That Bayo Onanuga, editor-in-chief of TheNEWS Group, is considering taking a shot at politics as an aspiring senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District may come to many as an exclusive; it is no more news to the few privileged who are close to the highly cerebral veteran journalist. Another dude who has never hidden his ambition to also take over from Senator Gbenga Kaka in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly is Dapo Abiodun, Chief Executive Officer of Heyden Petroleum.
These legitimate ambitions presently constitute some form of dilemma for Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the leadership of the political platform on which both aspiring candidates intend to contest, All Peoples Congress (APC).
Onanuga and Dapo maintain close relationship with the governor. Dapo, a man Friday with Amosun, enjoys some camaraderie with the governor in that they both have been friends from the days that predate Amosun’s entry into politics while Onanuga also relates to the governor on a very friendly level. In fact, reports say he is deeply involved in governance in the Gateway State, though on advisory capacities.
The race to occupy the seat is not a two-horse race though, as the Aremo Segun Osoba-led faction of APC presently has the seat in their kitty in the person of Senator Senator Gbenga Kaka.
Senator Kaka, has not signaled his intention to call it quits in the Senate come 2015, but the squabble between Amosun and Osoba has pitched the serving senator against the governor. Senator Kaka has not only been outspoken against the governor’s style; he has openly pledged his loyalty and support for Aremo Osoba whenever the occasion presents itself.
The race to 2015 promises to be intriguing but what is more crucial to Amosun and his camp at the moment is how to reach a consensus between his two allies without living a trail of bitterness.