-Gives reason for supporting Solaja
Kunle Adelabu
The much – talked about zoning/rotational arrangement that had since been determining politics in the Ikorodu Constituency II, especially its representation at the Lagos State House of Assembly among the three major councils within the constituency, may have ceased serving its purpose.
This was the position of chieftains of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, on Friday, May 14, 2022, when he addressed issues relating to the arrangement in preparation for the primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The issue had been a raging storm especially when the incumbent lawmaker representing the Ikorodu Constituency II, Hon. Nurudeen Saka Solaja declared his intention to run for a third term as against two terms of eight years each for the three councils that make up Constituency II – Ijede, Igbogbo/Bayeku and Imota Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
Asiwaju Basorun who addressed members of his political group stated that it became necessary for him to inform them of his position on the issue of Constituency II and that the rotational arrangement, also known as ‘turn-by-turn’ had ceased, since it has rotated the three major communities.
“So, today, I decided to make my position clear today.
“My position is as clear as stated (at the gathering before addressing members of the press) and not that I am re-defining the turn-by-turn thing. No; but the turn-by-turn arrangement cannot be there indefinitely.
“We must look at it side-by-side with what benefits the constituents are getting from it”, Asjiwaju Basorun said.
He added, “Fortunately, Ijede, Igbogbo have gone two terms each and Imota is on its eight years to make it two terms. They are now leveled. We are now saying that everybody should go and contest.
“We are not saying that the Ijede people should not take part. The last time, they said that only Imota should present candidate, but we in Igbogbo took part but they have us the beat 340 to 69 (laughter).
“That era is gone into history; we are in a new one. By the grace of God, if he (Solaja) wins we shall call him again to a meeting. He has to do things to show that he’s representing the three communities.”
Asiwaju Basorun also corrected impressions that the rotational agreement started in 1979 but in 1999 stating that it has completed its circle.
The chieftain, who said that he had signed nomination forms for all the aspirants who are contesting for the seat, also added that the field of contest is opened to all that are interested. He said the party members would determine the aspirants fate as to who emerge as candidate.
“It was question of people saying ‘how do we go about it,’ and they agreed on the arrangement,” he said
While further explaining the issue that brought up the rotation arrangement, Asiwaju Basorun appealed to Ijede people to accept that the situation had changed.
“I have appealed to the people of Ijede to take the situation. Three of those (aspirants) that applied have master’s degree; unfortunately, two of them are civil servants.
“Let them go on with their work, their time will come and if we are still around, we would tell the story that they took part before but we stopped them because somebody bigger was running”, he said.
“I am still going to call him and tell him (Solaja) that if he succeeds in this one, he should leave it (the position) for the other people unless there are other reasons.
“We should stop rotating (rotational arrangement).
“The time that we agreed that Oredoyin should represent us, one elderly man from Imota pleaded that we gave it to Oredoyin, who went for two terms.
“It was on his second term that the military intervened, but we did not take decision on rotation.
“We only said then that we were three; Basorun was in the cabinet, you (Oredoyin) are now in the House and Amusa from Ijede became the chairman and continued to be when the coup came.
“That was when we decided that we would maintain the name, ‘Irepodun’ as long as we are still around.
“We cannot be around for life and that is why I sent message to them today, to thank them and that they should look forward.
“Ijede people should not say that because of turn-by-turn, which circumstances have weakened, should turn away”, he said.
Explaining his support for Hon. Solaja, Asiwaju Basorun said that re-electing him will make him a ranking lawmaker and in good position for Principal Officer, which none from Ikorodu Constituency II had achieved.
While also stating that experience counts, Basorun also said that the lawmaker has performed.
“This is a dynamic society and trend has shown that we should look at it again, as if Asiwaju (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) and those of us in the GAC have come here, too, that we must a change.
“Then, we decided that anyone that wanted to go several times, should go and face the electorates and if they don’t want him, they will not vote for him. Party people are the delegates at the primary.
“They should all go and face the primary, we should not prevent anybody. That was the first reason that informed my support for Solaja.
“The second is that, we in the Constituency II have not got any position among the seven Principal Officers (in Lagos Assembly). We want him to be a Principal Officer, so that dividends of democracy will come.
“The third; they said that he has not performed. But I am aware that he has performed. There are occasions that he hired caterpillars to clear our bad roads.
“Recently, he constructed boreholes in all the wards. I went to inaugurate one.
“He has done empowerment programmes three times and that was why I wanted to do it (endorsement of Hon. Solaja), in front of the people because he gave me ten (slots) for people that collected N10,000 each.
“Also, when he was giving out sewing machines and other useful things, he also gave me ten slots and I again gave him names of people in this place.
“So, question of performance is a relative thing”, the Elder Statesman, said.
The old political warhorse who denied ever collecting money from the incumbent to support him noted that he had invited and provided necessary information to those that made the allegations.
“I did not get any money and I want to repeat, I did not get any money. I don’t need to get money,” he said.
