5 quick facts about APC governorship candidate in Osun

Oyetola was not a regular name in the news until his emergence as the flagbearer for Osun state governorship election.

Hence, the probing question, who is Oyetola, the man in whom Osun APC has entrusted its fate to succeed Aregbesola?

Chief of Staff to Aregbesola for 8 years

Oyetola served in Governor Rauf Aregbesola's eight-year-administration as the Chief of Staff and one of the pillars behind the administration.

In a report by TheCable, Oyetola earned favour in the sight of Ogbeni Aregbesola for working behind the scene as one of the pillars behind the governor's administration.

Though Oyetola has on several occasions denied being endorsed by Aregbesola, sources say he interfaces with the workers and has shown commitment to the continued growth of Osun state.

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20 years of active politics

Unknown to many political observers outside Osun state, Oyetola has been achieving political feats without attracting attention to himself since 1997.

Oyetola is said to be among the prominent Nigerians who founded the Alliance for Democracy, AD, in 1998.

The politician had remained a notable figure in the political party in Osun so much that when the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, berthed, he was one of the party's notable chieftains.

Oyetola remained in the party without contesting or seeking any position till the ACN metamorphosed to APC. He is also said to be close to Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the APC.

The APC flagbearer is said to have amassed supporters and a strong followership in all the 332 wards in the local governments in Osun state.

First time at the polls

Interestingly, Oyetola is seeking political office for the first time despite his incursion into politics in the early '90s.

Despite being in active politics for over 20 years, Oyetola has never sought for a political office; though he served in a major position in the Governor Aregbesola led administration for eight years.

Though he is contesting a political office for the first time, Oyetola is indeed prepared for the task ahead.

"I have toured every nook and cranny of this state consulting the stakeholders. I don’t discuss campaign issues with the governor," he said.

Oyetola turns 64 seven days after governorship election

Oyetola was born on September 29, 1954, in Iragbiji, Boripe local government area and will turn 64 exactly seven days after the Osun state governorship election scheduled for September 22, 2018.

Though Oyetola has no reason for the coincidence, he is cocksure of his victory at the polls; saying he will continue to campaign across all the local governments of the state to ensure continued good governance for the people of Osun state.

Certified Insurance broker

After his primary school, Oyetola attended Ifeoluwa Grammar School in Osogbo before proceeding to the University of Lagos, UNILAG.

On the campus of UNILAG, Oyetola obtained a Bachelor of science degree in insurance in 1978 and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1990 from the same institution.

He is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute, London and Nigeria and a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management.

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After he completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Potiskum, Yobe state, in 1980, Oyetola started his career as an insurance broker with Leadway Assurance Company as an Assistant Manager.

In 1991, he founded his own company where he was the Managing Director until his appointment as chief of staff in 2011.