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In the Second Republic Nigeria, 1983 Chief Akinwole Omoboriowo popularly called Chief Akin Omoboriowo, Deputy Governor of the then Old Ondo State dared his boss, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, the then Governor of the State for a second term tenure contest at the UPN – Unity Party of Nigeria Governorship Primary Election.
Chief Adekunle Ajasin won the primary election which warranted his Deputy Governor and Contender Akin Omoboriowo to quit their Party, UPN and resign his position as the Deputy Governor of Ondo State.
The Ijero, Ekiti born Omoboriowo, pitched his tent with the rival Federal Ruling political party – NPN National Party of Nigeria and became the Party’s Governorship Candidate for Ondo State contesting against his Boss – Adekunle Ajasin in the August 1983 Election.
The then FEDECO – Federal Electoral Commission declared Chief Akin Omoboriowo the winner of the election and elected Governor of Ondo State on August 16th 1983 against the more acceptable candidate Adekunle Ajasin. However, Akin Omoboriowo was never sworn in as Governor and the rest is history as they say..
In 1983, Deputy Governor, Chief Akin Omoboriowo had a controlling majority of members of the Ondo State House of Assembly, which made it impossible for Governor Ajasin to make a replacement for the position of Deputy Governor in the person of Dr N.F Aina till the end of their tenure.
Today, Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi has a sizeable support of Members of the House of Assembly which has made his removal from Office or impeachment an herculean task for the Akeredolu led ODSG.
Also, like in 1983, the Balogun of Ijero Ekiti, Akin Omoboriowo enjoyed the maximum support of his Ekiti kete people who rallied to support their own. Today, Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi also enjoys some support from his Ilaje axis of the Southern Senatorial zone of Ondo State.
It is also instructive to note that Chief Adekunle Ajasin who was the affected Governor was a Son of Owo Kingdom, the same Owo town that waited for thirty eight years after Ajasin to produce Olurotimi Akeredolu as Governor of Ondo State.
Chief Akin Omoboriowo ( January 12th 1932 to 10th April 2012) of blessed memory was also a Lawyer, a legal Practitioner while Agboola Ajayi is also a Member of the Nigerian Bar Association.
Chief Akin Omoboriowo later quit politics and lived a quiet life serving GOD. He was a member of the 1996 Constitutional Conference and Member of the 1997/98 National Reconciliation Committee. Eternal Rest Grant all the departed IJN.
Indeed, History has a way of repeating itself.
On Saturday, Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi will finally take the plunge as he flags off his Campaign in Ore, the heartbeat of the Southern zone of Ondo State in his quest to become the next Governor of Ondo State and take over the job of his Boss.
Will he succeed ?
October 10th 2020 is the Election day.
Foluso Adebisi
Lagos, Nigeria.
