Kunle ADELABU
Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, former Deputy and the apex leader of APC in Ikorodu division, (standing) and flanked by Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, former SSG and chieftain of APC (left) and Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, APC State Vice Chairman and deputy leader,, APC in Ikorodu Division at a party function (File photo)
If the indications coming from the Apex leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikorodu is anything to go by, Ikorodu people are in for another intense politicking usually characterized by jostling for political appointments.
THE IMPACT gathered that the APC Apex leaders in Ikorodu Division under the leadership of the former Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, at its meeting held at the Solomade house of the former Deputy Governor, on Friday, March 22, 2019, has declared the jostling for political appointments open for interested parties.
The division, according to statistics from the just concluded elections, performed beyond the expectations of many in term of votes given to the candidates of the ruling APC.
For the first time, the political leaders seem to be on the same page working together in the interest of the party and the division. Our sources informed that the leaders agreed to work together to prevent a situation where different lists seeking political appointments for interested individuals in the division find there ways to the state leaders of the party.
It was gathered that the meeting, which was also attended by former Secretary to the State government, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, State Vice Chairman of the party and former Commissioner for Agriculture, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, called on sons and daughters of Ikorodu to signify their interests in appointive political positions by sending in their curriculum vitae (CVs)
It was gathered that the political leaders in the division has identified four positions where they are seeking for interests from sons and daughters of Ikorodu. The positions are Commissionership, Special Adviser, Head of Parastatals and Permanent Secretary.
Our source revealed that the political leaders are pushing for Special Adviser of cabinet status in the incoming Sanwo-Olu administration.
Aside the cabinet appointments, the leaders were also said to be considering.demand for heads of parastatals and agencies, using the renewed political relevance of the division based on its performance in the just concluded polls.
The leaders are also considering having more Ikorodu sons and daughters in the position of Permanent Secretaries . It was gathered that list of sons and daughters of Ikorodu division in levels 16 and 17 that are due for the position have been compiled and the leaders are ready to use their political power in ensuring that more civil servants of Ikorodu extracts are considered for the much coveted position.
Aside positions mentioned above, THE IMPACT also gathered that the leaders are also pushing for sons and daughters of Ikorodu division to be appointed into Senior Special Assistants positions
A member of the Apex leadership, who spoke with THE IMPACT in confidence, stated that, “The peak of the civil service is a directorship position while Permanent Secretaryship position is a political appointment which we have failed to consider in Ikorodu. But it is better late than never. We are prepared to lobby for that now and see to it that our sons and daughters are considered for the Permanent Secretary positions.
“Some of them that we have listed have few years more in service and there is no greater service to Ikorodu division than helping them to get the appointment so that they too can reciprocate to those under them.
We also gathered that the APEX leaders are considering allocating 40% percent of the names that would be forwarded to the post-postponement leadership of the party to women for their continuous contributions to the party and for strategic reasons.
The modalities for indication of interest, according to our source, is that interested individuals should submit their CVs to political leaders in the six Councils across the division.
The leaders at the council levels would in turn shortlist and submit to the leaders in Constituency I and II in the division who are also going to shortlist and forward the names and CVs of successful candidates to the Apex leaders headed by Prince Ogunleye for final approval and submission to the state leadership of the party.
THE IMPACT also gathered that the leaders have warned interested candidates against lobbying any leaders from outside the division for appointment. This kind of situation, according to the leaders, put them in bad light.
Meanwhile, since the announcement was made on Friday , March 22, politicians and civil servants in the division have been lobbying the political leaders for consideration.
