Meet The Elders Who Run OYO State…

• With Gov. SEYI MAKINDE

A few weeks ago, the Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde constituted the State’s Elders’ and Advisory Councils.

Past public office holders and political appointees as well as elder statesmen and women are members of the two councils as announced by the governor.

While the Oyo State Elders’ Council is new, the Oyo State Advisory Council, it would be recalled, was established shortly after Makinde’s first inauguration in 2019.

According to Governor Makinde, the Council was formed to advise him and his cabinet from time to time on the implementation of developmental programmes and policies.

It was further explained that the Council was purposely established as a veritable tool by the Makinde’s administration to have an all-inclusive government for a greater Oyo State.

This was also restated by Governor Seyi Makinde while congratulating members of the newly constituted councils. Where he charged them to contribute their quota to the continued development of the state and the realisation of the Oyo State Roadmap for Sustainable Development.

While Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN has taken over from Senator Hosea Ayoola Agboola (Hallelujah) as Chairman of the Oyo State Advisory Council, the duo of former Chief of Staff to Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Dr Saka Balogun and former Minister of Power and Steel, Elder Wole Oyelese have been named as Chairman and Co-Chairman of the State Elders’ Council, respectively.

Below are the names, and short profile of members of the Oyo State Elders’Council and Oyo State Advisory Council.

MEMBERS OF THE ELDERS’ COUNCIL

DR SAKA BALOGUN

Dr Saka Balogun is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) member and former Chief of Staff during the administration of Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala in Oyo State. He has been named as the Chairman of the Oyo State Elders’ Council by Governor Seyi Makinde.

ELDER WOLE OYELESE

Elder Wole Oyelese is a prominent politician in Oyo State. He is indeed one of the founding members of PDP in the state. He is a former Minister of Power and Steel. Oyelese is to co-chair the Oyo State Elders’ Council with Dr Saka Balogun.

ENGR HAMEED GBADAMOSI

Engr. Hammed Gbadamosi is a former Deputy Governor in the state. He is a member of the Elders’Council.

ALHAJA MUTIAT LADOJA

Alhaja Mutiat Ladoja is a former First Lady in the state. She is one of the major stakeholders in Oyo PDP, and has always been a mother figure to Governor Makinde. She is also a member of the Oyo State Elders’Council.

CHIEF JACOB ADETORO

Chief Jacob Adetoro is a politician of note from Oke-Ogun zone in Oyo State. The 83-year-old is also a member of the Elders’ Council.

CHIEF SUNDAY OGUNLADE

Chief Sunday Ogunlade is a top politician from Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State.

AMBASSADOR IBIRONKE ADEFOPE

Ambassador Ronke Adefope is a former Nigerian High Commissioner to Zambia and Malawi. She is well loved and respected, and another mother figure to Governor Makinde. She is a member of the Oyo State Elders’ Council.

CHIEF NURENI AKANBI

Alhaji Nureni Akanbi is the Iba Oluyole of Ibadan. He is one of the elder statesmen in Oyo PDP.

CHIEF ADEMOLA EYINADE

Chief Ademola Eyinade is a top chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Ibarapa Zone.

Members of the Advisory Council

CHIEF BOLAJI AYORINDR (SAN)

Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN, FCArb is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and was conferred with the national honour of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2014. He was with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2019 before entering into an alliance with Engr Makinde of PDP. He is the Chairman of the Oyo State Advisory Council.

SENATOR MONSURAT SUNMONU

Senator Monsurat Sunmonu is a former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly. The Oyo-born politician had also represented Oyo Central Senatorial District.

SENATOR HOSEA AGBOOLA

Senator Hosea Ayoola Agboola is a former Deputy Chief Whip National Assembly. He had also served under former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala as the honourable commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters. Alleluyah as he is popularly known in the political circle is the immediate past Chairman of the Oyo State Advisory Council.

SENATOR GBENGA BABALOLA

He is former Oyo North Senator. Babalola is also a former ALGON chairman in the State. He is now a member of the Oyo State Advisory Council.

BARR MICHAEL LANA

Barrister Michael Lana is the son of the former Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Odulana Odugade. Lana is a popular Ibadan-based Lawyer, and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. He is also a former governorship candidate under SDP in 2023.

HON BABATUNDE ODUYOYE

Chief Tunde Oduyoye is a former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives. He is also a former Special Adviser on Strategy and Political Matters to Governor Makinde. The popular politician, who recently celebrated his 60th birthday, was formerly of AD before he joined PDP.

SENATOR KAMORUDEEN ADEDIBU

Senator Kamorudeen Adedibu is the son of late garrison commander of Oyo politics, Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu. He is a former senator of the Oyo South Senatorial District.

-Dare Adeniran

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