Wale JAGUN
Ambode, Gbadamosi and Agbaje
About 50 political parties are contesting to take over the Lagos State House from the incumbent governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode whose tenure elapses on May 29, 2019.
Among the candidates cleared to contest the governorship poll slated for March 2 are three sons of Ikorodu – Pharm. Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi, African Democratic Party (ADP) and Chief Owolabi Salis, Alliance for Democracy (AD) .
It is expected that they would get sympathy from the electorate in Ikorodu in the coming election.
Their chances have also been enhanced by the clamour for the governorship position by Ikorodu division which has not produced a civilian governor since the creation of the state.
According to the available information, Lagos State has over 20 million residents and more than 5 millions have collected their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) in readiness to partake in the election. Out of these eligible voters, about 180,000 are residing in Ikorodu division.
Although, the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate and his running mate are not from Ikorodu but the party has a formidable presence in the division. Thus, political interest, rather than sympathy votes and other factors, might play a major role in determining who get the most votes in across the division.
The candidate of the APC is Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a former Commissioner in the State and the Managing Director, Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) until his emergence as the guber candidate of the ruling party.
The profiles of some of these candidates are highlighted below :
Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi (ADP) :
Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi, popularly called Bob by admirers, is the candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) . He is from the Gbadamosi family in Ikorodu. The family has produced several political figures who had made mark in politics, both at the national and state levels, as well as in the business sector.
Gbadamosi is a property merchant and Chairman of the prestigious Amen Estate located at the Eleko Beach in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos.
He is also the owner of Redbrick Homes International Ltd. He is highly committed to providing enduring homes for Lagosians. He is the Secretary of the National Intervention Movement (NIM) in Lagos.
BOG attended the Lagos State University (LASU) from 1986 to 1989 but dropped out mid-way. He revealed this in an interview with a weekly tabloid.
BOG is an intelligent fellow with vast knowledge in political developments of Nigeria and Lagos State. He is a public speaker that can easily sway his audience with his eloquence.
Mr Gbadamosi was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he had previously aspired to get the gubernatorial ticket without success.
He defected to the ADP in 2018 and secured the candidacy of the party same year.
Owolabi Sales (AD)
The Alliance for Democracy (AD) gubernatorial candidate is another Ikorodu son in the race to succeed Governor Ambode .
He holds a B.Sc in Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria; M.Sc., Accounting from the University of Lagos, Nigeria; LL.B., Law, University of Lagos, Nigeria; Barrister at Law (B.L.,) Council of Legal Education, Nigeria.
High Chief Owolabi Salis is a renowned lawyer, businessman and philanthropist.
In the cause of his pursuit to govern Lagos State, Chief Salis had once pursued the interest on PDP platform.
The Alliance for Democracy governorship candidate in Lagos State also parades numerous professional qualifications such as FCA, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN); ACIB, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN (Fellow graded); ANIPR, Associate, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (CPA); American Institute of Certified Public Accountant (AICPA), New York State Bar 2002 USA and National Association of Security Dealers (NASD) now FINRA.
He is a member, American Branch of International Law Association, ILA; Member, New York State and New York County Bar Associations; Member, United States Chamber of Commerce; Member, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); Member, Amnesty International; and Member, Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce.
Barrister Owolabi Salis has practiced both Law and Accounting for over 30 years.
He has written many research papers and journals cutting across fields of accounting, law, businesses, education, governance, and so on.
Awards and honours he has received include Distinguished Men of Achievement Award 1996; Head of Federal Civil Service Recognition for Patriotic and Selfless Service to Nigeria (Aug./Sept. 2002) and Lagos State Police Command Peace Award, 2007 (Best Governorship Candidate for Peace).
Jimi Agbaje (PDP)
Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje, the Peoples Democratic PARTY (PDP) Governoship candidate in Lagos State is another candidate with strong ties with Ikorodu. He is from the Lasunwon Ruling House in Ikorodu kingdom.
He was formerly a member of the Action Congress (AC), where he first aspired to governed the state but left with others when it was alleged that there was an anointed candidate.
He moved to the Democratic People’s Alliance (DPA) to contest for the number one position in the state but lost to the AC candidate, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN. Since then, he has not relent in his pursuit.
Agbaje joined PDP following the de-registration of DPA by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2011.
A pharmacist by training from the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife. He is a Fellow, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN); Fellow, West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists (FPCPharm).
He founded JAYKAY Pharmaceutical and Chemical Company Limited.
He was a member of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (1999–2006); National Secretary of the Nigerian Association of General Practice Pharmacists (NAGPP) from 1987 to 1990; National Chairman NAGPP (1990–1993) and Chairman Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Lagos State (1994–1997).
He once served as member of the Lagos State Task force on Fake and Adulterated Drugs (1989–1993); National Drug Formulary and Essential Drugs List (1986–1993) and Lagos Hospitals Management Board (1994–1997).
Agbaje has won several awards and honours among which are XScale Merit Award Winner (MAW); Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Lagos State chapter); Fellow, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN) and Fellow, West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists (FPCPharm).
He is a member of the socio-political organization, Afenifere, where he served as the national treasurer.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu (APC)
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was the Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), until his emergence as the APC Governorship candidate.
He has played prominent roles in private and public sectors of the economy.
Since his transition from the private sector to the public sector in 2003, and with his subsequent appointment as Special Adviser on Corporate Matters to Lagos Deputy Governor, Femi Pedro, and subsequently as Special Adviser (Corporate Matters) to the former Governor, Bola Tinubu, before becoming a full Commissioner for Establishment and Training in 2007, Sanwo-Olu has surely laid the solid groundwork for this moment.
The University of Lagos alumnus, who later became Lagos Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Commissioner for Budget and Planning and Commissioner for Establishments and Training, at different times, also has an enviable background in the private sector as a distinguished board room guru as well as about ten years of exemplary banking experience.
Although, he holds an MBA and a B.Sc in Surveying from the University of Lagos, his quest for knowledge has taken him to several courses and trainings in several continents of the world, including Europe, USA, Asia and Africa.
He is an alumnus of the prestigious Kennedy School of Government, USA; the London Business School as well as the Lagos Business School, LBS.
Babajide is also an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) and fellow of The Nigeria Institute of Training and Development (NITAD).
A man of admirable social skills, Sanwo-Olu creates time for leisure and social activities despite his demanding itinerary, as he is a member of the Ikoyi Club, the Island Club, as well as the Clear Essence Health Club.
He has received several awards in recognition of his tremendous contributions to the society. Among these awards are the Symbol of Excellence award from the Civic Enlightenment Association of Nigeria, a Gold Mentor award from the National Association of Nigeria Nurses & Midwives (NANNM), a Platinum award from the Lagos State Public Service Club and the 2009 Best in Human Capital Development award from the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
He has also received several merit awards from the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management in Nigeria (CIPMN) amongst others.
