By
The demise of the Senator representing Lagos East, Senator Bayo Osinowo popularly known as Pepperito on Monday, was undoubtedly a rude shock to Lagosians and those following Lagos politics with keen interest.
Osinowo, a former four-term member in the Lagos state House of Assembly died after a brief illness suspected to be COVID-19. The death of the lawmaker has therefore created a vacuum in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, The Senate.
He has been mourned by government officials including, President Muhammadu Buhari, National Assembly leaders, Ahmad Lawan, Femi Gbajabiamila, Governor of Lagos state Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the All Progressives Congress National leader, Bola Tinubu.
Meanwhile, the question on everyone’s lip after his internment on Wednesday is: “who will succeed the powerful Osinowo?”.
The death of the 64-year-old Senator has brought into light silent agitations among politicians in the state. Although the process for his replacement has not started, the names of Eleven (11) people have been mentioned and have started flying within the ruling APC.
BLACKBOX NIGERIA in this article reviews the likely successors to the late Bayo Osinowo.
1. Sen. Gbenga Ashafa
Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa (born 22 July 1955) was a two-term senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Lagos State and the immediate predecessor to late Bayo Osinowo. He represented the Lagos East Senatorial District in the 7th and 8th senate (2011–2019). Since his fellow Lagos Senators (Yayi – Lagos West and Mrs Tinubu – Lagos Central) were given return tickets, he might want to return to the senate too.
2.Akinwumi Ambode
Akinwunmi Ambode (born June 14, 1963) was the former Governor of Lagos State. He was a civil servant for 27 years and a financial consultant before running for public office as Governor of Lagos State in 2015.
Ambode ran for the office of the Governor of Lagos State in April 2015 as a member of the All Progressives Congress, the state’s ruling party. He however could not seek reelection as he lost in the gubernatorial primary election to Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He eventually supported Sanwo-Olu campaign that brought about a smooth transition in the state. Currently, what football lovers will call a free agent, Ambode is a good sell and would be a compensation for him as many still feel he was unjustly denied a return to the Alausa seat.
3. Adeyemi Ikuforiji
Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji (born August 24, 1958) is a Nigerian economist, lawyer, politician, lawmaker and speaker of the 7th Lagos State House of Assembly.
He began his political career as the general secretary of the Unity Party of Nigeria. In 2003, he contested the seat of his constituency, Epe constituency I and was elected, member of Lagos State House of Assembly. On December 2005, he was elected as Speaker of the house under the platform of Alliance for Democracy. On 4 July 2011, he was re-elected again for the third term as speaker of the 7th Assembly, that ran till July 3, 2015. If legislative experience counts, then Ikuforiji will be a candidate to beat for the seat.
4.Abike Dabiri-Erewa
Abike Kafayat Oluwatoyin Dabiri-Erewa (born October 10, 1962, was born in Jos Plateau State. She is a Nigerian politician and former member of the Nigeria Federal House of Representatives representing Ikorodu Constituency in Lagos State. She was the Chairman of the House Committee on Media & Publicity.
She was also the former Chair of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, and was elected for the first time in 2003, and re-elected in 2007 and 2011.
In 2015, she was appointed as the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.
In November 2018, Dabiri-Erewa was given a new role as Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission. The letter for the confirmation of her appointment was sent to the Senate in 2018 by the Presidency but was delayed until May 2019 when the Senate confirmed her appointment. She is the incumbent Chairman/CEO of Nigerian in Diaspora Commission. If we are looking at combining experience with the ability to deliver on the assignment of legislation, Madam Diaspora is no novice to White House as the gallery is often called.
5. Ashipa Kaoli Olusanya
Chief Kaoli Olatunji Olusanya, was born on 17th July 1952.
Chief Kaoli Olusanya had served government and humanity in different capacities including lecturing stints in the Department of Economics, Lagos State Polytechnic and University of Ibadan. He was a two-time Commissioner in Lagos State as Commissioner II, Lagos State Civil Service Commission (1992 – 97) and Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture & Cooperatives (1999 – 2007). He was installed with the traditional title of Asipa of Ikorodu in 2001. A former two-time Commissioner of Agric and Cooperatives, who is also the current Vice-Chairman, Lagos East. Kaoli as the capacity to request for the slot from the powers that be and he would not be rejected. There were even insinuations amongst the political class that he was actually being considered before the slot was given to Pepperito.
6. Primate Charles Odugbesi
Primate Charles Odugbesi, the immediate past secretary, All Progressive Congress (APC), Lagos State. The Ikorodu born politician was the first aspirant to publicly declare his intention to contest for the APC Senatorial ticket against Pepper. He was subsequently persuaded to step down and compensated as the Director-General of the late Senator Bayo Osinowo; a role he performed well at, giving the overwhelming victory Osinowo recorded at the polls.
7. Otunba Ganiyu Abiru
Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru is the immediate past clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Chairman Ikorodu- Oga development association,(IKODASS). He ran to unseat Senator Gbenga Ashafa in the Lagos East Senatorial District before he withdrew from the race. He is a favourite amongst the young tusks in Ikorodu who think Ikorodu deserves the slot.
8. Rep. Babajimi Benson
Babajimi Benson is currently a Member, House of Representatives representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Lagos and Chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Defence. Born in 1972 and with a career progression that has taken him through both the private and public sector of the nation’s economy, he is an experienced senior boardroom executive and legal practitioner. In addition, he has a proven track record in public administration.
Given his outstanding performance in the last 5 years of representing Ikorodu, many are of the opinion he should move to the Senate to extend his contribution to the entire Lagos East.
9. Hon S.O.B Agunbiade
Honourable Sanai Oyewole Bolanle (SOB) Agunbiade is the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly. A fourth-term Legislator and the Majority leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He is an activist and a lawyer, representing Ikorodu Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly. Considering the number of years he has spent at the Lagos Assembly, many are of the opinion he should move to a higher pedestal for another person to take the Ikorodu Constituency 1 seat.
10. Dr Tola Kasali
A two-time commissioner and the APC leader of the Lagos East constituency. Dr Kasali is an arch loyalist of Tinubu and his performance as commissioner remains one to be admired. Though not keen about the electoral office, he remains a strong contender for the position as he enjoys the support and confidence of the party’s leadership in the State.
11. Denge Anifowoshe
Born on Sunday 31st of October, 1954 into the popular and Islamic prone Anifowoshe Family to Late Alhaji & Alhaja M. Adeniyi Anifowoshe of Epe Kingdom, Otunba Denge is a seasoned administrator and an astute politician of repute. He vied for the Senatorial seat under APC alongside late Senator Osinowo. For his political Astuteness, he was voted as the Chairman, Conference of 57 Lagos State APC LG/LCDA Party Chairman in 2017. Denge who is from Epe was a former chairman of Bariga LCDA, which can give him considerable campaign advantage if considered by the party.
Abass Latifat
