Former Ijede Chairman, Hon. Fathiu Accepts To Run For Assembly Seat, Seeks For Support

Kunle Adelabu

-Recalls murder allegation ordeals at birthday prayer

The former Chairman of Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Fathiu Salisu, on Sunday, March 27, 2022, accepted the clamour by his people to enter the race for the Ikorodu Constituency II seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The politician, in accepting the call to run, sought for maximum support from the traditional institution, religious leaders, community developers, youth groups and family members that openly requested him to enter the race during a special prayer organised to mark his birthday but which later turned to a platform where the political future of Ijede was discussed.

A large crowd turned out at the special prayer which was held at the Ijede residence of Hon. Fathiu who turned 52.

Alhaji Sheikh Sulaimon Akinjobi, Chief Imam, Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA) led other Islamic clerics to offer special prayers for the celebrant
Also, Pastor Kolawole Peter, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), ljede chapter,led members of the association to offer prayers for the former council boss in honour of his birthday.

Meanwhile, in his response to the clamour that he should join the race for the Assembly seat, Hon. Fathiu requested that the traditional institution and entre residents of ljede should stand by him and give him their maximum support if they want him to represent them.

“I don’t have the power to do it myself as requested of me by the people but God will assist me if that is what my people want me to do”, Hon. Fathiu said.

“I have heard what Baba Olisa has said and even raised my hand, as well as many others who have spoken here today, but what I will ask is, “will you stand by me if I go into the race? “, he asked rhetorically.

“Will you stand with me? Baba Olisa has said that they will stand by me, so also the CAN Chairman.

“Most of the work to make the aspiration possible lie with the traditional institution that resolved on me to represent the Ikorodu Constituency II”.

Fathiu stated his achievements while he was the Chairman of the Ijede LCDA and appealed to everyone that he might have offended during his tenure for forgiveness

Recalling his ordeals regarding the murder allegation that culminated into about four different cases in courts since April last year, Fathiu said that his political opponent then, Mr Oluwatosin Onamade, Chief Executive Officer, Western Funeral Home Limited and former ljede LCDA Chairmanship aspirant, lied against him.

“Onamade alleged that it was me that sent thugs to kill him and that it was when they were unable to do that that one of his workers was killed. That was how we were enmeshed in the crisis since last year”, he recalled.

“I thank God that I was never put behind the counter or detained inside the cell throughout the period of my ordeal.

“If not for Engr. Erogbogbo and many others that God bless me with, that was how l might have ended in prison like many others who are languishing ir even died in the cell on matters that they knew nothing about.

“That was why I stepped down from re – contesting for the chairmanship position.

Hon. Fathiu further said that different DPP advices to the police exonerated him from the murder allegations by Onamade.

He also said that a High Court has dismissed a fundamental human rights case against him and the IGP instituted by Onamade.

“There was a DPP report from Panti that exonerated me from the killing. Tosin (Onamade) wasn’t satisfied and went to Alagbon, they too wrote seeking for the DPP report and that also came out exonerating me”, he recalled.

“Just recently when bails were granted to the suspects facing trial at the Magistrate Court, he wrote a petition again and another supplementary DPP report was issued for the third time.

“Oluwatosin Onamade was charged to court by the Inspector General of Police because they found out that everything that he had said about me was untrue. He is facing a two count charge at the Federal High Court Ikorodu.

“Just the upper Friday, the court nullified all his prayers in a matter that he instituted against the DIG and myself on fundamental human rights. All the three grounds that he instituted the matter were not answered.”

High Chief Alliu Musediq, Regent and Olisa of Ijede, speaking earlier, said that the traditional institution is fully in support of the celebrant’s aspiration for the Assembly seat and that they are already working on his behalf in that regard.

To prove his point, Chief Musediq raised Fathiu’s hand during the birthday prayer, in demonstration of his support.

“Concerning Fathiu, we, the traditional chiefs, are solidly behind him. We have started working on how to ensure that he emerges as our representative”, High Alliu said.

Aro of Ijede also spoke in support of the former Chairman to take over the Assembly seat from the incumbent.

Alhaji Sheikh Sulaimon Akinjobi, the Chief Imam of Ijede LCDA, said that it has been destined that Fatiu would face the travails for him to get to a greater height.

While rejoicing with the celebrant, Sheikh Akinjobi said that God whom Fathiu has been serving, prevented him from serving jail terms for the murder he knew nothing about. He, therefore, charged him to always give thanks to God.

Also speaking at the special birthday prayer, Comrade Rotimi Kolawole, Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC), Ijede LCDA, commended Fathiu for his support for CDAs/CDC during his administration.

He said that it is the turn of Ijede to produce candidate for the Ikorodu Constituency II.

“It is the turn of Ijede to produce the occupant for the Ikorodu Constituency II seat in the House of Assembly. This is a moving train which nobody can stop. We are fully into it since it’s all about Ijede”, he said.

Other dignitaries at the special birthday prayer were Engr. Luqman Erogbogbo, Chief Sulaimon Ogidi, Ajiroba of Ikorodu and Alhaja Abiodun Ogunniyi, former Principal, Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu among others.