Are Adebisi Lawal and Ganiyu Adeleke Dada Ogun’s wildcards?

The politics in Ogun State has, over the years, become front burner, when discussing the politics of Southwest Nigeria.

As the election year comes nearer, many names have been popping up as the next in line to take over the seat of leadership from the incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun.

The names have literally become a list that many politicians in the state have memorised and can tell you by heart.

From the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC), many names have popped up, and ambitions in the state continue to swell like a rising tide.

However, two names have been conspicuously omitted in a lot of public discourse and those in the know claim these two names might be the wildcards that will disrupt many people’s expectations as regards who emerges as the flag bearers of the major political parties.

In the Ogun State PDP, one man is alleged to be standing between the most prominent aspirant, Ladi Adebutu and his gubernatorial ambition and his name was given as Jimi Adebisi Lawal. Jimi Lawal, it was gathered, has become the rallying point of all those against Adebutu – particularly the hardcore loyalists of late Kashamu Buruji. The former special adviser to ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai and ex-Managing Director of the defunct Alpha Merchant Bank, is believed to have strong ties with Governor Seyi Makinde and the Minister of FCT, Barr. Nyesom Wike.

In the same vein, Chief Ganiyu Adeleke Dada, a very grounded member of the Olota-In-Council, has also been tipped to be one of the possible wildcards of Ogun State politics come 2027.

Chief Dada is said to be a member of the inner caucus team of the Awori king, Olota of Ota Oba, AbdulKabir Adeyemi Obalanlege.

While Jimi is 65, Dada is 63 and hails from a prominent and influential family in the Ota Awori kingdom.

The very influential Oluwo Itoki of Ota Awori Kingdom is the son of the immensely popular Wahidi Ishola Dada, aka Obanibasiri.

Information available revealed that Chief Dada is a holder of Bachelor of Science degree – combined (Hons) in Economics and Politics – from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and has played a huge role in the elections of Senator Ibikunle Amosun as Governor of Ogun state – 2011 to 2019 – as well as the winnings of past Ogun West senators Akin Odunsi and Gbolahan Dada.

Dada, who is the chairman of Aldrem Ventures Limited also possesses a Master’s in Business Administration from the Cardiff Business School.

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