By Charles Adeya

The people of Ondo State are eagerly awaiting the nomination of a deputy governor to fill the vacuum created by the swearing-in of Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the governor of Ondo State, following the unfortunate demise of former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

While Governor Aiyedatiwa has been busy scouting for the right person to deputize him; a number of names have cropped up in the political firmament of Ondo State. A few of these names are well analysed here to properly guide Aiyedatiwa in choosing the best out of the lots.

Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde (Abena)

Abena as he is popularly known, is the current Executive Director of Corporate Services of Niger Delta Development Commission. He hails from Akure South Local Government Area and has lot of grassroots support that cut across the two local government areas that make up Akure. Abena is politically savvy and he had earlier served as the secretary to Ondo State Government. He is also believed to have a good relationship with the presidency, a factor that got him his present appointment.He will definitely be a good deputy to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa if nominated.

Engr. Rasaq Obe

Engr. Obe is the current Ondo State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources. He served as the voice of conscience during the period of late Governor Akeredolu’s sickness. He was the one that raised an alarm that signature of the then ailing Governor Akeredolu had been forged by members of the cabal. He even provided forensic evidence to substantiate his claim that the signature of Akeredolu was indeed forged. Obe, who is an activist, has earned the trust of Governor Aiyedatiwa and he is also well loved by his people in Ifedore. He will surely make a good deputy for Governor Aiyedatiwa if nominated.

Olugbenga Ale

The Owo born Olugbenga Ale served as the Chief of Staff to former Governor Akeredolu. He is a season administrator and also politically conscious. Ale did pitch his tent with Aiyedatiwa, while efforts were being made then to get him impeached as the deputy governor. Aside the loyalty of Ale to Aiyedatiwa, he is also from Owo, where the former Governor Akeredolu hailed from. Nomination of Ale as a deputy governor is seen as a political gambit that will give a sense of belonging to the people of Owo; after the demise of their son, Governor Akeredolu.

Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye

Adefisoye is known as Small Alhaji in the political firmament of Ondo State. He is a former member of the Federal House of Representatives. He is known to be a political son to the due of Chief Plus Akinyelure and Femi Gbajabiamila. Nomination of Adefisoye is permutated to work out the magic that will make President Tinubu to fully throw his weight behind the gubernatorial aspiration of Governor Aiyedatiwa. This factor is most likely to easily deliver the governorship ticket of APC to Governor Aiyedatiwa.

Besides, Adefisoye is also known to enjoy good relationship with the national leadership and national secretatiat of the APC. This factor is expected to further boost the chance of Aiyedatiwa, to win the APC governorship ticket. Above all, Adefisoye is a Muslim and a youthful politician. Nomination of Small Alhaji will serve the purpose of religious balancing and also make the youths of Ondo State to throw their support behind the quest of Governor Aiyedatiwa to succeed himself in November 2024.

Princess Omowunmi Olatunji Ohwovoriole

Princess Omowunmi joined Ondo State politics in 2016 and has since then been making impacts. She was made the
Commissioner for Women and Social Development by the late Governor Akeredolu. She later contested the House of Representatives and senatorial seats, albeit unsuccessfully. She nonetheless, has a large female followers and die-hard supporters within and outside of Akure.Omowunmi is a philanthropist and also has a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) that gives support to the female gender at large in Ondo State.

The fact that she is from Akure, is expected to give a sense of belonging to people of the capital city and the most populous town in Ondo State. The nomination of Omowunmi will also give a semblance of gender balancing to the gubernatorial ticket of Governor Aiyedatiwa. She will undoubtedly make a good deputy to Governor Aiyedatiwa if nominated

Hon. Peter Abiola Makinde

Makinde is popularly known as Oshaprapra by his political supporters. He is clearly the new ‘Mr Fix It’ in the politics of Ondo East/Ondo West federal constituency. He got re-elected last year into the House of Representatives and has been waxing stronger politically since then. He will readily deliver the two local government areas that make up Ondo Kingdom in any election. Makinde will certainly be a good deputy to Governor Aiyedatiwa if nominated.

Hon. Ade Adeogun

Adeogun is a former federal lawmaker and he has a lot of grassroots support. There is no doubt that the people of his federal constituency truly love him, notwithstanding his unsuccessful bid to get re-elected into the House of Representatives. Nomination of Adeogun is likely to make Akoko electorates give massive support to Governor Aiyedatiwa. He is a known perfect gentleman and his loyalty to Governor Aiyedatiwa is not expected to ever be in doubt. Adeogun is sure to make a good deputy to Governor Aiyedatiwa if nominated.