Kunle ADELABU
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu (3rd left), his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat (2nd right) and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in group photograph with traditional rulers in Ikorodu Division after a meeting held at the Ayangbure palace before the last general elections
After electoral victory, there comes the period of sharing and allocation of values, in this case, political offices, which are very crucial to developments.
The people in Ikorodu division were conscious of this in the built up to the last general elections which made them to overwhelmingly vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in order to enable the division to attract improved electoral values in the state.
The traditional, opinion, religion and other leaderships in the division were more committed to bettering the lot of the division as they rallied round the people to give their supports to the candidates of the ruling party.
At the end of the February and March elections, it was clear beyond reasonable doubt that APC is still very strong in the division despite its challenges.
Ikorodu as a division and on the other hand, as a local government, compare to other four divisions and 19 councils that made up Lagos State, proved her mettle in the presidential, Senatorial, House of Representatives, Governorship and the State House of Assembly elections.
The feat recorded by Ikorodu division in the first phase of the general elections when electorates across the country voted for their choice parties for the Presidency, Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates, earned it the commendations from the national leader of the APC and the major source of finance of the party in Lagos State and Southwest, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The twelve council and party chairmen of the party in the division were said to have been singled out for praise by Asiwaju Tinubu who was also reported to have given them handshakes at a parley after the Presidential/National Assembly elections.
The division went ahead to vote massively for the Governorship candidate of the party, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, despite the fact that the candidate of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pharm. Jimi Agbaje , is related to a royal family in Ikorodu, as well as two other leading candidates ;Mr Babatunde Olalere Gbadmosi of the African Democratic Party (ADP) and Chief Salis Owolabi of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) who are also members of prominent families in Ikorodu.
Last Elections’ Figures
In the last Presidential election that gave President Muhammadu Buhari his second term, Ikorodu electorate gave the APC’s Buhari/Osinbajo ticket 40, 719 votes against 21, 719 votes recorded by PDP’s Atiku/Obi ticket.
For the Senate, 42, 770 electorate voted for the Senator-elect, Hon. Bayo Osinowo of the APC while the PDP candidate polled 20, 382.
APC candidate for the Ikorodu Federal Constituency seat at the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Babajimi Benson, polled 42, 563 votes to beat his closest rival from the PDP who garnered 19, 825 votes.
Ikorodu electorate also gave their 100% votes to the APC during the Governorship/Assembly elections. The Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat ticket garnered 45,879 against 14,769 polled by the PDP candidates.
For the Ikorodu Constituency I seat, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade polled 23, 488 against the 11,458 polled by the PDP candidate, Mr Mukaila Lamina while the APC candidate for the Ikorodu Constituency II seat, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, garnered 16, 338 to defeat his main challenger from the PDP who recorded 7, 241 votes.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Appointments So Far
So far, the opinion of residents across Ikorodu division is that the overwhelming votes cast across the division for APC and its candidates in the last general elections are yet to be reflected in the major appointments made so far by the new administration.
In the last few days, the Governor has announced appointments for the Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State Government, none of which was picked from Ikorodu division.
Before the announcements were made for these positions, , two prominent personalities from the division, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, the Vice Chairman, APC, Lagos East Senatorial District and former Commissioner for Agricultural & Cooperatives and Mr Munir Ajisebutu, a former Executive Secretary, Surulere Local Government and a Governorship aspirant on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), were among those tipped to emerge as the Secretary to the State Government.
What Role For Ikorodu Division In This New Dispensation?
Going by its massive electoral contributions to the success of APC in the state in the last general elections, Ikorodu division deserves improved political patronage and appointments in the new political dispensation to give the people of the division a sense of fulfillment and also to encourage them to work for the success of the party in subsequent elections since they are certain that their efforts would not go unrecognized.
However, a chieftain of the party in Ikorodu has expressed fears that the division might again be shortchanged going by the appointments made so far.
“We were expecting that an Ikorodu person will be announced as the Secretary to the State Government but it is disappointing that that was not to be.
“Some of us believed that somebody in the caliber of Asipa Kaoli, considering his clout and dedication to the party, would be announced as the new SSG but unfortunately, somebody from another council and division was announced for the position. With this appointment, we are not likely to play any major role in this new dispensation”, he lamented.
Another chieftain of the party, while also speaking with THE IMPACT, expressed similar fears and challenged the ruling party to compensate Ikorodu division with the Speakership position of the Lagos State House of Assembly, State cabinet’s positions and other political offices.
“If what we are seeing now is anything to go by, then, we might not be fairly treated in the new administration. Ikorodu person is neither the Governor nor deputy and on that basis, we ought to have been given the position of the Secretary to the State Government considering our outstanding performances in the last general elections.
“This is the time for the party to consider Ikorodu division for the position of the Speaker of the State Assembly . Thank God that we have a competent hand and a ranking lawmaker who has been outstanding in the House in the last twelve years as our representative.
The party chieftain also demanded for more Commissionership, Special Adviser, Senior Special Assistans and Commission’s positions for the division .
