Kunle Adelabu
– Youths vow to work against any party that does not field candidate from Ikorodu
It is yet another battle for the Lagos East Senatorial seat for various parts of the Senatorial District following the sudden demise of the occupant of the much coveted seat, Senator Adebayo Sikiru Osinowo, last month and Ikorodu is not leaving any stone unturned in this regard.
The Division, which produced the first Senator that represented the Senatorial District at the beginning of this democratic dispensation in person of Sen. Adeseye Kingsley Ogunlewe, put in great efforts to claim the seat in the last general elections but the late Osinowo’s factor loomed large over other aspirants.
The populace of the Division, comprising of six council areas, drafted a former Civil servant, Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru, who retired few years back as Clerk/Permanent Secretary, Lagos State House of Assembly, into the race and he enjoyed massive followership within and outside Ikorodu.
The fact that the former Clerk was of the stance from the beginning of his Senatorial campaign in 2018 that he would not contest against the late Osinowo if he enters the race made him dropped his ambition when the late political strategist entered the race.
Although, his followers and residents of Ikorodu were disappointed when Abiru announced his withdrawal from the race, but he was able to demonstrate his mobilization capacity and political understanding to the admiration of all.
However, the death of Senator Osinowo, who was a powerful power broker and strategist in Lagos State APC, has once again created a vacuum in that position which must be filled within 90days.
This provision ensures that the people of any Senatorial District with vacant seat due to death, removal or recall of the incumbent of the seat, are not denied representation longer than necessary.
Meanwhile, Ikorodu people, which produced the second largest votes in Lagos State for the ruling, APC, in the last general elections, have started intensifying their clamour to produce the replacement for the late Senator.
The youths and other residents in the Division have also threatened to mobilize against the ruling party or any other party that fails to consider any of the aspirants from Ikorodu as their flag bearer for the Senatorial bye-election.
The Convener of the Ikorodu Ambassadors Group, Mr Adedeji Fatuga, echoing the position of many youths across the division, advocated that someone from Ikorodu should be considered by APC and other parties for the position.
“IKORODU AMBASSADORS GROUP demands that an Ikorodu indigene should occupy the vacant Senatorial position”, he demanded.
“If APC fails to field a candidate from Ikorodu Division, we will support a candidate from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or any other political party that fields candidate from Ikorodu Division”, he threatened.
“If it is the PDP or any other political party that fails to field a candidate from Ikorodu Division, we will also support APC if it fields a candidate from Ikorodu Division”.
In a situation where two or more parties fields indigenes of Ikorodu as their Senatorial flag bearers, Fatuga said that individual youth and other residents will have the choice to decide who to vote for.
“And if multiple political parties fields Ikorodu indigenes as there candidates, the youths will have the freedom to decide who to vote for in that situation “.
So far, about two prominent candidates have shown interest for the vacant position while many others have been speculated to also make their interests know sooner.
There are others that are being projected by those who felt that they are capable and should be considered for the coveted position.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of APC and member of the Governor’s Advisory Council in the State, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, have enjoined interested party members to declare their interest for the position.
He said that the leadership of the party in Lagos East Senatorial District has met and declared the position opened for members in the five councils within the district.
Some residents who are not pushing for any candidate but want Ikorodu to be considered for the position are advocating that the Division should present one or two influential political figures that can compete with the likes of Senator Gbenga Ashafa, the former occupant of the seat, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the immediate past Governor of the State, and others that are being speculated to be interested in the position from other parts of the Senatorial District.
To these set of people, someone that has been in the system and has the listening ears of power that be and knows how to play and maneuver himself and represent his people in the murky political terrain, should be produced by the division to contest for the position.
Among those suggested to vie for the position from Ikorodu division on the APC platform are Hon. Babajimi Benson, Member, Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Sanai Olaniyan Bolanle Agunbiade, Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Abike Dabiri – Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigeria Diaspora Commission, Otunba Olusegun Ganiyu Abiru, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, Vice Chairman, Lagos East Senatorial District, Prince Segun Ogunlewe, former Head of Service, Hon. Olanrewaju Sunmi Odesanya,a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Otunba Saheed Oladapo Ibikunle, Permanent Board Member of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) .
In a personal opinion poll conducted by a social media activist and a chieftain of The Ikorodu Ambassadors Group, Mr Adeleke Fasanya on the Facebook, other names that came up are Mr Toyin Gafaar Bolowotan, Director – General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Barr. Saheed O. Kolawole Shillings, former Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Ikorodu branch and a former aspirant for House of representatives and Mr Sogo Oshikoya, a top civil servant and former aspirant, House of Representatives among others.
Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiodun got most mentioning in the poll as candidate that Ikorodu should present as its flag bearer for the bye election, while Hon. Babajimi Benson, Member, House of Representatives and Mr Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi, a candidate for the Lagos State governorship position in the last election, also enjoyed good mentioning. Gbadamosi is the only politician from that opposition party tipped for the position.
THE IMPACT gathered that those who are interested in the position cannot openly declare their interests now in order not to incur the wrath of the party leadership. While some are doing underground campaigns and consultations, others are simply keeping their ambition to close their chests and within their inner circles until the appropriate time.
One of those that have been projected by the people for the seat, Hon. Babajimi Olagoke Benson, a young legislator who is well loved by many residents across the division due to his passionate representation, has been described by many as a people- friendly politician.
At the moment, Benson is the most senior elected representative in Ikorodu Division.
To those advocating for him, they are of the opinion that he has garnered enough experience, being a second term legislator, and as a result, has the required capacity to effectively and efficiently represent the people of the district at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly.
JB, as he is fondly called by his admirers and supporters, also has the right clout and is well connected with top hierarchy of the National Assembly and the party, especially the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the Governor of the State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu.
Aside his representation and legislative duties which he has been discharging creditably well, many political analysts and residents are also of the view that he has mastered the politics of National Assembly.
Hon. Sanai Oyeniyi Bolanle Agunbiade, popularly called ‘SOB’, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, is another political figure that is being speculated by the party people and residents across the division for the Senatorial position.
Unarguably, Agunbiade, who is representing the Ikorodu Constituency I, is the most experienced lawmaker in Ikorodu Division, having been elected four times by the people to represent them at the State Assembly where he has seen it all.
His vast knowledge in legislative process has earned him many awards and honours. Also, the leadership of the Southwest Majority Leaders Forum through the Southwest Legislative Reforms Implementation Committee (SLRIC), where they have been working on creating a uniform legislative framework for the six Southwest States.
He has consistently been adjudged as best lawmaker at the Lagos State House of Assembly due to his legislative engagements and for his representative delivery.
The former Student Union leader is also one of the most trusted lieutenants of the late Sen. Adebayo Osinowo while the political strategist was alive.
To those advocating for him, they hold the belief that he has seen it all as a State legislator and now is the time for him to move to the National level as a Senator to make his legislative experience coupled with his youthful nature bear on the red Chamber.
This would be the second term that the people will be clamouring that Agunbiade should be enlisted for the Senatorial contest.
Many are of the view that he should not have contested for the the Assembly seat for the fourth term in the last general elections as they wanted him to move up the ladder, to the Senate in particular, being the most experienced lawmaker in Ikorodu and also possess other requirements.
Some of politicians that are rooting for him are equally of the view that the Senatorial position should be used to compensate him for his effort in the emergence of late Sen. Osinowo whom he led his campaign team during the build up to the last general elections and also for his loyalty to the late Senator and the party.
They also emphasized that the late Osinowo’s campaign team, which he Coordinated as Chairman of its Tactical Committee, is ready to take-up his campaign for the vacant seat.
Both Benson and Agunbiade are lawyers, a factor many believed has aided their legislative performances.
But some are of the opinion that someone else, apart from the duo, should be considered for the vacant Senatorial position since they are still occupying important and strategic positions which Ikorodu cannot afford to lose to a new comer.
But despite all these interesting and favourable permutations for the candidature of these two brilliant and performing lawmakers, they are yet to publicly signify their interest in the race.
Hon. Abike Dabiri – Erewa is another individual that people are rooting for her candidature for the position due to her experience, network and placement.
She is the only individual in the history of Ikorodu Division to have received mandates on three occasions to represent the people of the division at the House of Representatives where she made her marks in terms of legislative performances.
Her protagonists believed that she has better understanding of the Abuja politics since she has been in the limelight of the National politics since 2003 when she was first elected as Member of the House of Representatives, representing the Ikorodu Federal Constituency and re –elected twice afterwards.
After leaving the green Chamber, she was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, first as Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs Commission before being made the substantive Chairman of the Commision.
Another young and versatile candidate on the list is Hon. Olanrewaju Sunmi Odesanya.
