Twists,Turns As Amosun Position New Chief Of Staff, Odebiyi For Governorship In 2019

Governor Ibikunle Amosun may have quietly anointed his newly appointed Chief of Staff, Chief Tolulope Odebiyi, as his favourite candidate for the governorship seat in 2019.

Ijebu News Xtra magazine reported that the choice of Odebiyi, a thoroughbred professional from Ogun West senatorial district in the state, has been made known to most of the governor’s kitchen cabinet.

It was however scooped that those who were not happy with the governor’s choice have resolved to keep mute for fear of been schemed out of the system.

Sources further disclosed that, the matter has been generating furore among the governor’s political family.The source was however quick to add that Amosun settled for Odebiyi because he sees him as a trusted ally, who would consolidate on the gains of his eight-years rule as well as help to cover his tracks when he leaves power in 2019.

The governor stunned members of his political camp recently when during a meeting of the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), caucus in Abeokuta, the state capital, he reportedly declared that he might not know who would be the next governor of the state after him but he knew those that would not be.

Amosun said that seven persons had so far approached him wanting to be annointed for 2019. But in his view, according to him, none of them possess the qualities needed to hold the office. Gathered from political analysts in the state that Amosun declined to endorse any of those that asked for his blessing simply because he was not comfortable with any aspirant with the financial weight and political influence and strength that could jeorpadize his post-tenure plan of automatically becoming the godfather and having the control of the next government in his grip.

Aged 54, the new Chief of Staff, who was a member of the State Judicial Service Commission and Transition Committee on Housing where he served amongst other notable members to develop a blue print for mass housing delivery in 2012 and 2003 respectively, has over 25 years international and domestic Real Estate experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Building Construction and Engineering Technology from the Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston Massachusetts.

A thorough bred professional, Chief Odebiyi was until his present appointment a Managing Partner at Travant Real Estate and Boutique Estate firm.His late father, Chief Jonathan Odebiyi, according to findings was a grassroot politician of repute during his lifetime.

Meanwhile, political observers in the know of underground scheming in Ogun West have argued that it would be practically difficult for the Odebiyi gubernatorial ambition to scale through.According to their calculation, apart from having more known people like Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, Hon Biodun Akinlade and Sen. Olamilekan Adeola a.k.a Yayi, to contend with, the present APC political structure, though under the firm grip of Governor Amosun, is fast crumbling due to infighting over the 2019 governorship seat.

This crisis, if not checked in time, observers argue, may nail Odebiyi’s ambition.

Source:Ijebunewsxtra