Loyalists Highlight Muyiwa Oladipo’s Doings In Push To Get Remo Reps Seat

Checks revealed that the push for former Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Muyiwa Oladipo, to become the next federal lawmaker representing Sagamu, Ikenne, and Remo North at the National Assembly is getting stronger.

The seat became vacant following the shocking demise of its second-term occupier, Adewunmi Onanuga, famously known as Ijaya, on January 15, 2025.

Ijaya, a strong ally of Governor Dapo Abiodun, was the Deputy Chief Whip of the Federal House of Representatives at the time of her passing.

Her burial on January 24, 2025, threw open the race to determine her successor across political parties.

Sources disclosed that stakeholders, including religious and traditional leaders across the federal constituency, are insisting on a successor with legislative experience and a deep understanding of governance to ensure the continuation of the unprecedented achievements recorded by Ijaya.

Ijaya is credited with constituency-wide projects, including the building and renovation of schools and health centers, construction and rehabilitation of roads, provision of free drugs and healthcare, and various empowerment initiatives that impacted all demographics.

“The stakeholders are pushing for someone with experience to succeed her to ensure a seamless and continuous facilitation of projects, not a successor that would use more than half of the tenure to learn the ropes, thereby stagnating development in the federal constituency,” sources say.

Oladipo, as a former Speaker, would automatically be considered a ranking member if elected, according to National Assembly rules, insiders confirm.

Beyond this, he also has an added advantage—his knowledge of the workings of the executive arm of government, having served as a two-term Commissioner in the Ministries of Chieftaincy and Local Government, as well as Culture and Tourism, between 2011 and 2019.

Aside from these pivotal experiences, supporters of the chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are providing additional reasons why he is the perfect candidate to take over the Remo Federal House of Representatives seat.

Among other things, they highlight the over 24 boreholes he provided during his tenure as Commissioner, as well as various empowerment initiatives, including distributing about 40 motorcycles and tricycles to improve the livelihoods of constituents.

The former Commissioner is also credited with boosting education through gestures such as building and donating toilet facilities, including the seven he provided for Simawa Grammar School.

“It was during his tenure as Speaker that he facilitated electricity to Simawa, which was like the headquarters of Makun in Sagamu. He also tried to open up three major roads, including the famous Oko ati Ada but for paucity of funds,” a source disclosed.

Additionally, the former Speaker is known for his philanthropic efforts through KUMEF, the Kokumo Ladipo Memorial Foundation, named after his parents.

Supporters of Oladipo, who has become the talk-of-the-town aspirant, insist that these achievements, coupled with his political experience, give him the right pedigree.

“He fits the bill. He has all the qualifications, including past deeds speaking for him,” is the sing-song of those backing Oladipo’s House of Representatives ambition.

The push for Oladipo’s candidacy within the APC is especially gaining momentum, with Ladi Adebutu, leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, said to be taking the Remo Federal House of Representatives seat very personally.

Adebutu, who hails from the federal constituency, is a former occupant of the seat. He is keen on securing the position for his party to strengthen his chances of becoming the next Governor of Ogun State.

Additionally, he is highly motivated to outmaneuver Governor Abiodun—who is also from the same constituency—after suffering back-to-back losses in direct and indirect electoral contests since 2019.

Adebutu and Abiodun are locked in a deep-seated political supremacy tussle, making the vacant Remo House of Representatives seat another battleground.

As part of his comprehensive strategy, Adebutu is said to have informally settled on a preferred candidate, whom Oladipo’s supporters insist is no match for their choice.