Kunle Adelabu
The former Chairman, Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Fathiu Jimoh Salisu, has declared that he has expressed his interest and have the right to contest for the Ikorodu Constituency II seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Fathiu, who was away when the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) organised a shadow election among nine aspirants for the Assembly seat from Ijede, also said that he is indifferent about the exercise.
He emerged second with 17 votes while Mr Aro Moshood Abiodun, who emerged as the most preferred aspirant, had with 22 votes.
Fathiu spoke on phone with THE IMPACT Thursday evening after days of trying to get him to comment on the shadow primary election and the rumours that he has picked an expression of interest and the nomination forms against the agreement that all the aspirants will abide by the outcome of the exercise organised to make Ijede present one aspirant against the incumbent at the APC primary.
“I am indifferent about the shadow primary election that was held when I wasn’t around. You know that I wasn’t around when that decision was taken”, Hon. Fathiu told THE IMPACT.
“I saw it as a calculated attempt, but no problem at all. It was an opportunity for those incharge and they took advantage of my absence even the 17 votes that was recorded for me was as a result of efforts by my people and I commend them.
“The idea about the shadow primary was that leaders are worried and wanted Ijede to speak with one voice
“The thought was okay because there is need to speak with one voice. Whatever that we are all going to do, we must ensure that an Ijede person emerges as the candidate of the party.
When asked to confirm the rumours that he has collected the expression of interest and the nomination forms, Hon. Fathiu said that he has the constitutional right to obtain the forms.
“As per the collection of forms, it is my personal decision and l have constitutional right to do that”, he said.
“It shows that I have an interest in the Assembly seat”, he confirmed.
“If at the end of the primary election, I am given the opportunity as a candidate, I cannot reject it.
“What matter to me is that the ticket must come to ljede.
“I am not even talking about myself now, but that of Ijede and entire Constituency II”.
He said that the rotational arrangement must be respected and allowed to continue.
“It is a known tradition that must be protected and allowed to continue in the interest of the Ikorodu Constituency ll.
“My own is that, it’s the turn of Ijede and that is important. ‘Ijede lo kan’ (its turn of Ijede)”.
Emphasing the need to ensure that Constituency II Assembly seat comes to Ijede, Hon. Fathiu charged other aspirants to be ready to make sacrifice for Ijede.
“What is happening is just like the Presidential election at the Federal level. Some will still step down before the primary election. So, what is more important is that at the end, we must all work for Ijede.
“All of us must be ready to make sacrifice. AMA, Bunmi Ambode, Akeem and others must be ready to sacrifice and queue behind anyone pick at the primary”.
