Kunle Adelabu & Wale Jagun
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Polaris Bank PLC and former Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Adetokunbo Abiru, may emerge as the consensus candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Lagos East Senatorial District bye – elections slated for the October, going by feelers from the party.
The Lagos East Senatorial seat at the National Assembly became vacant following the demise of the erstwhile occupant, Sen. Adebayo Osinowo who died few months ago after a brief illness.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, through its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, announced last week that the bye – elections into vacant 12 Senatorial and State Assembly seats across the country, including Lagos East, would hold October 31.
According to the electoral body, political parties must conduct their primaries to nominate candidates for the bye-elections between August 24 and September 8, 2020.
However, the entry of Tokunbo Abiru into the race was unnoticed by many, not even those at the helm of the party’s affairs, except few that the national leader of the party confided in.
THE IMPACT broke the news on its online publication on Saturday, July 25, 2020, that the Polaris MD had entered the Senatorial race after being given the directive. Although, the Polaris Bank issued a release following responses generated by our story, but his aspiration was never denied.
It was gathered that the report jolted the Abiru’s camp which was still consulting members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and other stakeholders on the directive of the National Leader of the party.
After our vigilant reporter broke the news, we gathered that Abiru had to grapple with handling political reactions as well as protecting the interest of the bank, especially managing the reactions in the boardroom and from the bank’s major stakeholders.
Following the report by the GAC to the national leader of the APC, which short listed aspirants as flag bearers for the party and Abiru picked as the most preferred aspirant, it was gathered that many of the aspirants have conceded the contest to the boardroom guru who is seen as Tinubu’s anointed candidate.
In actual fact, some of them have issued official releases announcing their withdrawal from the race and declaring their supports for him, while others are insisting that necessary processes should be followed in adopting any aspirants as the party’s candidate for the bye-election..
All Progressives Congress (APC) Aspirants for the Lagos East Senatorial Seat
Those that aspired to contest for the vacant Senatorial position from Ikorodu Division are Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, Vice Chairman, Lagos East Senatorial District, Otunba Olusegun Ganiyu Abiru, Chairman, lkorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), Hon. Olanrewaju Sunmi Odesanya, a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Prince Segun Ogunlewe, former Head of Service, Lagos State, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye, former Commissioner for Physical Planning, Lagos State, Mr Lekan Ogunbanwo, former General Manager/Permanent Secretary, Lagos Television and Mr Adetokunbo Abiru, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Polaris Bank.
Also reported to be interested in the Senatorial seat from Epe are Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Chief Lanre Rasaq, a former Council Chairman, Commissioner and Chieftain of the APC who passed away few days ago, and Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, former Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly.
Senator Gbenga Ashafa, the Senator that represented the Lagos East Senatorial District in the 7th and 8th Assembly, Dr. Tola Kasali, a former Council Chairman, two-time Commissioner and Chieftain of APC in the state, are also among those said to be jostling to replace Sen. Osinowo from lbeju – Lekki.
Ademorin Kuye, currently representing Somolu Federal Constituency at the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly and a former Commissioner in the State and Hon. Rotimi Olowo, a ranking lawmaker at the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Shomolu I, are also said to be interested in the Senatorial seat from Somolu axis of the District.
Rotimi Agunsoye, Member of the House of Representatives and former a Commissioner, Hon. Dayo Bush-Alebiosu, who represented Kosofe Federal Constituency between 2007 and 2015, Muyiwa Adedeji, a former Kosofe Council boss and Dr. Rabiu Babatunde Osinowo, son of the late Sen. Osinowo, are also said to be jostling to represent the APC in the bye – election.
THE IMPACT gathered that there are some serving Representatives at the State and Federal levels and political appointees who are also interested in representing the Lagos East at the National Assembly but, however, retreated while others did not bother to express their aspirations once they have noticed that the leader of the party has expressed his interest in Abiru.
While the politicking was ongoing, the two – term Lagos East Senator, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, got a federal appointment as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Housing Authority of Nigeria earlier in the month, and this effectively put paid to his aspiration to return to the Senate.
A former Commissioner and member of the GAC, Chief Lanre Rasaq who was also jostling for federal power, also surrendered to the cold hands of death.
Prince Segun Ogunlewe, another aspirant, was also appointed into the Governing Council of the Lagos State Polytechnic as a member.
Some of the other aspirants are also holding one political position or the other.
Abiru Emergence As Choice Candidate
The emergence of Mr Adetokunbo Abiru is still surprising to many chieftains and members of the APC and other residents who considered the development as unthinkable while to others, it’s nothing unusual since nothing is impossible in politics, especially in the ruling party, once the leader of the party, who is referred to as ‘Oracle’, has an interest.
Some Council and party chairmen within and outside Ikorodu Division who spoke with THE IMPACT said that they never expected the turn of events but resigned to fate since the party is supreme.
In addition, many of the aspirants are fully aware that the flag bearer of the party for the Senatorial contest is not what would be decided by any popular contest, but by the leader of the party and must be supported by party members to make it popular.
Thus, the agreement by aspirants that they would toe the party’s decision on the matter.
There is also an unwritten law that Senatorial position and few other political positions are not meant to be contested for but are reserved as compensations for party members with unwavering loyalty, commitment and dedication to the party, and more importantly, for those who are fully trusted by party leaders.
When THE IMPACT broke the news that the MD/CEO Polaris Bank has joined the race, it was gathered that the fate of other aspirants has already been sealed as the National Leader of the ruling party, Asiwaju Tinubu, had reportedly already shown interest in his candidacy but kept it in the cooler for so many reasons.
