… Lanre Oyegbola-Sodipo, others make list

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has submitted the names of its 20 chairmanship candidates for the November 16, 2024 local government elections to the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC).

Top on the list is Hon. Lanre Oyegbola-Sodipo as the party’s chairmanship candidate for Abeokuta North Local Government, while Hon. Afeez Balogun is the chairmanship candidate for Abeokuta South Local Government. Others include: Hon. Sikiru Adesina (Ewekoro), Hon. Olalekan Kushimo (Ifo), Hon. Adesina Ogunsola (Obafemi-Owode), Hon. Folashade Adeyemo (Odeda), Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde (Ijebu East),  Hon. Bolaji Odusanya (Ijebu North), Hon. Foluso Badejo (Ijebu North-East), Hon. Dare Alebiosu (Ijebu Ode), and Hon. Jamiu Ashimi (Ikenne).

Also on the list are Hon. Babatunde Diya (Odogbolu), Hon. Ganiyu Odunnaki (Ogun Waterside), Hon. Muyiwa Sodade (Remo North), Hon. Afolabi Odulate (Sagamu), Hon. Wasiu Lawal (Ado Odo-Ota),  Hon. Theophilus Aremu Olorode (Imeko Afon), Hon. Avoseh Johnson (Ipokia), Dr. Akinbode Olusola (Yewa North), and Barr. Tunde Ogunsola (Yewa South).

According to competent sources within the state chapter of the APC and state electoral body, the candidates’ list was forwarded to OGSIEC over the weekend, following its ratification by the APC State Executive Committee during a meeting attended by the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, in Abeokuta, sometime last week.

It was learnt further that the successful candidates were picked through nomination and affirmation in accordance with the APC constitution and the provisions of the electoral law.  The sources disclosed that among the parameters used for determining the suitability of the successful candidates were good knowledge of the grassroots, leadership skills, track record of community service, and loyalty and support for the APC.

“Personally, I am not surprised at the choice of Lanre Oyegbola-Sodipo as the APC chairmanship candidate for Abeokuta North LGA. Lanre is a round peg in a round hole. He possesses a unique blend of grassroots knowledge and understanding, leadership skills, and a track record of community service. He demonstrates the ability of someone who understands the challenges and needs of local communities, and he will be able to effectively represent and serve the people at the grassroots. He is also a loyal party man to the core,’’ affirmed a party chieftain, who begged for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak.  

Oyegbola-Sodipo, in his acceptance speech obtained by our correspondent, dedicated his emergence as the chairmanship candidate as a win for all, promising to replicate the good work of Governor Abiodun’s administration in the local government. “This is ‘our win’ to continue to support the good work of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, Governor of Ogun State,’’ he declared.

He disclosed that the cardinal programmes of his administration would include transformational leadership, economic empowerment, improved infrastructure, quality education, enhanced healthcare, growth and development, agriculture and rural development, and improved well-being for the people of the local government.

“As we move forward, our focus will be on the issues that matter most to our community: economic empowerment, improved infrastructure, quality education, enhanced healthcare, growth and development, and improved well-being for our people at the grassroots. When elected into office, our administration will do everything possible to deepen the policies of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON at our local government.

“We will accelerate the "Omo Ogun Ise Ya" agenda to further expand the rapid transformation of every nook and cranny of Abeokuta North Local Government. Through the implementation of the “So’gbe D’ile" mantra, capacity building for our youth, agriculture and rural development will form the core of our cardinal programme,’’ he stated.

Oyegbola-Sodipo expressed appreciation to Governor Abiodun and party leaders and fellow contestants for the confidence reposed in him by unanimously entrusting him with the party’s ticket for the chairmanship position, assuring them that he would represent the party well and offer excellent service delivery.

His words, “My nomination as the APC standard-bearer and flag-bearer is an enormous responsibility which I have accepted with every sense of gratitude and responsibility. Thank you all for your trust that you have placed in me. Your confidence in my ability to lead and serve our great party is a responsibility I take seriously, and I pledge to work tirelessly to justify this trust.’’

He further thanked his fellow contestants for demonstrating good sportsmanship, while calling for the cooperation of all and sundry to team up with him in delivering value to the people of the local government.

He said, “Let me further assure you all today that this common stand that we all made today is our shared heritage; it is not about me in person, but our collective will to promote the common good of all. We will work together to build a better future for all, ensuring that no one is left behind. I also want to acknowledge the giants on whose shoulders we stand. Our party's legacy of progress and development is one we will continue to uphold.

“Let us unite, work together, and move forward with a common purpose. We will engage, listen, and respond to the needs of our people, ensuring that our local government becomes a beacon of hope and prosperity.’’

Oyegbola-Sodipo, an erudite marketing communications practitioner, hails from the famous Sodipo Dynasty of Oke Ona, Egbaland, and he is a stalwart of the APC in Ward 1 in the local government area of the state. He has served the APC in various capacities, including Member, Strategic Communications Committee of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for the 2023 Presidential Election; Member, Support Group Coordination of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for the 2023 Presidential Election; and Member, Support Group Coordination for the Independent Campaign Council (ICC) for the 2023 Presidential Election.

Others include Co-Chairman, Media & Publicity Sub-Committee of the Youth Presidential Campaign Council (Jagaban Army); Ogun State Coordinator, Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO); Chairman, Press and Media Committee of the Progressive Young Leaders Summit Steering Committee, as well as a member of the South West Committee of the National Youth Lobby Group set up by the APC National Youth Leader to advocate for the appointment of youths into positions.

He has also built a distinguished career of over two decades in marketing communications spanning corporate strategy, business development, advertising and media. He has served in strategic and key roles, including Managing Director/CEO, Havas Africa, formerly Boomerang Nigeria, and Executive Director at Verdant Zeal Group, a leading marketing communications company in Lagos.

Lanre attended prestigious institutions, including the Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokua (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta) where he earned National and Higher National Diploma respectively in Mass Communication; Lagos State University (LASU) and the Lagos Business School (LBS). He also attended the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom where he bagged a MSc. in Marketing and Media Communication, and he holds membership of notable professional bodies, including Fellow, Institute of Sales and Marketing Management (ISMM), UK; Full Member, Advertising Practitioners’ Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and Member, Nigeria Institute of Management, among others.

Amongst his many community impact initiatives, volunteering work and philanthropy, Oyegbola-Sodipo has a passion for mentoring young entrepreneurs while he is also the Founder of MaskForAll, an initiative with a vision to distribute 50 million free homemade facemasks to vulnerable Nigerians in response to COVID-19 pandemic, while empowering 100,000 tailors. As the Founder of EMAG Youth Development Foundation, he empowers the youths by offering tuition-based scholarships to indigent students in public-owned tertiary institutions. Currently, about 100 students have been awarded scholarships from their first year to graduation, while over 50,000 preparing for SSCE and UTME have been offered free tutorial classes.

Also, Oyegbola-Sodipo delivered a fully renovated and upgraded Imala Model Health Centre in response to the residents' pressing needs and furthering Governor Abiodun’s agenda on delivering better healthcare for all. He also distributed 1,700 packs of palliatives and cash to the vulnerable people in Abeokuta North Local Government under his Asoludero initiative to mark his birthday.

In recognition of his community impact, Lanre became the recipient of the first ‘Asoludero of Oke-Ona, Egbaland,’ a prestigious chieftaincy title conferred on him by the Osile of Oke-Ona Egbaland, Oba (Dr.) Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso.