The Race & The Runners: Omisore (?), A Serial Contender

Senator Iyiola Ajani Omisore was born in Ile Ife, Osun state on 15th September, 1957 into a royal family line of the people of Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race. He is the grandson of Lowa Omisore and his father is Oba David Olajide Omisore of Ayepe Olode, Ile-Ife.

Senator Omisore is also the grandson of the Late Olufewara, Oba Titus Adetoba of the Oseganderuku ruling house in Ifewara where his mother, Princess Emila Adejola ruled as Regent until her death in 2006.

He had his primary education at the SS Peter and Paul Roman Catholic School in Ile-Ife and his secondary education at St. John Grammar School, Ile Ife from 1972-1977. He later attended Federal Polytechnic Owo in Ondo State. He later sat for and passed his Full Technological Certificate Examinations at the Technology College, Reading UK, and obtained a diploma Certificate in Electrical/Electronics Engineering. He also holds a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Power and Machines from Brunnel University Oxbridge, United Kingdom, a postgraduate Certificate in Building service and Engineering Management and a Master of Science Degree in Building Services from the same University. Later, he went to Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK where he earned a Post Graduate Certificate in Mechanical Engineering and an M.Sc degree in Building Services Engineering.

At present, the senator holds a Ph.D in Infrastructure Finance from the International School of Management, Paris, France and he is currently undergoing his DBA programme at the same institution. The Senator who is equally a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, England and Wales underwent courses in different institutions. He did the Advanced Budgeting Course at the George Town University, Washington DC, USA; the Appropriations and Public Finance Course at the ABS Academy, Athens, Greece; the Advanced Leadership Course at the University of Carolina; The Innovation and Leadership Course at the West London College; the Public Finance Course at the Harvard University and the Aid Effectiveness and Donour Harmonisation Course at the Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung GmbH, Germany.

In January 2013, he completed and was awarded a Doctorate Degree by the International School of Management in Paris. He majored in Procurement, Taxation, Corporate Governance, Infrastructure Finance and Public Private Partnerships.

Omisore, a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers started his engineering career as project manager with Drake Gordham UK, Plc, in 1983 and was there up to 1985 before returning to Nigeria to join Drake and Scull Nig. Ltd. also as Project Manager. He later established his own Engineering firms, Mechelec Consultants –an Engineering Consultancy outfit and Chrisore Eng Ltd – an Electrical Engineering firm. At Drake and Scull Nig. Ltd, he supervised the construction of 19 airfields including the Makurdi Air Force Base. Apart from these, he supervised other projects like the Sokoto and Makurdi Rice Mills, Taraku Oil Mill and the Sokoto University Teaching Hospital. He was elevated to the post of a General Manager in 1987 and as a General Manager there up till 1999, he handled such projects like the Federal Mortgage Bank Headquarters Building, Onitsha Flour Mills, Bank of The North (Now Unity Bank) Building, Podium Secretariat, Port Harcourt; Eternit, Sapele; World Bank Assisted Health Projects for Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa States and the Imiringi Rural Electrification project now in Bayelsa State.

Omisore has to his credit Nigerian Society of Engineers Presidential Merit Award for Support and Contribution to the Development of the Society in 2007. Also, when the NSE was celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 2008, he was honoured with the Prime Award for Remarkable Contribution to the Growth of Engineering Profession and Society.

Omisore’s involvement in politics started early in life. In the transition years of the Babangida Administration, he was involved in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and later became a member of the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM), UNCP in the Abacha years, under the Gen. Abubakar transition years, he got involved with the Pan Yoruba group Afenifere (a pre-democratic activist group largely in Southwest Nigeria), where he was caucus leader for Osun State and the south west region of Nigeria. He was involved in the formation of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All People’s Party (APP) and finally Alliance for Democracy (AD).

During his tenure in the upper legislative chamber in Nigeria, Senator Omisore held key positions, including, Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries, 2004 – 2005; Chairman, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs, 2005 – 2007; Chairman, Joint Finance Committee Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism; Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations (2007 -2011); Chairman, UNDP/NASS Support Implementation Committee (2007 – 2011); Chairman, Board of Fellows, Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria.

Omisore has in his kitty different chieftaincy titles, including, Apesin Oodua of the Source, High Chief Lisa of Osogboland, Bashorun of Ijeshaland, Asiwaju Balogun of Ibadanland, Akinrogun of Edeland, Maiyegun of Ijero Kingdom, Seriki of Usi Ekiti, Agbaakin of Ila Orangun, Ashipa of Inisha Kingdom, Otunba of Ipetu Modu, Akinrogun of Ede and Otunba of Odo-Eku.

Dr. Iyiola Omisore has been further honoured with the title “Zege Huror u Kwande man ishan na” a title gotten from Kwande, Benue State in the Northern part of the country.

The College of Education, Ila Orangun, Osun State has equally honoured him with the “Fellowship for Good Human Relationship With People at the Grassroots” and “Invaluable Contribution Towards Alleviating the Problems of the Society” just as Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, his alma mater has also awarded him a fellowship of the polytechnic for “Valuable Contribution Towards Technological Advancement and Courses Accreditation.”

Omisore has been a serial contestant for the governorship seat since 2007, but he has not been able to actualise his dream, as he has been battling with credibility crisis, particularly on his alleged involvement in the killing of the late Chief Bola Ige. A faction of his party, PDP is now seeing to be playing prank with his ambition again, hence, the threat by his faction to leave the party. His followers have started massive mobilisation for him.