Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye
-As aspirants hold mega rally
The joint ticket of the incumbent Vice Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government, Princess Folashade Olabanji – Oba, and former Council Leader, Hon, Azeez Jimoh Abuodun Olosugbo, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship positions of the council received royal blessings and more support on Thursday.
Both aspirants, who were initially vying for the Chairmanship position in the council, on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, agreed to form a joint ticket, a development which came as a shock to many political observers and politicians.
However, their joint ticket received a massive support on Thursday (yesterday) at the formal declaration/mega rally for the Saturday's primary election of the APC as another Chairmanship aspirant and a frontline politician, Alhaji Rilwan Ishola Jinadu, announced his withdrawal for the joint ticket.
The APC Women Leader in Ikorodu and other party chieftains also attended the campaign rally to show their support and identified with the joint ticket.
The duo, who led their supporters and other residents on a parade, causing traffic along Oriwu, TOS Benson and Ayangbure roads, also received royal blessings from the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Engr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, when the campaign train had a stopped over at his palace.
The royal father, while giving his royal blessings, commended the duo Princess Oba and Hon. Olosugbo for remaining steadfast with the party, adding that it is their time to be recognised.
Ayangbure told the gathering that he is father to all and wished the aspirants success in the primary election.
The former party Chairman of the APC, Ahaji Rilwan Jinadu who was given a warm welcome at the campaign rally, described the aspirants in the joint ticket as daughter and grandson, adding that the joint ticket is for the development of Ikorodu.
”We are here today for the work of the community. We are here today to chart ways to change the community and we are all going to gain and not labour in vain”, he said.
“What is happening today is not a new thing, more so, Folashade Olabanji Oba is my daughter politically as far back as 2006. She was handed over to me by her late mother. In the case of Azeez Olosugbo, he is my grandson.
“Majority of us worked together in 2017, but today, we are here because we have finally achieved consensus and agreement about an hour ago (before the rally on Wednesday). We have settled everything now.
“Our major concern is how APC will win and retain the council because we are still going to contest in the main election against other parties. We must put our house in order.
“We are supporting this ticket to teach those that are there right now how to run an administration. The Council will be for everyone.
“We are not going to discriminate against anyone. It is going to be our Council where those that are discriminating now too will be welcomed.
“We sat down and think about how we will not lose in the coming election and we decided to use some of our many materials and that's why we agreed on Folashade Oba and Azeez Jimoh Olosugbo joint ticket.
He charged party members to support the joint ticket and vote for Princess Oba and? Hon. Olosugbo as next Chairman and Vice Chairman of Ikorodu LG.
Alhaji Jinadu also enjoined party members and supporters of Folashade Oba, Olosugbo and himself to vote only for the joint symbol, Princess Folashade Olabanji Oba during the primary election as the Chairmanship candidate of the APC.
In her response, Princess Folashade Oba thanked the party leaders and members for supporting the joint ticket.
She charged members of the party to ensure that they troop out on Saturday (tomorrow) to vote enmasse for her to ensure that the ticket that she said will bring about development and positive agenda for Ikorodu is manifested.
Hon. Azeez Olosugbo, speaking, said that party members should vote for Folashade Oba as the APC Chairmanship candidate for the LG election.
“A vote for Princess Folashade Olabanji – Oba is a vote for me, Olosugbo, hence, I charge you all to vote for Princess Oba because doing that will mean that you are voting for me.
“If elected, Princess Folashade Oba will be the first female Executive Chairman in Ikorodu Local Government and I am sure that our party and the women will make that happen on Saturday”, he added.
The representatives of the Igbo and Hausa communities, speaking separately at the rally, also identified and pledged the support of their respective people to the joint ticket.
The representative of the lya – Oloja General in Ikorodu Division, Alhaji Taofeekat Allison, and other market leaders at the rally also pledged their supports and charged members of the party to vote for Princess Folashade Oba and Olosugbo joint ticket for development and better life for the masses.
