Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) has announced Professor Abideen Olaiya as his running mate in the 2019 elections.
A press statement issued in and signed by Akala’s Media Adviser, Barrister Abraham Ojo said Otunba Alao Akala arrived at this decision after due consultations with party stalwarts and key stakeholders of the ADP, who nominated the renowned scholar.
Professor Olaiya , who also aspire to be governor under Accord Party holds a Ph.D in Agronomy from the University of Ibadan and before his appointment as Akala’s running mate is a senior lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture, (FUNAB), Abeokuta.
An indegene of Ibadan of Sanusi clan of Oroye Family Oke- Oluokun, the renowned scholar has
made significant contributions in the fields of scholarship and human capital development.
He is also well known in religious circle as a devout Muslim and a God fearing person, who through this trait made him a Leader in various capacities in the the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria where he served for over a period spanning about 3 decades and held sway as a role model and a source of inspiration to the the teeming members.
Professor Olaiya’s foray into politics dated back to 1995 under the platform of GDM, and was eventually elected as Member of the House of Representative in 1998 to represent lbadan South East and North East. Ever since he joined politics, he has been passionate and actively involved in programs and activities aimed at improving the welfare of the people in his immediate environment and beyond.
A devout Muslim, he is an ardent promoter of justice, fair play,morality and good governance.
He is also a member of numerous academic and socio political organizations and has to his credit several academic publications.
He has also been involved in Union activities at the tertiary level, having served as a two time Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria.
He is currently an Associate Professor of Crop Escopyhsiology