Some sources also informed our reporter that the former Commissioner for Finance had not made up his mind at that material time due to the effect such political decision may have on the bank he is presiding over among other factors.
The revelation made by THE IMPACT, we gathered, put more pressure on him as many party chieftains and others were interested in knowing the truth.
Contrary to some reports that there was clamour for the entry of Tokunbo Abiru into the Senatorial race, we can authoritatively report that it was solely the initiative of Asiwaju Tinubu and executed through the GAC members.
It was also gathered that the decision to make Abiru a Senator is also part of Tinubu’s larger political decision and plan for the state in 2023 and beyond.
THE IMPACT can authoritatively reveal that the said favoured candidate did not submit his letter of intent to the party within the stipulated time as stated in the directive by the Governor’s Advisory Committee (GAC) but the power that be intercede in his favour.
According to reliable sources within the party, GAC shortlisted the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji (Epe), Mr Adetokunbo Abiru (lkorodu), Hon. Dayo Bush-Alebiosu (Kosofe) and Hon. Rotimi Olowo (Shomolu), in accordance with the mandate given to them and consequently picked Abiru as the preferred candidate.
It was also gathered that Abiru’s entry into the race met with some opposition as some party chieftains and members allegedly argued that he is not a party man that they can relate freely with unlike other aspirants, but the interest of the national leader again prevailed.
In the effort to make the candidacy of the boardroom guru acceptable to the party, especially the GAC, it was gathered that Tinubu contacted each of the GAC members to let them know his preference and solicited for their supports.
Asiwaju Tinubu was said to have brought leaders from Ikorodu to his side when he told them that the Division will produce the next Senator that would represent Lagos East.
To achieve this, a leader of the party from Ikorodu who is a former Banker and very close to Tokunbo Abiru, was reportedly saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the leadership of the party accepted his candidacy.
The old political war horse who is currently sitting on a federal board, did not disappoint as he proved once again that he is still a strong factor within Ikorodu, Lagos East and Lagos politics.
THE IMPACT also gathered that the Governor of the State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, was also part of the forces that ensured that Abiru is accepted by the party.
Also part of the team that sold the candidacy of Abiru to the party’s leadership is a serving Representative from Ikorodu who, like Abiru, is also Tinubu’s political son.
Meanwhile, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, had last Friday informed the leaders of the Ikorodu Muslim Community during their visit to his palace for a special prayer, that he had been informed that two Ikorodu sons were being considered for the Senatorial position.
The royal father also confirmed to the Muslim leaders that he has been assured that one of the two Ikorodu sons will eventually emerge as the ruling party’s candidate for the much coveted position.
Reactions of Other Aspirants
Meanwhile, some of the aspirants have been reacting to the emergence of Abiru as the anointed candidate.
First to react was the APC Vice Chairman of the Lagos East Senatorial and a leading Senatorial candidate, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, who issued a release announcing the withdrawal of his aspiration in the interest of the party.
“Thus, when it turned out that in the interest of the party, I have to step back and allow someone else to take on the task of representing our district at this time, for some reasons that seriously have to do with the larger interest of our dear state, I saw the development as yet another call to serve through sacrifice”.
“And with my utmost confidence in the leadership of the Jagaban Borgu, wherever he goes, I will follow. He is a strategist I have come to respect and his decisions I always respect. Therefore, it is without any worry or regret that I accept the need for me to continue with the task of leading our party in the district while we all support the party’s choice to go on and win the Lagos East Senate seat for the APC”.
Another aspirant, Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, has also issued a release to announce his withdrawal from the race while also pledging his support to the favoured candidate who incidentally is his younger brother.
“But since politics is a dynamic game and is determined by rapidly changing dynamics, it did not come to me as a surprise that, while you all desired that I emerge our party’s flagbearer, certain political dynamics will not make that possible, and some of these reasons are clear and understandable to me”.
“To this end, as a loyal party man and a good sports man, I have deemed it fit to write this letter to formally announce my withdrawal from the Senatorial ticket of our great party, in the overall interest of the party and to facilitate the victory of our party’s flag bearer in the forthcoming bye-election.
“To this end, I formally declare my total support and endorsement of my brother, Mr Tokunbo Abiru, as our party’s flag bearer in the forthcoming election, with the promise to collapse my campaign structure to work with our great party and its candidate to secure landslide victory in the forthcoming election”.
Also, another APC Senatorial aspirant and former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sunmi Odesanya, in a chat with THE IMPACT, stated that there is no consensus candidate yet, while also adding that there is a process in achieving that if at all its going to happen.
He also charged journalists to always verify their stories from appropriate quarters before writing on any sensitive party issues in order not to truncate democratic processes.
“I respectfully implore you media practitioners not to make mockery of this exercise”, Hon. Sunmi appealed while stating his concern.
“Get it clear, I am not against a consensus candidate because it’s democratic, but it takes a process”, he added .
Other aspirants are yet to respond to our messages on the development.
What Next?
Since it is always a settled matter whenever Asiwaju Tinubu, the national leader of the party who is popularly referred to as ‘Oracle’, speaks on any matter within the APC, the emergence of Mr Adetokunbo Abiru as Senatorial candidate of the party may be a forgone conclusion.
But since the Senatorial election is a national one which must follow stipulated electoral guidelines by INEC, one of which is the primary election, APC may need to put its house in order and carry other aspirants along, especially those that adhered to the party’s guidelines in submitting their letters of intent and also embarked on consultations and campaigns across the Senatorial District, to ward off any unpleasant development.
There is also need for the party to involve its structure at the Federal, State, Council and Ward levels through the elected Representatives, Council and Party Chairmen as well as Councilors and party executives for smooth sailing of the idea of a consensus candidate.
