Kunle ADELABU
– Call for supports for Hon. Agunbiade, Hon. Osinowo
Two three-term lawmakers seeking re-election for the fourth term as members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, representing Shomolu I and Hon. Moshood Oshun, representing Lagos Mainland II, have described themselves and other ranking lawmakers as assets which deserve supports of the electorate in their quests to continue as legislators.
The lawmakers spoke with THE IMPACT during the flag off of the re-election campaign of Hon. Agunbiade held in Ikorodu on Saturday, January 19, 2019.
Like the two Assembly men, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, is seeking re-election for the fourth term.
The fourth lawmaker seeking re-election into the State Assembly for the fourth term is Hon. Layeode Ibrahim, Badagry I.
More so, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Agege I, is seeking re-election for the fifth term, while Hon. Bayo Osinowo, the APC senatorial candidate for the Lagos East Senatorial District, has equally spent four term at the Assembly and now seeking re-election to represent the Lagos East Senatorial District at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.
In addition, eight members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have secured the ruling party’s tickets to contest for the third term. They are Hon. Tobun Abiodun, Epe I, Hon. Tunde Buraimoh Kosefe II, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun Island I, Hon, Yishau Segun, Eti-Osa II, Hon. Kazeem Raheem Adewale, Ibeju Lekki II, Hon. Mojeed Fatai Adebola, Ibeju Lekki I, Hon Jimoh Wahab Olumuyiwa,Apapa II and Hon. Bisi yusuf, Alimosho I.
A total of fifteen members of the House are seeking re-election for the second term and they are Hon. Olayinka Ogundimu, Agege II, Hon. Fatai Oluwa, Ajeromi II, Hon. Meranda Mojisola Laibat, Apapa I, Hon. Setounji David, Badagry II, Hon. Naheem Babatunde, Eti- Osa I, Hon. Makinde Lanre, Ifako Ijaiye II, Hon. Folajimi Muhammed, Ikeja I, Hon. Richard Adedamola, Ikeja II, Hon. Nurudeen Saka, Ikorodu II, Hon. Victor Akande, Ojo I, Hon. Olayiwola Sobur, Mushin II, Hon. Sangodara Rotimi, Surulere II, Hon. Desmond Eliot, Surulere I, Hon.. Shokunle olushola Hakeem, Oshodi/Isolo I and Hon. Idimogwu Jude Oshodi/isolo II
In an interview with Hon. Olowo, he described Hon. Agunbiade as a great asset to Lagos State and should be re-elected for another term at the Assembly.
“There is no doubt about it, Agunbiade is a great asset to the Lagos State House of Assembly. A great lawmaker and leader.
“I just came to appreciate him because of who is he, what he is and what he has been able to do on the floor of the House.
“Being the leader, he has been serving by examples. I only pray that the people will appreciate his person and what he represents”.
Responding to criticism by a segment of the electorate calling on the ranking lawmakers to allow new people take their seats, Olowo stated:
“It’s very simple. What they are saying is borne out of ignorance because there is nowhere in the world that you can divorce legislature from performance and experience. We know in some climes that some legislators have served for more than 20, 40 years and yet, they are still serving.
“One thing about legislature is the fact that the older the wine, the richer and better it becomes. It is a fact that for us going for the fourth term, we are going to be better than those just coming in.
“We are better positioned to influence our colleagues and the executives and give people good legislation and representation. Our experiences are better for the people and the state.
“The implication of our fourth term is that if we are re-elected, we are going to have better understanding of the legislative procedures, guide the House with our legislative experience, sustain the tradition of legislative excellence and give Lagosians adequate and quality representation”.
Hon. Olowo, while calling on the electorate in the Lagos East to give massive support to the APC Senatorial candidate, Hon. Bayo Osinowo, he described him as “the pillar and leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly who had helped in providing the much needed stability that has kept Lagos going”.
In the same vein, Hon. Oshun, representing Mainland Constituency I, while also speaking with THE IMPACT, toed the line of his colleague stating that Hon. Agunbiade is an asset to the State and called for support for his re-election.
“Hon. Agunbiade has been able to prove himself that he is a quality lawmaker. He is one of the pillars in the House. He is an asset to the House, Ikorodu and Lagos State.
“For his flag off today, I just want to tell the people that they are lucky because of the kind of representation he has given them. He has been a wonderful lawmaker and colleague”.
Speaking on Hon. Bayo Osinowo, Oshun stated that the Senatorial candidate has been the pillar of stability in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
“Talking about Hon. Bayo Osinowo, the stability that we have been enjoying in the last 16 years is down to him. He has shown that he is a leader and a party person.
“His going to the Senate is an asset to all of us. He is going to make sure that Lagos State gets what it deserves. For me, that is a good decision for APC and I implore Lagosians to vote for him and all other candidates of the APC.
Oshun also stated that the re-election of ranking lawmakers like himself to the State Assembly will ensure that Lagos State continue its tradition of excellence and remain the envy of other states.
“The implication of the re-election of the experienced lawmakers , especially some of us for the fourth term, is that we want Lagos State where it should be.
“What I’m saying in essence is that legislative arm is like a wine, the older it is the better it becomes. We want experienced hands to continue guiding the state.
“If we have a new governor in the state in person of Mr Sanwoolu, and you also have 40 new members at the State Assembly, who is to guide them and make sure that the House is under control? We need good experience to keep the system running smoothly”.
He attributed the stability and legislative excellence in the Lagos State House of Assembly to the experiences of many of the lawmakers.
“Why do you think that we have stability in the Lagos State House of Assembly? It’s because we have experienced political players and legislators. When was the last time you saw us throwing chairs at one another at the Lagos State House of Assembly like other states where such act has become a norm? The difference is that we have experienced lawmakers who manage and guide the affairs of the House with their experiences while other state Assemblies have no experienced lawmakers to accomplish such task. They lack experienced lawmakers that can guide the House and talk to other lawmakers. So, we are great assets with our experiences.
