By S. O. K. Shillings
Dear People of Ikorodu Division. I greet you in the name of God, our ancestors and Obas in the Division. This is a wakeup call for us to make a claim for the vacant seat of the Lagos East Senatorial ticket.
We once again join other Lagosians, the people of the Lagos East Senatorial District and the leadership and members of the All Progressives Congress to mourn the untimely demise of Senator Sikiru Osinowo. May God forgive his sins and grant him entry into the prized paradise.
Ours has been a cry of marginalisation. We are indeed marginalised. But we are partly responsible for this. Power is not served. We must demand for it. In this instance, we are entitled to it for many reasons.
Ikorodu is the only Division (of the 5 I. B. I. L. E contraption) that remains a local government till date. Ikorodu had 3 representatives in the Lagos State House of Assembly when it was 36 members. When it became 40, we have 2 Honourables representing 6 LCDAs out of 57.
Ikorodu had 2 substative Commissioners in government when we returned to civil rule. Now, we have one Acting Commissioner while there is another representing special interests.
In the power-sharing politics of Lagos and Lagos East Senatorial District, we have not had our fair share. We have had the senatorial shot in 1999 – 2003 (one term). Kosofe has been abundantly represented with both Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora (a former Speaker of the House of Assembly) and Senator Sikiru Osinowo of blessed memory.
Ibeju Lekki had Senator Bariyu Ashafa for 2 terms. Somolu had Senator Adefuye in the 3rd Republic when the formula changed to 3 Senatorial Districts.
In the Government of the State, Epe has the Deputy Governor and an Ambassador to Great Britain among others. They produced Governor Ambode, Rt. Hon. Ikuforiji as Speaker for 10 years and Hon. Pelumi also as Speaker of the House of Assembly. Since 2003, we have not taken any elective space beyond House of Assembly and House of Representatives which are naturally our own.
It was time for us to make a case for the tickets from all political parties especially the ruling APC and some of our people have woken up to the challenge.
This must be a community project for which everybody has a role to play. And time is of the essence.
We are blessed with men and women who are shakers and movers in the politics of the State. Everyone, as individuals and groups, should roll our sleeves to join in the push and beat the drum.
We have a duty to mobilise ourselves. We could convene a zoom meeting, convene a press conference, confer with stakeholders in the Senatorial District, meet with stakeholders and powerpoints in the State and support whoever emerges in the political parties… all within the short space of time.
There is a lot in it for us as it will increase our opportunity to share in the dividends of democracy especially by opening opportunities and engagements for our youths to grow.
Arise o’ compatriots!
S. O. K. Shillings Esq.
For Concerned Citizens
