Kunle Adelabu
-Oba Kasali sues for peace
A chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Reuben Basorun, has stated reasons he is supporting the incumbent representative of the Ikorodu Constituency II, Hon. Nurudeen Saka Solaja, for third term.
Basorun, who was the Asiwaju of Igbogbo Kingdom and former Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), said that there is need to nake the representative of the Ikorodu Constituency ll a ranking officer so that he could be considered for a Principal officer’s position in the Assembly, 23 years after the beginning of this Republic.
The party chieftain disclosed this when he visited His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barr.) Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, and his chiefs, in his palace in Igbogbo, on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
Asiwaju Basorun said that he is in support of the lawmaker because there is a need to return experienced legislators to the Assembly as stated by the party leadership.
The GAC Chieftain was accompanied to the palace by Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, party leaders and his supporters
“We are here to show you our candidate so that you can tell him what you want him to do when he is re – elected as our representative”, the elder statesman said while presenting Hon. Solaja to the royal father and chiefs.
“Since 1999, Ikorodu Constituency II has not produced a Principal officer in the House. It is time for our own people too to be Principal officers. My position is the same with all the leaders in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA.
“In our days, the person that we supported from Imota to represent us in the House did not stop at just a member, he became the Deputy Speaker on his re – election. That is the kind of progress and development that we are seeking for”, Basorun recalled.
“We have been in the Assembly since 1999, that is 23 years now, and those representing us are yet to be Principal Officers in the House. I know how these things work because I am involved in the system and l know how we arrange positions.
“I knew how we did it for Oredoyin to become the Deputy Speaker. You cannot bring anything to your people if you are not highly placed.
“Look at Ikorodu Constituency I that allowed SOB (Hon. Sanai Agunbiade) to be reelected again and again, he has become the Majority Leader for eight years now and that goes with authority but our own son is yet to attain such position. That is why I agreed that Hon. Solaja should go back to the House for the third term”, Asiwaju Basorun said.
Explaining further on why he’s supporting Solaja, Asiwaju Basorun said:
“We were told at the apex body of our party that we should not prevent anyone from aspiring, again., we were called to Alausa where same thing was repeated and that we should allow representatives willing to return to the Assembly to do because if we did not allow them to go as many times as possible, they will not garner necessary experience to perform and help the development of legislature and their community”, he said.
“We were told not to disturb anyone even if he is going for the tenth term. He should be allowed to go to the primary to test his popularity and strength.
“Today, SOB has the authority to call those incharge of Lagos State Employment Trust Fund to get mini – buses for his people, that is the kind of authority that we want for our own representative too”.
Asiwaju Basorun, who said that he had spoken with Ranodu of Imota, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ajibade Bakare Agoro, said that the monarch denied that all the Obas endorsed an aspirant.
He said it is wrong for anyone from Imota to accused Igbogbo of causing disunity.
“Our Obas did not sit anywhere to endorse anybody. What they published on the platforms is a lie”, Asiwaju Basorun said at the palace.
“Some people wrote that all the traditional rulers have endorsed Abiodun (Aro Moshood Abiodun). The man has done nothing wrong to me and has not in way offended me, but it is an insult for anyone from Ijede to tell us in Igbogbo that we are causing disaffection”.
Asiwaju Basorun, while also reacting to some chats on the social media that he has never supported anyone that won an election, said openly that the aspirant that he is supporting will win the primary election on Thursday.
“Some people are disregarding party leaders and elders on where we agreed that we are going, but we are not going to abandon them, rather, we are going to be training them. In the name of God, it is Solaja that will emerge victorious at the primary on Thursday”, he said.
“They said that all that I have nominated or supported for the position failed, it’s a lie. I was the first person that nominated and supported an Igbogbo man as Chairman and he became the Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government in 1976”, the elder statesman recalled.
“I was the one that raised an Igbogbo man’s hand and followed him to Ikorodu where he represented the Ikorodu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives. It’s the same for Solawon.
“Of course, the situation does change atimes where those whom you supported will not emerge and when such things happen, that does not makes you a failure. Not at all.
“I charge you all our party members to be united and not to be divided along The Mandate of Justice Forum lines. I am father of all and if there is anything that you feel that I should do, always come to me and I will do it”, he said.
0ba Kasali, in his royal speech, warned against people disparaging the palace on social media.
While stating that party leaders are in charge of politics, the royal father also charged them to put their house in order and ensure that the primary election is conducted peacefully.
“This palace is home to all the indigenes of Igbogbo, and those not from Igbogbo who also have palaces in their towns, those same palaces are their own homes too in their respective towns, because of this, I warn those writing all sort of things on the platform to be careful”, the royal father warned.
“You need to be warned because you cannot disrespect the palace.
“Royal fathers are sometimes involved in politics, but at a point, we left it for politicians. Governance is still in the hands of politicians, but we are not going to allow disruption of our town.
“I want to appeal for peaceful conduct. You are just a party, and others too are coming. All that is happening within your party is all about you that are here and I have left its resolution to the party leaders to handle’, Oba Kasali added.
While praying for a free, fair and peaceful primary elections, Oba Kasali warned party members to desist from violence.
“I pray that there will be no war and disturbances. I pray that it will be a successful outing on Thursday, that the primary election will be held.
“I charge you not to fight or engage in any form of violence because if that happens, I will allow the law to take its course. This palace will not intervene if anybody is caught with cutlass or any other dangerous weapons”, the royal father further warned.
“This is just intra party issues and if you are unable to manage this, how do you manage the general elections with other parties?”
Oba Kalsali also prayed for the aspirant and party members that followed him to the palace.
