Kunle Adelabu
-As Bolowotan cautions party leaders on candidate’s certificate
Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, Chairman, APC Reconciliation Committee and members in group photograph with aspirants after the meeting.
It was a frank and no hold back discussions at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretariat in Ikorodu as leadership of the party engaged party’s candidates and aspirants in the last primary elections.
There have been protests and complaints about the outcome of the primary elections, especially for the Ikorodu Constituency I and II Assembly seats.
The apex body of the party had setup a 9 – man committee headed by Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, to reconcile the aggrieved members and make them work towards a successful outing for the party in the 2023 General Elections.
Ikorodu Constituiency I aspirants in attendance at the meeting held on Wednesday, July 14, 2022, are Mr Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan, Mr Eniola Wakeup Adeyemi, Mr Bolaji Isikalu, Mr Yinka Majekodunmi, Mr Samson Bisiriyu and Mrs Kafilat Afolake Adekoya.
The Ikorodu Constituency II edition took place on Tuesday.
Asipa Kaoli, in his opening remarks, thanked the aspirants for honouring their invitation, adding that the meeting was to create good relationship and work toward common goal for the party.
“This meeting is to create a better understanding, discuss everything that has created crisis during the primary elections and have resolution”, the reconciliation Committee Chairman said.
“There is unity in peaceful co – existence. We want to unite everybody and have a common front going for the General Elections next year.
“It is an illusion to believe that we can win without working as a team. We have to work together and go into the election as a united front”.
Asipa Kaoli emphasised the need for unity within the party, stating that it is only that that can guarantee improvement on the dwindling electoral results being recorded in the recent time, especially now that the party’s Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is from Lagos State.
Asipa Kaoli (standing 2nd right)showing constitution of the APC to the aspirants during the parley. With him are members of the committee, Arch. Taiwo Kara (right), Bashorun Babatunde Rotinwa, member (left) and the party and committee secretary (2nd left)
Using himself as an example, Asipa Kaoli who had since 1999 had to jettison his House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Governorship and Senatorial aspiration when the party asked him to drop his ambition at different times, appealed to aspirants to respect the decision of the party.
“Politcal aspiration is not about being the best or the most qualified, but a process which can also change from time – to – time”, he said.
“The party constitution provides for both elections and consensus and once the party has decided, we must abide as loyal party members and work for whoever that is picked.
“You don’t work against the party because the same party would work for you whe it’s your own turn”.
He also added that there is need for aspirants to go back to their supporters and make them work for the party’s victory, adding that it is only then that the party can form government to give appointments out.
Bashorun Babatunde Rotinwa, former Chairman, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission and a member of the reconciliation committee, also speaking, appealed to the aspirants to talk to their supporters to work for the party for a successful outcomes in the next general elections.
Aspirants’ Submissions:
Mr Eniola Wakeup Adeyemi, speaking, said that the party leaders should focus more on canvasing the youthful supporters whom he said belong to the social media generation and can mobilise easily.
He said that the party could improve its electoral results by embarking on political evangelism.
Eniola, who said that he did not have any grievance against the party, however, said that he has issue with someone whom he declined to name on the ground that the said person is not present to defend himself.
It was a frank and bold submission by Mr Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan, former Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission.
The aspirant, who aspired for the Ikorodu Constituency I Assembly seat for the second term, though, said that he does not have any issue with anyone, but emphasised the need for the party to always allow members that are contributing to the party benefits instead of favouring those that have no contribution whatsoever.
While stating that he accepted the outcome of the primary election, Bolowotan added that it’s important for the party to look critically into the claim of Mr Gbolahan Ogunleye certificate so that the party would not lose the seat to the opposition.
He presented a document to the committee to buttress his position on the candidate’s certificate from the Lagos State University (LASU).
Bolowotan also added that it would be a disgrace for Ikorodu which he said has the capacity to present many educated individuals for election, to present a candidate with just school certificate to represent her.
Mr Majekodunmi Yinka, who is also a second term aspirant, in his own submission, simply said that he has accepted the decision of the party and ready to work for its success in the next general elections.
He, however, called on the party to look into how to mobilise more residents to register for the Permanent Voters Card and how to make those yet to get their PVCs do so.
The Executive Director, Ikorodu Division Youth Initiative, Comrade Samson Bisiriyu, who also aspired for the Assembly seat, was of the view that unresolved grievances over time is a major factor for the dwindling electoral results that the party has been recording in recent times.
He also cited residents’ complaints over lack of political benefits from the government as another major reason people have been refusing to vote.
The convener of the #NotTooYoungToRun in Ikorodu also canvassed for new faces in political offices while emphasising the need for consideration for youths.
Samson also blamed inaccessibility of political leaders and political office holders, especially Council Chairmen and others political office holders at the council level as another reason why people are losing interests in politics.
He also called for concerted efforts in mobilising residents, especially youths for PVC registration and collection.
The last aspirant that spoke, Mr Bolaji Isikalu said he wasn’t surprised at the outcome of the primary election because the leadership of the party had told them before the primary election that the best aspirant may not win.
He charged the party to look at problems peculiar to Ikorodu in resolving the dwindling results, adding that the reason for millions of votes recorded during the Obasanjo era was due to ballot stuffing which has been reduced since the introduction of technology into the voting process.
Alhaja Kafilat Afolake Adekoya who contested for the the House of Representatives seat and lost to the incumbent, Rep. Babajimi Benson, said that she is in no way aggrieved with the primary election process.
While pleading with other aspirants to accept the decision of the party and work for its success in the coming elections, Alhaja Adekoya, who is a daughter of the former strong man of Ikorodu politics, late Alhaji Mufutau Ajisebutu, also charged party leaders to ensure that all grievances are resolved.
There a was group photograoh at the end of the meeting between members of the committee and aspirants in attendance, except Mr Bolowotan who left the meeting hall as soon as the meeting was over.
Meanwhile, Mr Kehinde Ayanbadejo, Director General, Oga (Mr Gbolahan Ogunleye) Campaign Group, while reacting to Mr Bolowotan’s allegation against the prefered candidate of the party for the Ikorodu Constituency I Assembly seat who is the son of the former Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, said that the candidate has a degree from LASU.
He forwarded an official letter signed by Emmanuel A. Fanu , Registrar and Secretary to the Council, LASU, authenticating Mr Gbolahan Ogunleye as graduate of the institution with a Pass and graduated in 1999/2000 academic session.
Detailed report on the Mr Gbolahan Ogunleye’s qualifications in subsequent report.
