Kunle ADELABU
-Pledges to fulfill electoral promises; calls for support for APC
The Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos East Senatorial District, Hon. Sikiru Adebayo Osinowo, on Wednesday (yesterday) met with the traditional rulers and other stakeholders in Ikorodu division ahead of the National Assembly election slated for Saturday, February 16, 2019.
The Senatorial hopeful, after the parley with the traditional rulers and chiefs led by the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Shotobi at the Ayangbure palace, also met with hundreds of residents across the division at the Ikorodu Town hall.
He assured the traditional rulers that he would keep his campaign promises and contribute to the socio-economic developments of the division.
Traditional rulers and other prominent people at the parley were Ranodu of Imota, Oba Ajibade Agoro, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, Obateru of Egbin, Oba Akeem Oyebo, Olubeshe of Ibeshe, Oba Richard Ogunsanya Sekumade of Ipakodo, Oba Sotonwa, APC State Vice Chairman, Asipa Kaoli Olisanya, Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly and APC candidate for the same position, Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, Member,Federal House of Representatives and APC candidate for the same seat in Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Hon. Babajimi Benson and APC State Assembly candidate for Ikorodu Constituency II, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja among others.
Several requests and demands were made by the monarchs and residents at both the parley and town hall meeting.Among these are upgrade of the traditional rulers’ salaries, more federal recognition for traditional rulers in the division, even allocation of resources in the state, infrastructural developments in the division and upgrade of Local Council Development Areas to full fledge Local Council Areas.
Hon. Bayo Osinowo, while addressing the massive crowd at the town hall meeting, apologized for arriving late, citing the parley he had with the traditional rulers as the cause.
“We apologise for keeping you waiting. We arrived late for this meeting because we have to pay homage to the traditional rulers who are the owners of the land and we have received their blessings.
“We have discussed much of what we have to say with the traditional rulers, chiefs and other stakeholders at the Ayangbure palace.”
He stated that members and supporters of APC should not engage anybody in a fight because they have popular and sellable candidates.
“However, what we want to tell you here is that you should not engage anybody in a fight. It is only when a candidate is not popular that his or her supporters result into fighting” , Hon. Osinowo stated.
“It is not only during an election that a good politician is expected to start pasting posters. He ought to have been identifying with the people long ago.”
He spoke glowingly about the candidates that have been presented by the party in Ikorodu.
“Ikorodu is among the towns that are blessed in terms of quality representatives. You have Hon. Benson that is adequately representing you at the House of Representatives. He is from a good family here in Ikorodu and very responsible.
“He is currently representing you and has not disappointed you. We are sending him back for another term.
“We also have two candidates for the State Assembly seats in Ikorodu Constituency I and II. For Constituency II, you have an handsome young man who is trustworthy and honest. An outstanding man in person of Hon. Nurudeen Solaja.
Also, he described Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade, the candidate for Ikorodu Constituency I, as the heartbeat of the House of Assembly.
“We have Hon. Agunbiade for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat at the House of Assembly. Today, he is the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He is the heartbeat of the House. We are very proud of his excellent representation and skills.
“All the representatives who are also returning are quality and outstanding lawmakers and they need our support”, he said.
While appealing to residents of Ikorodu to vote massively for APC, the ranking lawmaker also stated that more votes would assure more political patronages.
“In Lagos East, we should be able to get more Commissioners, Special Advisers and federal positions but people in minority can beat those in majority in game of numbers. If we fail to vote massively for APC, there will be no ground to bargain for more positions.
Still making case for Lagos East, Hon. Osinowo stated that the district deserve compensation for the loss of the governorship seat.
“The governorship position was taken from Lagos East to another district and we deserve to be compensated but we must all go out and vote for the party.
He appealed to those that lost the primary elections and other aggrieved party members to accept the decision as God’s doing:
“I plead with those that lost Assembly, House of Representatives and Senatorial tickets to accept what happened as God’s doing. Your own time is also coming.
“I have been victim and beneficiary of imposition myself. After we fought the military and went to jail, I wanted a position but I was asked to go to the House of Assembly where I have been to for four consecutive terms until now that I am being again asked to go the Senate.
“Do not vote for another party in the coming elections out of vendetta. Do not engage in protest vote because Agunbiade or Benson or I offended you”, he appealed.
Speaking earlier, Primate Odugbesi, the Director-General of Hon. Osinowo Campaign Group, thanked God for guiding the campaign so far and acknowledged the supports of the party, traditional institutions, artisans, students, market men and women, CDAs among others.
He sought for the continuous support to enable Hon. Osinowo and other APC candidates emerge victorious in the coming elections.
Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, the APC State Vice Chairman, Lagos East Senatorial District, introduced the senatorial candidate and other candidates in Lagos East to the thousands of people that graced the occasion.
“My duty is to present all the candidates here and then invite Hon. Osinowo to address us.
“Our candidate for Ikorodu Constituency II is Hon. Nurudeen Solaja. In Constituency I, we have the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Opomulero of Ikorodu, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade. For the House of Representatives, Hon. Babajide Benson.
“We also have our brothers who have come to solidarise with us. We have from Kosofe Constituency I, Okanlawon Ganiu.
At the town meeting were representatives of Nollywood, market men and women, artisans, students, community development associations, traditional institutions, socio-cultural groups among many others.
