Wale Jagun
Prince Lanre Sanusi, popular called ‘PLS’, an aspirant for the Oriade/Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency, has charged constituents to leave behind what happened about four years ago when he was denied the ticket of the party and focus on the present and future, by supporting his aspiration.
The aspirant made the appeal while formally declaring his intention to, again, represent the people in his constituency.
The news indeed generated a wide jubilation among residents of the area when it was revealed on Saturday, May 7, 2022.
According to Sanusi who was the choice of the residents and leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Federal Constituency in 2019, but was denied by the state leadership, he is vying again to bring good governance to his people and facilitate infrastructural, employment and other opportunities for his people with his representation.
The United States of America (USA) based businessman and Nigerian politician, said that if given the opportunity, he would replicate the impressive performance of the Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chairman, House Committee on Defense, Rep. Babajimi Benson and other members of the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly in improving their respective constituencies.
The jubilant crowd accompanied PLS on his visitations to party leaders like Prince Omonoba Saliu Sekoni and other stakeholders who welcomed his aspiration and also described him as someone that they have been waiting for.
During his visitations, Sanusi highlighted why there is need for a change in representation at the National Assembly for the constituency come 2023, adding that Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency has suffered neglect with respect to Infrastructural developments and other dividends of democracy unlike what obtains in Ikeja and Ikorodu.
“The past is gone, we are focus and resolute unlike others who dilly dally on what they wanted. Hon. Jimi Benson (representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency Ikorodu), Hon. James Faleke (representative of Ikeja Federal Constituency) and the Speaker of the Federal House of Reps, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila of Surulere Federal Constituency, are my models who are facilitating developments to their constituency with their representations”, he said.
“Since the end of the era of Hon. Olukolu who represented Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency and he is here seated, we have lacked quality representation.
“We have not been visible at the national level, so, my representation will ensure the facilitation of quality Infrastructure, employment opportunities and more to this Constituency.
“As someone who puts his trust in God, whoever says he knows them all in Abuja, I tell them we know God.
“Oghene has no constituency office and he has been holding forte at the NASS since. They said PDP is more than us in Amuwo, I say they have been stealing our votes”, he added.
Appreciating the leaders for their unalloyed commitment to the actualisation of his aspiration, he urged them to give him support again.
“I appreciate you for being consistent with me.
“Whoever our opponent is, Oghene or any other, we will defeat them. I want the same backings you gave me in 2019 with which we won the primaries then. May the good Lord repose the soul of late Hon. Adegeye.
“Allow me to be your Reps member in Abuja, you have done it before and I want it again and I will not fail you. I also crave your permission to tour around the LGA and Wards. I urge you to support me again”, PLS pleaded.
In his response, the Apex leader, Prince Sekoni, referring to the stakeholders meeting with the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warned against violence during the party’s primaries and the general elections.
He tasked all aspirants to comport themselves well before and after the elections.
“We won’t just pick anyone, but after screening all the aspirants and elect them at the primaries, soon that will be, what we are doing now is to prepare towards primaries, all the wards and delegates to be are present here today”, the party leader said.
“We are out for indirect primaries which involve delegates and people at the ward.
“At a parley with the National Leader yesterday, he told us that all should go and contest on the field whoever emerges without rancour should progress to INEC.
“So, if primary churn out someone, nobody should protest. There should be no violence in Lagos where he (Tinubu) is coming out for the presidency. Any aspirant found wanting can be denied or disqualified”, Prince Sekoni warned.
He said that there will be no imposition of any candidate and that there will be strict adherence to the directive of the National body of the party.
“To all of us who have preferred aspirants, no one can force anybody to do his own bidding.It is going to be an electoral college and the national body of the party will determine who will be there.
“Here, we have eleven INEC wards; 7 for the indigenous Oriade and the four others in Amuwo-Odofin, with an expressly stated number of delegates to go, for the Assembly, Reps, Senate and Presidential primaries, whoever has no business there, should not go, just pray for your aspirant”, he warned further.
“More so, the final result is sacrosanct, so, the kind of support you can give to your preferred aspirant is to vote for them once you are a delegate”, Sekoni said.
Pa Ajakaiye (aka Yaafi), who was also present at the parley, affirmed that none of the aspirants has the followership of PLS in the area.
“Among all the four that have come to show their interests, none has ever given us caps. I want you to know he (PLS) has the required weight, he has also done much more than others”, he said.
“This is APC primaries era, campaign is still coming when PLS candidature will be affirmed. If we have this crowd prior to primaries, I want to believe he will sustain the tempo.
The Director-General of PLS Campaign Organisation, Alhaji Moshood Balogun Badmus, while appraising the political trajectory of PLS, noted that all through his travails, he did not challenge the party decision and that now,he seeks support for his aspiration to contest for the House of Representatives in 2023.
Mr. Sabitu Hassan, APC Chairman in Oriade, however, announced the importance of PVC revalidation.
“Let’s go and revalidate our PVCs, it is not by singing or following PLS. You should canvass many to do same. Other people are going there to get their PVCs , don’t only dance, please, get your PVC. We have less than 2 months to do that, only PVC can do it”, he charged.
Comrade Leo, APC Ndigbo youth leader, noted that PLS is a detribalized person who gave succour to all during the COVID 19 pandemic era.
Also present were at the parley were Hon. Chief Okunnu, Mr Ismaila Oluwa and Alhaji Ibrahim Sanusi.
