The Tekobos in Ogun politics: Who are they?

Sen. Adeola (Yayi)

By Dare Olawin

The political slang, Tekobo, was introduced into the political terrain of Ogun State, a few months ago, by Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, while declaring his support for an Ogun West candidate as the next governor of the state in 2019 and warning them (Ogun West indigenes) not to present a Tekobo.

Since he made that statement, the word has been trending among politicians in Ogun and beyond.

When Gov. Amosun mentioned the word, Tekobo, many people thought he was referring to the Lagos West Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi. But the governor later went further to tell the APC supporters at the occasion that it was not who they were thinking. He said a new set of Lagos-based politicians are on their way to Ogun State to contest for the governorship seat in 2017; urging Ogun indigenes to resist them.

Tekobo simply means a 'Lagos returnee'. It can be explained to mean that the person in question just returned from his Lagos base to his original home town. This is the more reason why Amosun's critics said he himself, including some members of his cabinet, like the Deputy Governor, Yetunde Onanuga, are also Tekobos.

But from all indications, the governor's definition of Tekobo goes beyond a Lagos returnee, perhaps Tekobo might not have been the appropriate word to convey his message. Maybe another Yoruba word would have been more appropriate for the message.

Amosun might be referring to some politicians who he felt have no any link with Ogun State, but are now coming from the neighbouring Lagos State to vie for political posts, including the guber seat with the mindsets that Ogun people are gullible and docile. Some of them have established themselves in Lagos, having held various political posts in the State of Excellence. They were even registered, known and addressed as  indigenes of Lagos State.

Amosun

Recall that Gov Amosun is fond of saying: "This is me, you know me, I was born and brought up in Ogun State. I had my primary, secondary and tertiary education here in Ogun State. Ask them to tell you where they come from. Don't we have somebody who can rule us in Ogun State except these Tekobos?" This explains the reason why Amosun is against the governorship ambition of the Lagos West Senator, Yayi, whose claim of Ogun indigeneship is still being doubted by many.

The disclosure by Amosun that some Lagos politicians are eyeing the Ogun number one seat informed the reason why Dare Olawin takes a look at who the Tekobos might be.

From sources who pleaded anonymity, it was learnt that aside from Sen. Adeola, two other senators from Lagos state: Senator Olorunimbe Mamora and his successor, Senator Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa, might be interested in the Ogun guber race.

Ashafa has not come out to declare his ambitions, it was learnt that, during the last Ramadan fasting, he sponsored radio programmes in Ogun to register his name in the minds of the people (the same strategy Yayi has been using). It was also learnt that he is currently making some political consultations to prepare grounds for the declaration of his guber ambition. It is not clear whether or not he is from Ogun State.

Mamora on the other hand has a link with Ijebu Ife in Ijebu East Local Government, the same place he buried his mother in 2015. It was learnt that he had recently declared his ambition to take over from Amosun in 2019 at a meeting in Ijebu Ife, in the presence of some APC faithfuls.

Senator Adeola on his own, is claiming the indigeneship of Pahayi in Ilaro. His political ambition has been gathering momentum and he has succeeded in decimating the ruling All Progressives Congress and the People's Democratic Party in Ogun as many politicians now run after him like puppies. This is not surprising though, Adeola knows how to throw currencies around.

Let's take a look at the profiles of these Lagos-based politicians:

Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola (Yayi)

Yayi, as he is fondly called, was born on August 10, 1969 at Lagos Island Maternity Hospital to Mr. Ayinde Adeola and Madam Abeeni Olasunbo (née Akinola).

He grew up in Alimosho where he began his education at State Primary School in Alimosho, Lagos. He proceeded to Community Grammar School, Akowonjo, Lagos for his secondary education. His quest for knowledge took him to Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo, now Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo state where he bagged a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accounting. He became a Chartered Accountant at a very young age.

In 2003, Adeola was nominated and he won the primary of the then ruling Action Congress of Nigeria and was elected as a member to represent Alimosho State Constituency 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly from 2003 to 2007 and again from 2007 to 2011.

He was elected to the Federal Legislature to represent Alimosho Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives in 2011. Adeola is now a Senator  representing Lagos West after he was denied the chances to represent Ogun West in 2015 based on the agitation from some quarters that "he is not from Ogun State."

Senator Adeleke Olorunimbe Mamora

Mamora

Sen. Mamora was born on February 16, 1953. He obtained a B.Sc, Health Sciences, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and became a Health Practitioner. He was Medical Director of a Medical Centre (1987 - 1998), and a Company Medical Adviser (1988 - 1992).

Mamora was a National Delegate for the National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1990, and Secretary, Lagos East of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) in 1998. He was elected to the Lagos State House of Assembly in 1999 and was appointed Speaker. He was Chairman of the Conference of Speakers (2000 - 2001). 

In April 2003, he was elected to represent Lagos East in the Senate in and reelected in 2007; a position he vacated in 2011. Mamora was also a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament (2003 - 2006).

Senator Gbenga Bareehu Ashafa

Sen. Ashafa

Gbenga Ashafa was born in the Luther/Bamgbose/Campos area of Lagos Island on July 22 1955. He is the second child of a commodity merchant Lawal Kakanfo Ashafa, and a textile and gold merchant Tesmot Ojuolape Elemoro. His father died when he was seven years old. As a result, his mother and his aunt Alhaja Rafat Elemoro raised him. His mother was popularly known as ‘Mama Bareehu’ of Gutter Ariyo Kosoko market, Idumota, Lagos. She was a descendant of the Elemoro royal and chieftaincy family of Ibeju-Lekki.

Ashafa started his education at Christ Church Cathedral Primary School, Broad Street , Lagos in 1961. He graduated with distinction at the Common Entrance in 1968 and went on to CMS Grammar School, Lagos.

He completed his secondary education at CMS Grammar School in 1973. Ashafa then went on to study Biological Sciences at Morgan State University , Maryland, USA earning a Bachelor of Science degree (Cum Laude) in June 1978. He earned a Masters of Science degree in Public Health Administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1979.

In 1981, he was employed as an Administrative Officer into the Lagos State Unified Local Government Service Commission. He started his career as a local government administrator.

In January 2001, Ashafa was appointed Executive Secretary, Lagos State Land Use and Allocation Committee. He was appointed Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau in February 2005.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa was elected to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the ACN candidate from Lagos East in April 2011.

On December 9, 2014, he emerged unopposed as the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party primary election. He then went on to secure a second term as the current Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial Constituency since 2015.



Dare Olawin is a journalist, a blogger, a writer and a public affairs analyst.

dareolawin@yahoo.com
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