Kunle ADELABU
Following the commencement of campaign for Presidential and National Assembly candidates for the coming General Elections, the political terrain has come alive as political parties and their respective candidates have been openly canvassing for votes from the electorate.
For the Lagos East Senatorial District seat in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, which is currently being occupied by Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, it can be said that the much-coveted position is open for grab following the failure of the incumbent to secure another term at the recently conducted primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The situation in the Lagos East, which caught many by surprise, is completely different from what played out in the Lagos Central and West Senatorial Districts, where the incumbents, Sen. Remi Tinubu and Sen. Adeola Olamilekan were overwhelmingly voted for at the primary to contest for the third and second term respectively.
Many political watchers, therefore, are of the opinion that the inability of the incumbent to seek reelection in the 2019 general elections has given those vying for the Lagos East Senatorial position a level playing ground to fight for the seat since there would no power of incumbency which usually swings votes in favour of current occupier of a political office.
A total of 14 political parties have fielded candidates for the Lagos East Senatorial seat.
While the ruling party APC has fielded a four-term State lawmaker and a chieftain of the party, Hon. Bayo Osinowo, as its candidate, the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is fielding Princess Oyefusi, who is the daughter of the late traditional ruler of Ikorodu, Late Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi.
The flagbearers for the African Action Congress (AAC) and African Democratic Party (ADC) are Rotarian Olanrewaju Francis Shokunbi and Mrs Olajumoke Modupe Fakoya respectively. Both are indigenes of Ikorodu Division
The other 10 political parties that have also fielded candidates for the Lagos East Senatorial position are Accord, ACD, AD, CAP, DPP, ID, MPN, PPN, PT and PPC.
Going by the political profiles of the candidates, most of them are relatively unknown, even though they have excelled in their respective chosen careers while the same cannot be said of the APC candidate who is a well-known political figure within the Lagos State and Southwest political space and beyond.
He is also an experienced state legislator with about 16 years experience at the Lagos State House of Assembly where he is a power broker.
His towering experience and popularity coupled with being the flag bearer of the ruling party, APC, no doubt, makes the contest a battle between him and other contestants.
However, the interest of Ikorodu division in the position, which it last occupied between 1999 and 2003 through Seye Ogunlewe, may work in favour of the likes of Princess Oyefusi, Rotarian Shonubi and other candidates of Ikorodu division origin.
A successful politician and businessman, Osinowo worked briefly in Lagos with the Federal Ministry of Works as Land officer between 1977 and 1979 before travelling to Italy for further studies.
He attended the University of Perugia, Italy, for the Italian Language course after which he proceeded to lnstituto per Geometra, Rome Italy, for Building Technology and Urbaniana University, Rome, Italy, for Specialization (Masters).
On his return to Nigeria, he set up NITAL Ltd. (Nigeria Italian Company) and NIMCO Ltd.in 1986.
He was elected in 2003 to represent the people of Kosofe Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly. He was re-elected in 2007, 2011 and 2015 respectively .
He played an active role in the Second Republic politics when late Chief Moshood Abiola emerged as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) flag bearer and won the Presidential election that has been adjudged as the freest and fairest election in the annals of Nigeria political history.
In 1999, he joined the Alliance for Democracy (AD) which metamorphosed into Action Congress (AC) and later to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now, All Progressives Congress (APC).
Disclosing his agenda during his declaration, Sen Osinowo stated that his legislative experience acquired over time would propel him for greater achievement at the Red Chamber.
While also pledging to make the needs of the people a priority, the experienced state lawmaker stated that :
“I have also been actively involved in the political activities of the East Senatorial District for over two decades. I know where the shoe pinches. Your welfare and improved standard of living remain my priority and I’m assuring you that I shall remain totally committed to all my promises”, he pledged.
“My human and community development programmes did not start today and Insha Allah, it will continue to grow. My legislative commitments in the Red Chamber will not put a stop to the existing programmes in the district, rather, it will continue to expand.”
Princess Abiodun Oyefusi, the PDP Senatorial candidate is an astute technocrat, entrepreneur and a philanthropist with over 25 years of management experience within the public and private sectors.
She has a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in July, 1999 from the University of Hull, York, United Kingdom.
Her professional membership includes Associate Member (ACIS) – MARCH 1985, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA – United Kingdom), Prince 2 Project Management Practitioner – June 2006, AMP GROUP – United Kingdom, Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) – June 2010.
As a technocrat and manager, one of her position of responsibilities is as the Managing Director – Africa Projects – PPL GROUP, where she was responsible for the management and delivery of Multi-million dollars PPP projects in Africa from Concept Design to Project Delivery, partnership Fundraising and Management of Investors’ Fund, Management of Stakeholders, Project Board and Construction Board, Management of the various partners to the PPP Project, Management of government and public-sector relationship and the management of Consultants, Specialists, Contractors and Personnel and many others.
She defeated other aspirants to emerged as the PDP candidate for the Lagos East Senatorial seat.
Revealing her agenda during a visit to the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Shotobi, Princess Oyefusi stated that her objective is to give the District adequate representation and give women a voice and ensure that they get more political representation.
“Our District (Lagos East Senatorial) needs somebody that understands the needs of the District to represent them and the needs of the people. My responsibility is to help the people to achieve those needs.
“I also want to build on the legacy of my late father in developing this town (Ikorodu) and the District, State and the nation at large.
“What is most dear to my heart is our women’s situation. They are under-represented in key positions and it breaks my heart anytime I see this discrimination which I don’t understand. Why the inequality? Why did we (women) never had the opportunity to become a governor or President of this State and country?
She flagged-off her senatorial campaign in Epe on Saturday, November 24.
Rotarian Olanrewaju Francis Shonubi is a Unionist, community builder and professional.
He obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History in 2000 from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) , a Master’s Degree in Public & Int’l Affairs (MPIA) and M.A history (2005/20l6) from University of Lagos.
He started his working career with The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). 2008-20l7 and rose to the post of Branch Manager.
He is currently on contract with The Exchange.
He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Senior Member, Chartered Institute for Public Diplomacy & Management and Editorial Member, Junior Chamber International, Nigeria.
Shonubi is currently the Secretary-General, Igbogbo Day Planning Committee. He is a Member, UNILAG Alumni Association, Ogun State, Member & past National Publicity Secretary, UNILAG Alumni Association, Member, Board of Trustees, community initiative for Igbogbo development union (CIIDU), Member, the board of trustees, Africa’s redemption initiative (AFRINITI).
As a unionist, the AAC candidate was the former Welfare Secretary, University of Lagos Students’ Union (ULSU).
Shonubi, who sees political representation as the most important tool that affords his people the opportunity to have a say in the affairs of the government, stated that he is going to use his legislative power, if elected, to articulate and aggregate the diverse interests of his constituents into the policy-making process.
He promised to use his interpersonal skill to lobby and propose Bills that would represent the interest of the people at the grassroots and good governance for all and also make the youths the central focus of his senatorial project.
According to him, “part of his agenda would be on tourism, power generation, education and Job creation and above all, we need bills and laws that will deliver the dividend of democracy for the good people of Lagos East and ready to lobby for the good of my people…”
“We are coming to hand over power to the people” he added
On her own path, the ADC candidate, Mrs Fakoya, said if elected, she would agitate for the restructuring of the Federation for the purpose of returning to the Regional Autonomy.
According to her, this would give power back to the people; stimulate widespread development; bring about the security of lives and properties; curtail most civil unrest and agitations across the country and empower states to generate more revenue for the creation of jobs and payment for workers.
