyalty is to be rewarded, Ademolake should be handed the ticket with no contest! This protégé of Aremo Osoba has demonstrated unflinching loyalty to the party at all levels. When the going was rough in the party in the state and the Senatorial district in particular, when the fair-weather, anywhere belle-face politicians almost brought the party to her knees with their selfish, winner-takes-it-all attitude, Hon. Olamilekan Ademolake was he who stood firmly with other party loyalists to rescue the party from the hijackers.

Now that the storm is over, the leadership of the party in the state may be morally bound to reward loyalty and make a statement to other would-be 'deserters' by delivering the Ogun Central Senatorial ticket to Hon. Olamilekan Ademolake for his steadfastness and commitment to the party.

Where could the pendulum swing? The party leaders and the delegates will decide in a couple of days.

Salisu may just be Amosun's plan B just in case the ill fated presidential bid eventually crashed.

Everything will be clearer by June 3rd.

LibertyRep:
Salisu may just be Amosun's plan B just in case the ill fated presidential bid eventually crashed.

Everything will be clearer by June 3rd.

Sen. Amosun is indeed a force to be reckoned with in the party, at least in Ogun Central.
But then there's a limit to how much influence a single man could control over the entire party. I doubt if the influence has not waned greatly judging from his faction's loss at the convention.

Today is the D-Day for the delegates to elect the Party's Senatorial Candidate.
Hopefully moneybags and thugs won't hijack the process.