FACT CHECK: Is it true that Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Olusola Obada Governed Osun State 2003-2010 on a Christian/Christian Ticket?
Claim: A post circulating on social media (Facebook) claims that Osun State ran a Christian-Christian mandate with a Governor and Deputy Governor respectively from 2010 to 2018.
Full Text: Since the nomination of the former Governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima as the running mate to the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu which signifies a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 election, there are widely circulated claims that some past political equations, both presidential and gubernatorial positions tested same faith tickets with some winning the mandates.
One of the Claim on Social Media which was widely circulated on Whatsapp states that “Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Mrs Erelu Olusola Governed Osun State 2003-2010 Christian/Christian Ticket even when the state evenly spread 50/50 between Muslims and Christians!”
Prince Ọlagunsoye Oyinlọla, a retired Nigerian Army general, was a former military administrator of Lagos State. He became governor of Osun State in May 2003, and was reelected in 2007 on the platform of the then the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). On 26 November 2010 a court of appeals nullified his election. He later defected to the APC shortly before the 2014 Osun State governorship election.
The APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket had heated up the polity with mixed reactions from all quarters.
Verification:
Through its online research, PRNigeria confirms that Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Mrs Erelu Olusola, both Christians governed Osun State from 2003-2010 under a Christian/Christian ticket in the 7 years of their administration.
Publicly available information cites Mr Erelu Olusola Obada as the 3rd Deputy Governor of Osun State from 2003 – 2010.
Who was Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola?
Chief Olagunsoye oyinlola was born in Okuku, Odo Otin LGA, Osun state on 3rd February 1951 to a royal family. He is a retired Nigeria General who later became the governor of Osun state in May 2003 and was reelected 2007 as a member of the People’s Democratic Party. He later defected to APC shortly before the Osun state governorship election in 2014.
After Chief Ogunsoye secondary school at the age of 18, he joined the army in 1969. He later obtained Master of Science in Defense Studies in 1988 from the University of Madras, India and obtained masters degrees inn Strategic Studies from the university of Ibadan amongst others.
His political carrier surged when he was elected governor of Osun State in 2003 and picked his deputy Mrs Erelu Olusola Obada to run the Osun governorship office together.
Mrs Erelu Olusola Obada
She was born on the 27th June 1951 in Ilesa Osun State. She is a Nigerian politician and lawyer by profession. She served as the deputy governor of Osun state from 2003-2010 and later Nigeria Minister of State for Defense from 2011-2012 and Nigeria Minister of Defense from 2012-2013 under the cabinet of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
A tribute penned by Obada to her boss further substantiate their close working ties.
Conclusion: Results gotten by PRNigeria reveals that the claim that Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Mrs Erelu Olusola Governed Osun State 2003-2010 under Christian/Christian Ticket was true and same faith religion ticket has been in practice in the Nigeria political system for a while.
