For the records: 2019 Ogun Guber Race: APC Leadership Assured BOT Total Support

BY ABUSATAR HAMED & ABIOLA RUFAI
The leadership of All Progressive Party (APC) in Ogun State led by Chief Derin Adebiyi, the state party Chairman has promised to give total support for the Ogun West Governorship aspirant and Chairman of the Regency Alliance Insurance Limited, Barri. Biyi Otegbeye, popularly called BOT.
The party Chairman who made the promise while receiving Barr. Otegbeye who was at the party secretariat in Abeokuta on Thursday August 16, 2018 to officially declared his intention to contest in the 2019 governorship election in the state reaffirmed that, ‘‘the party has zoned the governorship position to Ogun West and would not go back on the decision’’.
Chief Adebiyi said that ‘‘for the sake of equity, Ogun West must produce the next governor of the state since it’s the only region that has not occupy the number one seat amongst the four region that make up the state since its creation’’.
Addressing the gathering Barr. Otegbeye who identified continuity as the bedrock of nation building stated that he was at the secretariat to formally make his intention to run for position of the state governor known to the leaders and members of the party.
According to him, “with every sense of responsibility and after much prayers, preparation and wide consultations, I wish to formally inform the party of my decision to offer myself for the service of the good people of Ogun state in the capacity of the Executive Governor, come 2019.
“I am not unmindful of the enormous challenges of moving our state to the next level in the coming years, but I am comforted with the strong fundamentals, and the culture of efficiency already entrenched in the governance of our state by our energetic leader, Governor Ibikunle Amosun”.
Otegbeye informed the gathering that people of Ogun West were more inspired and united to cast their vote for APC in the forthcoming election not minding the candidate that may emerge amongst the APC aspirants from Ogun West Senatorial District.
The governorship aspoorant further stressed that ‘‘the diversity in culture and values of the Yewa-Awori axis of the state as reflected in the numbers of qualified aspirants who have shown interest in the top position should not be mistaken for disunity, but a common resolve of the people of the area to give the state the best leadership in the next dispensation for the common good of the citizens of the state.’’
On the Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s administration, BOT said, “the clearly defined mission of His Excellency. Gov. Ibikunle Amosun to rebuild the entire landscape and values of our state as well his dogged pursuit of excellence in its implementation (the mantra “Ogun standard”) is a complete success story.
“Also the positive and irreversible transformation are widely acknowledge by all in the area of affordable qualitative education, efficient health care delivering, agricultural production and industrialization, affordable housing and urban renewal, rural and infrastructural development/employment generation”.
BOT who joined APC in 2015 is a full and active member of Ilaro Ward I, Yewa South Local Government of the party.
It will be recalled that Biyi Otegbeye contested for the senatorial seat in Ogun West under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2015 and that took him to over 350 towns and villages in Ogun West.He is a philanthropist and community activist that founded “Building Opportunity For Tomorrow”, a non-governmental organization for the empowerment of Ogun state indigenes.
The event was witnessed by crème of the society who came from far and near to be part of the epoch occasion. They include APC party leaders/members from Ogun Central, Ogun East, and Ogun West, friends and family of the Yewa/Ijebu-born Ogun guber aspirant.
BOT’s appearance on the political turf is like a beacon of hope in the collective quest of Yewa-Awori people to ensure that an indigene of Ogun West emerges as the governor of Ogun State in the 2019 election for the first time since the creation of Ogun State in 1976.
Barr. Olubiyi Oladipupo Otegbeye who is being described as Man With Many Hats was born on October 11, 1963 at Oliworo Quarters in Ijebu-Ode, to the family of Late Mr. Festus Oladunjoye Otegbeye of Ilaro, headquarters of Ogun West and Mrs. Anuoluwapo Otegbeye who hailed from the Bamgbose family in Odopotu, Ogun State.He began life in a humble way. His parents were God-fearing, comfortable and contented. Because both parents were seasoned teachers, they gave their children good upbringing and standard education.
Biyi began his education at a very popular nursery school; the Sanni Luba School in Ijebu-Ode. His primary education was at Christ Church School, Porogun Alapo, Ijebu-Ode. Between 1974 and 1979 he attended Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, Ogun State and later proceeded to CMS Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos for the Higher School Certificate.
In 1984 and at age 20, he got his Bachelor’s Degree in Insurance at the University of Lagos. He followed up with a Masters’ Degree (MBA) in Financial Management and Accounting between 1985 and 1987. He graduated with LLB in Law at Lagos State University in 2001.
Biyi was admitted to the Nigerian Law School and called to the Bar in 2003 as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He professionally qualified as an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute London (ACII) in 1988.
The Insurance guru began his professional career at the United Nigeria Insurance Company Limited (UNIC) in 1986. Between 1990 and 1991 he was the General Manager of Capital Asset Insurance Brokers and in 1991; he became CEO of Excel Insurance Brokers.
In 1993 and at the age of 29 he founded Regency Insurance Company Limited. In 2007, he led Regency to the capital market to become a publicly quoted company. Till date he remains the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Regency Alliance Insurance Plc.
Biyi also sits on the boards of many companies either as Chairman or Director. They include: Regency Alliance Insurance Limited, Ghana; Earth Energy Nigeria Limited; Trustfund Pensions Limited; Treasurygate Nigeria Limited; RIC Microfinance Bank; RIC Properties and Investment Limited; Global Medioptions UK Limited and El-Bethel Nursery & Primary School, Lagos among a host of others.
Biyi has garnered several recognitions and awards in his life journey. These recognitions and laurels include: Member, Olabisi Onabanjo University Development Foundation; Fellow Lecturer, University of Lagos; Fellow, School of Management, The Bell University; Fellow, School of Management, Caleb University; Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Training and Development (NITAD) and Ogun State Chambers of Commerce & Industry.
Others are Merit Award from Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro Old Students Association, otherwise known as the Compronians; Merit Award from University of Lagos Alumni; Top 25 CEOs in Nigeria in 2015; Three times Merit Award as Distinguished Son of Yewaland; Vice President, Boys Scout, Kosofe Division, Lagos State and Major Rank Nigerian Legion.
As a philanthropist and community activist, Otegbeye is a household name. He is the founder of “Building Opportunities For Tomorrow” (BOT), an NGO for the empowerment of Ogun State indigenes.
Some of the activities of BOT include, but not limited to: Medical Missions; Eye Screening, Prescription and giving of medicated glasses to over 8,000 beneficiaries; Youth Empowerment Training Programme for 625 beneficiaries and Pre Retirement Training Programmes for 240 beneficiaries. The activities of BOT have occasioned great enthusiasm among his many supporters throughout Ogun State.
Biyi’s political appointments/career started in 2012, when he was appointed by the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to serve as a member of the fact-finding panel of Gateway Industrial &Petroleum Institute.
In further recognition of his contribution to the development of the nation, he was appointed as Chairman of the Governing Board of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in April 2013 by the Federal Government.
In 2015, he contested for the Senatorial seat in Ogun West under the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He was inspired by the leadership qualities of His Excellency, Governor Ibikunle Amosun and joined the APC. Today, Biyi is a full and active member of Ilaro Ward 1, Yewa South Local Government of APC.In January 2018, the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, again appointed him as a Member of Ogun State Judicial Service Commission; the appointment which he still holds till date.
He is a devoted Christian and a committed family man. His love for God and the people have brightened his path and opened up prospects in politics.
Biyi is married to Comfort Aderonke Otegbeye (Nee Alo) and their marriage is blessed with 3 children.