Giving It His Best Shot

Giving It His Best Shot

Yinka Kolawole writes about the governorship ambition of Hon. Oluwole Oke said to be gaining grounds in Osun State

Hon. Oluwole Oke, a former Member of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance claims to be the youngest and the most outspoken of the four contenders for the PDP ticket in Osun State. He is from Esa-Oke, a popular town in Obokun local government area of Osun State.  He holds a degree in Economics and two Master degrees in Financial Accounting and Masters in Tax Law. Currently, he is pursuing LLB at University of Birmingham, United Kingdom and his PHD programme at the same university.

Oke, 47, his attempt to go to the upper chamber in 2011 failed. But some neutral political followers in Obokun and Oriade local government areas of the state are of the opinion that Oke lost the 2011 election not because he was unpopular, but owing to the general acceptability the ACN enjoyed at the time, which gave the party the leverage to floor PDP, even though other means of less noble coatings were employed in the process.

Oke has been assuring his party that if he gets its backing to face the incumbent governor in the election, PDP would win the governorship of Osun and would give unexpected service to the people.

Oke, also an Ijesa man like the incumbent governor, is believed to epitomize a modern day governor, who can effortlessly tackle and solve problems confronting the state with best available global solution. Identifying with the people while in the National Assembly and after, coupled with his grassroots empowerment programme is Oke’s selling points.

During his tenure in the lower chamber, the state had it so good in terms of recruitment into both military and paramilitary agencies in the country.
Apart from  his good and credible record while in office, Oke’s ability to connect and mobilise the vast majority of the youthful populace and many computer literate elderly people through internet and engage them in discussions on how Osun state should be run, has further endeared him to the elite electorate.

Speaking recently with THISDAY, Oke who cuts the picture of a governor-in-waiting is said to have the financial wherewithal to cope with the demands associated with a big political project. Oke’s ambition to govern Osun is believed to be getting more support each passing day than many of the aspirants.