Kunle Adelabu
Former Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikorodu Division, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, has charged state government and the party hierarchy at the state level to consider Ikorodu for more appointments if the ongoing reconciliation for aggrieved party members is to make any meaning.
Asipa Kaoli gave the charge on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, when he was inaugurated as the Chairman of the APC Ikorodu Division Reconciliation Committee alongside other members at the Divisional Secretariat of the party in Ikorodu.
The committee was inaugurated by the Chairman of the party in lkorodu division, Otunba Jimoh Olasunkanmi Tijani.
The party chieftain, while charging the state hierarchy of the party and government, said that the unfair political patronage in Ikorodu is the cause of the angst that the party always experience.
“One thing that we must establish is the support that we need from the hierarchy of our party at the top that they should kindly considered lkorodu for more appointments in offices across boards in Lagos State”, he said.
“I am aware that there are about 157 parastatals in Lagos State. Out of these 157 parastatals, how many are headed by Ikorodu indigenes or how many of these aspirants that are struggling, have the opportunity to be appointed into them?”, Asipa Kaoli asked rhetorically.
“Very few or nothing and that’s why we are having all these agitations and angst. We are aggrieved. That’s why it’s becoming very difficult to reconcile because after all that have been done, what’s the gain; what comes to them; what is the compensation?
“I think that this is a good opportunity to say it that we are appealing. The party at the top is saying that we should go and reconcile. We have eminent people like former Heads of Service, women leader, retired army officer and others that are here for the reconciliation, but we need the support from the hierarchy of government and the leadership of our party to give us that helping hands and more opportunities so that we can distribute the dividends of democracy to these young people who are aspiring and spending their money and energy all the time to mobilise into the party so that we will reap the benefits during elections.
“If only we can get that done, then things will be a lot better, because in most cases, if we call these people for reconciliation, they usually ask what is there for them because they have been contesting and contributing to the success of the party and spending their monies and nobody has given them any recognition or appointment”.
While stating that the essence of supporting and being in a ruling party is to have access to government and resources of the state, Asipa Kaoli appealed to aggrieved members to sheathe their swords and allow the party to look into their grievances.
“By the grace of God, come 2023 from the Federal to State, Local Government to Wards, the political offices there will be occupied by Lagosians. I am sure that when we have that, some of these things that we are lacking will be resolved”, he said.
“Our leader (Asiwaju Bola Tinubu) has a listening ear and he’s a thoroughbred politician who knows how to fix his people.
“My appeal to our aggrieved members is that they should just relax. Let’s give support to Tokunbo Abiru; let’s give support to Babajimi Benson and let’s give support to our GAC members, so that they are not put to shame.
“With these people, and us backing them, we will send them to go there and get dividends of democracy for us. We have rights in the government because we have contributed into it. It’s not only Lagos Island that constitute the party or Lagos State. Ikorodu is a Division of Lagos State”, Asipa Kaoli said.
“There are about 57 Permanent Secretaries but we only have two. It is not fair and that is why we have all these grievances that we are reconciling at all time. This is the cause of our grievances.
“Cabinet Commissioners, how many do we have? Just two. Permanent Secretaries, how many do we have? Just two. There are also lots of Parastatals, but how many do we have, I don’t know.
“What are our problems and they are sending us for reconciliation all the time. Party leaders too should help us in resolving our grievances by giving us more opportunities so that we can have something to give to those aggrieved. If not, it will be difficult to reconcile them.
“JB (Rep. Babajimi Benson) is here and he has access to the power. I have little access. We also have Abiru whom we send out words to. He’s representing us and we are going to send him on errands because we cannot reconcile on nothing”.
He said that aspirants in Ikorodu should be considered for appointments into boards for their contributions to the party.
“They should give us what to give to these aspirants. If it’s just five of them that can be giving board appointments, that shows that there is hope that it would still get to others too”, he said.
“They pay to ACME N2million each to our party and mobilise into the party to the extent that we dominate other parties but what is the gain?
“Candidates have emerged, but what is the compensation for those that are not picked?