Like Benson and Agunbiade, Sunmi also is a lawyer. He represented Ikorodu Constituency I between 2003 and 2007 at the State House of Assembly after which he also served for one term as a Commissioner at the Lagos State House of Assembly Commission.
Sunmi is among the few interested aspirants that have publicly declared their interests for the vacant Senatorial position.
Speaking with THE IMPACT, the young and dynamic personae said that he has the experience and charisma to represent the Lagos East Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
While at the State Assembly, Hon. Sunmi was a darling of his colleagues and his constituents back home when given the floor to speak. His oratory prowess on the floor is only equaled by his predecessor and successor from Ikorodu Constituency I.
He has since been advancing his programmes for the Senatorial position and top on it are Special Status for Lagos and listing of 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) as full fledge councils.
Those advocating for him are also of the view that his term as a lawmaker and appointment as member of the Assembly commission has groomed him for the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly.
Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, as mentioned above, contested for the position in 2019 with clear programmes and has since shown interest to succeed the late former Senator.
He also confirmed his interest to THE IMPACT during a phone chat. He emphasized, however, that his ambition is not a do or die affair.
There has also been massive support for his candidacy from electorates across the Lagos East Senatorial District, especially in Ikorodu Division where many have been asking him to re-enact his 2019 campaign strategy.
Many youths are also urging him to run for the vacant seat while they have also pledged their support for his ambition because of the leadership prowess that he has shown in his leadership of the Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS) and Ikorodu Division Economic Summit.
Some analysts have also submitted that Abiru’s last duty post as the Clerk/Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State House of Assembly gives him additional advantage considering his involvement in the Assembly’s legislative work.
His followers and admirers have also argued that he should be given the position as compensation for not contesting the primary election for the Senatorial seat with late Senator Osinowo in 2019.
THE IMPACT gathered that Abiru has been making underground consultations with major stakeholders within the APC, traditional council and youth groups. His Think-tank, we also gathered are back in action doing the needful.
It was gathered that his campaign programmes for the coming bye-election is not different from those that it campaign with about a year ago.
Also tipped as a worthy successor to the late Senator is Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the State, the APC Vice Chairman, Lagos East and Deputy Chairman of the Apex political body in Ikorodu Division.
Those clamouring for his consideration are saying that he should be compensated for his consistent service and loyalty to the party.
They further argued that Asipa Kaoli jettisoned his personal ambition and also at various times stood for the party to convince Ikorodu people on the reason why they have to accept the position of the party on critical political decisions.
Asipa Kaoli, who is a former lecturer and a leader of the inner caucus of the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, is also said to have what it takes to advance political arguments in favour of the division with his intellectual, lobbying and maneuvering prowess when necessary.
A Prince of Igbogbo and former Head of Service, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, is another person being considered by some people for the position.
Prince Ogunlewe is a member of the APC Apex body in Ikorodu Division with connection all over the state being the number one Civil Servant in the state some years back.
He like Abiru showed interest to represent the people of Lagos East in the last election that produced late Osinowo.
Some political observers were of the opinion that he also has the reputation and charisma to occupy the Senatorial position.
Another candidate being speculated to vie for the position on APC platform is Dr (Otunba) Saheed Ibikunle, popularly known as ‘Omoluabi’ and ‘Ultimate’.
He was a Senior Special Assistant on Education Management to the former Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and he’s arguably the most educated person among those being tipped for the seat.
Ibikunle, who is a Ph.D holder, once served as Senior Special Assistant to Hon. Abike Dabiri – Erewa and was also a former Secretary to the Ikorodu Local Government.
He his network cuts across the length and breadth of Ikorodu Division through his ‘Omoluabi’ group.
However, the contest is not all about the APC as other political parties are equally constitutionally entitled to vie for the vacant position. But so far, the only opposition party to have shown interest in the contest is the PDP on which platform Mr Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi is said to be raring to contest.
Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, popularly called BOG, is a popular politician and he contested for the Governorship position in the 2019 General elections on the platform of the ADP but recently returned back to PDP.
Although, he’s yet to announce his interest for the Senatorial seat, but sources within the PDP are saying that leadership of the party has approached him to be its flag bearer.
His close allies have also confirmed to THE IMPACT that he is interested in the race and will be using the PDP platform to achieve his ambition.
Gbadamosi, who is a businessman, made mark for himself in the housing sector and has endeared himself to the populace through his oratory prowess and good understanding of governance.
In the said poll conducted by Adeleke on the facebook, Gbadamosi got good mentioning from the residents as someone that Ikorodu should support for the position.
