Kunle ADELABU
– Officers, members meet in Ikorodu, present authentic chairmen for 6 LGs in Ikorodu Division
The Mandate Group (TMG) in Lagos East Senatorial District has joined others in Lagos State to adopt Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for another term.
The group made the move at a meeting attended by state, senatorial and council leadership and members and held at Banjoko’s house , Etunrenren in Ikorodu, on Friday, March 16, 2018.
The State leadership of the group also presented ‘authentic’ chairmen of the group in each of the six councils in Ikorodu division.
Those presented as chairmen for the six councils by the state body of the group are Alhaji Taiwo Longe (Ikorodu Central LG), Mr Femi Agbi (Ikorodu West LCDA), Hon. Abiodun Iyiola (Ikorodu North LCDA), Hon. Oyedele Adenuga (Ijede LCDA), Mr Biliaminu Iyanda (Imota LCDA) and Hon. Oloma Johnson (Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA).
Chief Arulogun, the Chairman of TMG Chairmen in Lagos State, while speaking at the meeting, said that the group is one indivisible entity and that the chairmen are usually the symbol of the group.
“I bring you good tidings from our leader, Oranmiyan, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Cardinal James Odumbaku (Baba Eto) and other leaders of our group”.
“The Mandate Group is one indivisible entity. There is no division because we don’t allow it which is why chairmen in various local governments are the symbol of our group”, he revealed.
“Those who are committed and dedicated members of the TMG are abreast of this fact. Today, I presented to you the recognized six chairmen in Ikorodu division. These are the authentic chairmen whose names are with us in the state”, Chief Arulogun revealed.
“They are capable hands who have been committed and dedicated to the principles and ideals of TMG”.
The State Chairman also called for reconciliation wherever there is any crisis among members of the group in Ikorodu.
“I want to enjoin the leadership of our group in Ikorodu that they should see to the peaceful resolution of any crisis in Ikorodu and should not allowed it to engulf the group”, he appealed.
While also speaking on the perfomance of Mr Akinwunmi Ambode as Governor of Lagos State, Chief Arulogun called on TMG members to rededicate themselves to the re-election of the governor and also ensure the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State in the coming general elections.
“Today, we are joining Lagos East in adopting the re-election of Governor Ambode because of his track records. The governor deserve to be given another ticket. I want you all to be commited and dedidate to this campaign and ensure that we secure victory for our party and the governor come next elections.”
Speaking on the importance of Lagos East in the political calculations of Lagos State, Chief Arulogun said, “Lagos East is one of our major stronghold in TMG and our great party. It’s a very strategic political territory which is the reason TMG leaders would have to put their house in order”, he warned.
Primate Charles Odugbesi, former State Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Chairman of The Mandate Group in Ikorodu, in his address went historical to explain how TMG was formed and its development.
“To the real and authentic members of our group, we all know how we started, the fight we put up for us to be what we are today. Even at a point when we had to face our political leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over the use of his name and he dared us to prove our strength”, Primate Odugbesi revealed.
“That was when we started touring all the councils with the likes of Cardinal Odumbaku leading and we were able to show our strength. We have given so much to the struggle.”
“TMG has been the foot soldiers for our party since the days of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeroia (ACN) and also for our current party, All Progressives Congress (APC). We worked towards strengthening our party and ensured it become what it is today.”
He appealed to members to welcome those who had left the group but are willing to come back into the group’s fold.
“Those that had left for one reason or the other are returning into the group and I want to appeal to you to welcome them back with open hands. We are on the way back to greatness. They are coming back to work with us to achieve greatness for our party.”
Reacting to the purported removal and replacement of some of the chairmen by a faction of the group in Ikorodu, Primate Odugbesi said,
“Any TMG group without a recognized chairman known to the state is fake. Chairmen are our symbols and that is why we have all the six chairmen with us today”, he confirmed.
While also recounting his open letter to Gov. Ambode on social media which generated lots of recations, the former APC State Secretary called for support for the governor’s re-election.
“When I wrote the governor openly, many thought I did not know what I was doing and was severely attacked. This made me to write the second open letter.”
“We were the ones that toiled and labour for the formation and strengthening of the party. We know where it pinches for our members who are always with us in the struggle day and night. Many of them never return to their families from many assignments.”
“People were calling and asking us to present their positions to the governor and the party and that was exactly what I did as a leader. Those that understood my position called to thank me.”
“Thank God for our listening governor, he did not only respond positively, but also increased certain allocations to the wards by 90% to appreciate the contributions of our party men and women.”
“We are adopting the governor for the second term. We have resolved to work for him dedicatedly and committedly”, Primate Odugbesi stated.
Mr Adeola Banjo, State TMG Secretary, in his own speech also reitrated that TMG has no faction and also confirmed that those presented as chairmen in Ikorodu division were the authentic ones.
Hon. Abiodun Iyiola,while also contributing, stated that the group is the engine room of the party since the days of the Alliance for Democracy.
He added that the genesis of TMG problems was when those that the group worked for their emergence as elected or appointed political office holders were no longer consulting the leadership of the group before allocating values.
Other chieftains of the group that attended the Ikorodu meeting were Mr Bola Dawodu, Vice Chairman, Lagos East Senatorial District of the group, Hon. Jide Banjoko, former Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, Hon. Kunle Ogunbela, former Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, Comrade (Mrs) Kehinde Okeowo, Hon. Azeez Jimoh Olosugbo and Mr Adeleke Banwo from Ibeju-Lekki.
There were also the representatives of Arewa, Igbo, Southsouth communities, ward chairmen, council chairmen and others.
If you will, a faction of The Mandate Group held a meeting some weeks ago at Olufowora’s ground where it was announced that some of the six TMG Chairmen in Ikorodu Division have been replaced.
