The attached are the aspirants vying to represent Irele/Okitipupa Federal Constituency at the National Assembly in the next political dispensation under the All Progressive Congress (APC). One of these guys will be presented to face anyone the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will put forward in the next election.
In Ondo South, the choice of who becomes what is not determine by political parties. It has always been that way. I doubt if anything will change that in a hurry. I doubt it. It is left for political parties to identify and present those ones considered to be lesser among their devils forward to represent the people. In case you aren’t aware before now. It is important you know that politicians are evils. They are evils not because of anything but for their deceitful and crafty attitudes.
If the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) present the lesser evil, the probability is higher that they will have the day where the All Progressive Congress (APC) failed to do the right thing. This is applicable to all the political parties in the area. The better any of the major political outfits understand this, the better for their them.
But for Hon. Kola Akinmosun (Kola Atiku), Hon. Ayodele Amos Akinmulewo, Jimi Odimayo (not in the picture) and Dr Olumuyiwa Daramola the rest have at some point in the past been tried in different capacities. Pastor Olusegun Aiyerin served as the chairman of Okitipupa Local Government, commissioner. He made beautiful and indelible contributions in the lives of many with many life changing projects to boot. He is a household name as far as the politics of the area is concerned. He is a grassroot politician with strong presence beyond his district.
Hon. Albert Akintoye SOT also served as chairman of Irele Local Government. At some point he has represented Irele/Okitipupa at the Federal House of Representatives in Abuja as well. Little is traced to him at the Federal House of Representatives in Abuja. He recontested in the last election. He lost to the present occupier of the seat. His failure at the poll was attributed to the fact that he was imposed by the wife of the Governor. His person and personality were also parts of the factors that contributed to his failure apart from the fact that he is not academically equipped.
Little is known about the experience and expertise of Kola Akinmosun and Hon. Ayodele Akinmulewo Amos. Here, I am more particular about their education, experience, reach, exposure and impacts in their various communities and to their people as private persons and otherwise before their quest to represent their people in the next election.
Jimi Odimayo is known to be a businessman. He was a governorship aspirant in the last governorship election. But for the fact that he has been aspiring to represent his people, little is known about his contributions to humanity. We’ve read he empowered political supporters. This is not the same as directly advancing the cause of humanity, but for political gains.
Many are quite familiar with the person and personality of Dr. Olumuyiwa Daramola. Apart from the fact that he is the most popular and aspirant to beat in the contest. His philanthropic gesture across the constituency and beyond is the best in the history of the area. He is a medical practitioner based in the US with a strong rope through different communities to all and sundry. Even before his foray into the political waters, he has contributed greatly to the development of his people and their communities.
I was in a gathering few days when the chances of aspirants in both the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressive Congress (APC) were being discussed. Thier physical strengths, financial dexterity, academic credentials, humanitarian and philanthropic gestures, experience, exposure, social capital, their contributions to their various in the past, their relationship with their political parties and the voter’s views about their persons and personalities.
My assessment of all the aspirants centred on education. The ability to come up with critical ideas for the progress of the people of the area. Ikale needs someone with the right education, experience, reach and Idea who can explicitly put those issues at home in the right, presentable bills and motions for the overall development of the Ikale people. The Ikales are scattered across the globe in different fields of humanity understanding. Ikale is not being heard at the federal level since the demise of Dr Olusegun Agagu.
We are far behind where critical decisions are taken. In the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Federal Executive Council, The Nigerian Governor’s Forum, National Assembly (among the principal officers), Nigerian Banks Board of Directors, The Nigerian Army, but for Martins Oloja at the Guardian Newspaper as member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors Ikale have no representives in any of these important places.
Irele and Okitipupa is one of the three council areas belonging to the Ikale people of the SW Nigeria. Hardworking, well-read, industrious and well-known. But are far behind when it comes to infrastructure with little or no government presence since the world began.
I have the utmost assurance the people will make good use of the election period to choose the best among whosoever will be presented in the different positions by participating political parties.
Eyitayo Oyepitan is a concerned constituent based in Idobilayo. Idobilayo is a village in Okitipupa Local Government.
