The adoption of Alhaji Kehinde Isiaka Olaosebikan for the governorship of Oyo State by the Oluyole Local Government chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has buoyed his chances of winning the 2019 governorship election as the alumni and students of The Polytechnic Ibadan have given their full backing to his candidacy.
Towards this end, the national leadership of The Polytechnic Ibadan Alumni Association has commenced a comprehensive mobilization of the over 1,000,000 alumnus, students of the institution, parents and other indigenous people in support of Olaosebikan’s governorship bid.
Both the national chairman of The Polytechnic Ibadan Alumni Association, Professor Akinloye Lawal and National Secretary, Alhaji Soladoye Adewole confirmed that the Alumni Association was highly impressed with the achievement recorded so far by Olaosebikan on his aspiration to serve as the Governor of Oyo State.
The association, Lawal said, has therefore considered it political and necessary to give its full support to the candidacy and do all within their powers and see that Olaosebikan emerges as the candidate of the APC and wins convincingly at the general election.
The National Secretary, Adewole who is the current Public Relations Officer of the Polytechnic declared that the alumni association would work closely with the students and prospective students and parents towards ensuring that the Polytechnic Ibadan does not miss this “ rare opportunity of having the first graduate of the institution as the Governor of Oyo State.”
Till date, no graduate of the institution established since 1970 has governed Oyo state.
In the present political dispensation, Alhaji Lam Adesina that governed the state from 1999 to 2003 attended University of Nigeria, Nsuka; Senator Rasheed Ladoja (2003 to 2007) went to University of liege, Belgium; Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala (2007 -2011) attended Police College, Ikeja while the incumbent, Senator Abiola Ajimobi graduated from Buffalo University, Ney York, USA.
Of all the leading aspirants for the governorship race so far, only Olaosebikan graduated from The Polytechnic Ibadan. He holds a 1987 HND in Mass Communication and later acquired a Master’s Degree in Communication and Language Art from the University of Ibadan.
As a student of the institution, Olaosebikan was the chairman of Unity Hall, the biggest hall in the institution between 1983 and 1984. He was also a great Ambassador of the institution during the service year as he beat the best students of Mass Communication graduates of other institutions in Nigeria to become the Head of Communication Team and Editor in Chief of Niger State NYSC Newsletter in 1987/88 Service Year.
Olaosebikan, a well sought after journalist was engaged by Vanguard Newspapers immediately after his NYSC and posted to Abuja to cover the Constituent Assembly, the most important function in West Africa then. He became a Manager and City Editor of a frontline national newspaper when he was barely 26 years old.
While serving as the Chief Press Secretary to the late Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina between 1999 and 2003, Olaosebikan emerged as the Best Chief Press Secretary in Nigeria and elaborately celebrated by both the Osun and Oyo States chapters of the Nigeria Union of Journalists bringing great glories to The Polytechnic Ibadan.
As at today, Olaosebikan remains the only aspirant that has got the full backing and adoption of his local government as the candidate for the gubernatorial race. His adoption was raised in the most democratic manner by the number 1 legislator in the local government, Honourable Abiodun Muideen Wahab and equally seconded by the number one citizen of the local government, Prince Ayodeji Abass Aleshinloye the Executive Chairman of Oluyole local government.
