Kunle ADELABU & Wale JAGUN
-Ikorodu will record unprecedented votes for APC
-I will double my representation in second term – Hon. Benson
The entire Ikorodu, on Saturday, January 12, 2018, stood still for the performing incumbent lawmaker representing the Ikorodu Federal House Constituency at the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly, Hon. Babajimi Benson, as he flagged off his re-election campaign in grandstyle.
Hon. Benson is seeking the re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) .
The event, which was held at the Ikorodu Local Government Open Ground opposite the Post Office, Ikorodu, recorded a record crowd which included APC chieftains, members and elected lawmakers at National and State Assemblies, traditional rulers and chiefs as well as residents among others.
In unison, political leaders, party people and residents of Ikorodu division vowed to give APC unprecedented votes in the coming general elections.
Asipa kaoli Olusanya, the Vice Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos East Senatorial District, presented the party’s flag to Hon. Benson as the flag bearer of the party.
The six Council Chairmen and APC chairmen in Ikorodu division led party members from various councils to the flag off event.
Hon. Benson, speaking at the historic event, thanked his party and Ikorodu people for electing him in 2015 and giving him support.
“I thank you all for electing me as your representative. You did not only voted for me massively in 2015, you also gave me votes in senatorial and gubernatorial positions that I did not contest for. Thank you for your support.
“I owe you gratitude for voting and supporting my representation.
“We are here today to flag off our campaign for 2019 election. I want to care for you more than I have done in my three and half years if elected back into office as your representative.
“In my second, I promise to reach those that we have not been able to touch.
“I want you all to come out enmase on February 16 to vote for our Presidential candidate, President Buhari, Senatorial candidate, Hon. Bayo Osinowo and Hon. Babajimi Benson for the House of Representatives. On March 2, we are going to vote for the governorship and Assembly elections. You should vote Babajide Sanwoolu for Lagos State Governor, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade as the representative of Ikorodu Constituency I and Hon. Nurudeen Solaja for Ikorodu Constituency II.
“After voting for all our candidates, I assure you all that you will feel the dividends of democracy”.
Hon. Benson also called for support and prayer for his team, iCare movement.
The Majority Leader, House of Representtaives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, while addressing the mamoth crowd at the rally, described Hon. Benson as a resourceful lawmaker who must re-elected.
“I have been in the House for close to twenty years and I have seen lawmakers come and gone but Hon. Benson is an outstanding lawmaker.
“In his first term, he mastered our operations to the extent that I am also learning from him.
“He is a wonderful person and I have to attend his campaign flag off despite the fact that we are also having campaign in my area.
“He is a progressive, wonderful and true legislator. He is a quality man.
“He holds Ikorodu and Lagos State dear to himself and has moved many bills and motions to champion the state’s cause.
“While voting for Hon. Benson, you must also ensure that you vote for President Buhari as our president, Mr Sanwoolu as the governor, Hon. SOB Agunbiade and Hon. Solaja as our lawmakers at the State Assembly”, Hon. Gbajabiamila pleaded.
Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, the APC Vice Chairman, Lagos East, speaking before presenting the party’s flag to Hon. Benson, stated that people are pleased with the lawmaker’s representation.
“We are pleased with your representation. His contributions to Ikorodu are immeasurable.
“He contributed immensely to the award of contract for the rehabilitation of the Ikorodu-Shagamu road.
“You are assured that he will continue to do more”.
He called for votes for all APC candidates while also stating that Ikorodu will record unprecedented votes in the coming elections.
“I want you all to come out massively and vote for all our candidates in all elective positions. We need to improve on our votes so that we can use the voting strength to bargain for more things for Ikorodu division.
Mr Tayo Ayinde, Director-General, Babajide Sanwoolu Campaign Group, described Hon. Benson as a responsible lawmaker that must be re-elected.
“Hon. Babajimi Benson is a responsible lawmaker whom Ikorodu must re-elect.
“People are happy with him because of his good and quality representation. He is not like those that will forget the electorate after being voted into office.
“Despite his own campaign, Hon. Benson is massively supporting our incoming governor’s (Sanwoolu) campaign financially. He has donated many campaign materials that are in many places.
He also appealed to the people of Ikorodu to vote for other APC candidates in the coming general elections, while imploring party members to embark on house-to-house campaign.
Former Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, while also speaking, stated:
“Hon. Benson has performed very well. He always brief us on the happenings at the National Assembly and even though, this is not a small task to do,he has been able to do that constantly.
“He deserve to be re-elected to continue to represent us.
“People are feeling the impact of his representation and I am sure that he will not disappoint us when re-elected. His good representation accounted for this massive turnout at this flag off campaign”.
In his own remarks, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, APC chieftain, stated that the lawmaker is a popular candidate that needs no campaign to be re-elected while adding that people should get their PVC to be able to vote for APC candidates.
“Hon Benson is a popular candidate who does not need to campaign for his re-election.
“Go and get your PVC and use it to vote for all our party candidates in the coming elections.
He pleaded with those still aggrieved to consider the fact that the party is supreme.
“Any aggrieved member should think first about our party. You are not going to vote for any individual but our party. It is the party’s broom that you will see on the ballot box”.
Sparing some thought for the opposition, Asiwaju Basorun stated:
“Our opponents have nothing to campaign with except abuse and we are going to win all available positions”.
Also speaking, Mrs Jumoke Benson, wife of Hon. Benson, thanked the party and the generality of the people for supporting his husband and enjoined them to continue to support APC by voting for all her candidates.
The Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, stated that the ruling party remains one indivisible entity.
He added that the party will win in all the elections as a team.
In his own brief speech, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja also called for support for all the ruling party’s candidates.
In the same vein, the six council chairmen in the Federal Constituency while addressing the electrifying gathering one after the other, promised to deliver votes in their respective councils to APC.
Speaking earlier, Mr Deen Sanwoola, the Director-General, iCare Movement, stated that the 2019 elections would be unprecedented in the annals of Ikorodu political history.
“I thank you all for your support so far and for turning out in large number to honour our lawmaker.
“I want you to understand the fact that this coming election will surpass all elections ever held in Ikorodu.
“Ikorodu must improve on her 4th position recorded in 2015 elections. We must vote massively to emerge as number one in Lagos State.
“All the APC candidates must win with landslide.
The duo of Valentine Olorin-Oba and Salawa were on ground to entertain the crowd with dedicated songs for all the ruling party’s candidates which got party supporters and other dancing all through.
Other notable dignitaries at the event were Sekumade of Ipakodo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Aremu Shotonwa, APC Chieftain, Chief Dele Olowu, former Secretary to the State Government, Princess Adenrele Ogunsanya, former acting Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola, APC Woman Senatorial Leader, Lagos East, Yeye Fausat Gbadebo, former Commissioner for Information, Lagos State, Otunba Ayodele Elesho, former Chairman, Ikorodu-Oga Development Association (IKODASS), Otunba Kunle Oyebola, former Clerk, Lagos State House of Assembly and Senatorial aspirant, Otunba Segun Abiru, former Head of Service, Prince Segun Ogunlewe, former APC Vice chairman, Lagos East, Arch. Taiwo Kara, Alhaji Gafaar, former Chairman, Ikorodu Resource Development Group, Oloye
