2023 OGUN ASSEMBLY TICKET: Geologist Set To Clinch Ota State Constituency Ticket, Promises ‘Effective Representation’

By SEYI OYETORO  – In the wake to the 2023 Primary elections in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a young, energetic and vibrant geologist is set to clinch the party’s ticket to represent the good people of Ota 1 State Constituency in Ogun State House of Assembly.

The geologist cum Philantropist, Engr. Olalekan Oluwaseun Olatunde, popularly known as ‘O.S’ while fielding questions from VOA News Correspondent during a spotlight on some of the Aspirants in the coming general elections in Nigeria, said he was ready to go all out to clinch the party’s ticket in order to give the people of Ota state Constituency 1, ‘effective representation’.

“I believe that the good people of Ota needs a voice and a figure who can stand against whatever challenges and oppression in the floor of the Ogun state House of Assembly and even beyond. So, the good people of Ota and my constituency in particular, Ijoko ward want me to have their mandate to be their next representative at the Ogun state House of Assembly come 2023”.

Engr. Olalekan, who is a graduate of Geology from Olabisi Onabanjo University is currently undergoing his Masters in Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology in the same Institution and currently working as a Senior Project Manager/ Exploration Geologist in one of the leading dredging companies in Agbara, Ado-Odo/Ota Local government area of Ogun state.

Speaking on his experience in the political terrain which put him in a comfortable position to clinch the ticket, Engr. Olalekan said that he has been a ‘grassroot person in politics spanning to more than a decade and has held several positons within the part’s hierarchy’.

Engr. Olalekan Oluwaseun

“I have been actively involved in the mobilization of INEC officials to establish new polling booths. I have also been a ward congress committee member in Atan ward in 2018. I have at some point, served as ward congress Secretary. I was also one of the collation officers in the last Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections in the state. I was one time the Youth leader of the defunct Sango/Ijoko LCDA”.

When VOA News Correspondent asked him if he had before his interest in the public office which he is seeking, done any philantropic or humanitarian gesture to the needy in his environment, he mentioned quite a few of his efforts in providing succour to those in dire need.

“God has used my initiative to pay hospital bills of some sick people. I have, through my foundation, provided financial assistance to the less privileged in Ijoko and suburbs. We have also paid for WAEC and UTME examinations of some students and we also provided a scholarship for some indigent students. I have severally assisted in the reconstruction of drainage and abandoned bridge in my community, among several other gestures which God has helped us to do for our community”.

Engineer Olalekan said Ota, as the economic nerve centre of Ogun state and a town with rich culture and tradition, deserves a representative who is ‘up to the task’ and who will not play a ‘second fiddle’ in the state House of Assembly. With all the strenght inherent in this local government and its voting power, we have all it takes to sponsor effective bills that will turn around the fortunes of the local government. Moreover, the lobbying power which he has is enough to convince colleagues from other constituencies to press home our demand as a people in Ota.

While also speaking on his chances of clinching the coveted ticket, he said that he has the mandate of his people as well the support of party stakeholders and elders within and outside the party to fly the party’s flag in the coming House of Assembly party primary elections in the local government.

Recall that President Muhammad Buhari has rejected the Electoral Act Amendment bill which mandates all parties to adopt direct primary election, citing ‘insecurity and marginalizaation of small parties’ as reasons for the rejection and has since returned the bill to the Senate for amendment.