Kunle Adelabu
-As Ajose group flags–off campaign in Ikorodu Division
The Ajose Mandate Group (AMG) of the National Union of Local Government Employees on Monday, July 18, 2022, kicked off its campaign for the State Delegate Conference of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), at the Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria.
At the well – attended rally, 35 NULGE branches took their turn to openly endorse the AMG’s Presidential candidate, Comrade Ogunfowora Sunday Sewanu as President of the Lagos State NULGE.
NULGE Delegates’ Elections comes up August 4, 2022.
Also adopted were Comrade Adewale Ojora (Deputy President), Comrade Raji Rasak (Treasurer), Comrade Suraj Odusola (Auditor 1), Comrade Ajayi A. DOYINSOLA (Auditor Ii), Comrade Kazeem Adekunle (Welfare Officer), Comrade Tunde Aduloju (PRO), Comrade Tawakalitu Ajoke Balogun (Women Leader), Comrade Kazeem Ogunmuyiwa (Trustee), Comrade Morakinyo (Trustee II) and Comrade Mustapha S.T. Onilado (Youth Workers’ Rep).
Comrade Lara Afolabi from Yaba Local Government moved the motion which was supported by Comrade Okusanya Olugbenga, a senior staff with Ikorodu Local Government.
Branch Chairmen and representatives of the Local Government Areas (LGA) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) at the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA were Isolo, Badagry, Amuwo – Odofin, Ikosi – Isheri, Mushin, Ibeju – Lekki, Ifako – Ijaiye, Olorunda, Ikosi Ejinrin, Surulere, Ikoyi Obalende, Lagos Mainland, Ikeja, Coker – Aguda, Badagry, Onigbongbo, Iru Victoria Island, Ajeromi – Ifelodun, Lagos Island, Ifelodun and Igbogbo/Bayeku.
Others were Yaba, Oshodi – Olowo, Bariga, Lagos Island East, Ojokoro, Ayobo – Ipaja, Oshodi – Isolo, Apapa Iganmu, Itire – Ikate, Badagry West, Orile Agege and Kosofe among others.
The outgoing President, Comrade Afolabi Semaku Ajose, who was thankful to the leadership of NULGE and members for their support, assured members that candidates of the group will emerge victorious at the delegate elections.
He said that he is not vying again because he would be retiring soon and that seeking re – election would jeorpadise Badagry’s chance because he would only be spending few months in office for his second term.
“You will recall that I was unopposed when I emerged as the President and during my tenure, I gave my best to NULGE and did all that have never happened before”, he said.
“Recently, we organized football matches among NULGE branches and we redeemed prize monies of N1million, N750, 000 and N500, 000 to the champions, second and third runners – up, even though some thought that we would not.
“By the grace of God, our candidates will returned victorious come August 4.
“Our tenure expires October 25 and I was ready to conduct another election but Branch Chairmen and National Executive Council (NEC) disagreed that I will be distorting the structure and jeordise the NULGE case that is on course.
“I decided not to re – contest since I will be retiring next year and I don’t want to shortchange Badagry Division because if I do, I will only be spending few months in office and that means that I will not be opportuned to complete my second term of four years.
“You know that State President is usually rotated amongst the five Divisions in Lagos State and each of the Division is entitled to two terms each. Instead of being selfish, I decided not to jeorpadise Badagry’s chance, more so, we have a vibrant candidate who can replace me, in the person of Comrade Ogunfowora Sewanu”, he said.
The outgoing President, who said that the presence of branch chairmen and other stakeholders from majority councils proved that the group will be victorious, and he also assured that there would be no bloodbath.
“There won’t be any bloodbath come August 4. That was what I assured the Director of the Department of State Service (DSS) when I was invited regarding another petition written by one of the opposition leader (name with held). I was not the only one that he wrote the petition against. It was at the DSS office that I met others too.
“Why will there be any bloodbath?, he asked rhetorically.
“We came here today to present to you our wonderful team that will be taking over from us. I charge you all to give them maximum support”.
Comrade Akinsanya had earlier in his speech said that he has been petitioned and appeared before the Head of Service (HOS) team, Body of Permanent Secretary, State APC Chairman and also royal fathers, but that his petitioners who are opposed to him have not been able to prove anything.
Comrade Olugbenga Ayinde Nponu, the Director General/Chairman, AMG and Council Treasurer, Badagry LG, presenting the group’s candidates, said that they were approved based on their competence and capacity after wide consultations.
“All our candidates were approved by all our branch Chairmen after going through proper screening. We usually consult widely in Ajose Mandate Group instead of just picking anyone based on sentiment or because she is someone’s girlfriend”, he said.
“These are people that have capacity, have concern about staff welfare and who will always be there for us”, he added.
Builder Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, who was represented by Hon. Okedina Maja, Vice Chairman of the Council, called for peaceful election and unity among members of the union.
He also solicited support and pray for all the AMG candidates to be victorious in the coming election.
In his acceptance speech on behalf of the group’s executives, Comrade Ogunfowora Sunday Sewanu thanked leaders and members of NULGE, Lagos State, for their contributions to the union and the support he and his team habe received so far.
While also commending past Presidents of the union for their impacts, Sewanu said that the outgoing President whom he said that is still studying, has taken NULGE to another level.
“I don’t know what to say again, but there is one thing that we are selling. There is one thing that is our trade mark in Lagos State. You know I am a PhD student and I research a lot”, he said.
“Since I was chosen as the Presidential flag bearer of the Ajose Mandate Group, I have taken time to dig into the archive and read very well of what Comrade Ajowole did while he was serving as President of this union in Lagos State.
“I have read very deep, what Comrade Jide Ogunyemi did while he was serving as the President. I have read and read over, what Comrade Iyabode Obasa did while she was serving as President.
“I have read and read again, what Comrade Alhaji Lasisi Ayinde Akinsanya did while he was in the office.
“I have read and still reading about what Comrade Ajose Afolabi Semato is doing. They have all made giant achievements and written their names in the NULGE record book, but after reading about all of them, when it got to Comrade Ajose Semako, I read volume 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and still reading it”, he said.
“That is to tell that even though all that came before him tried, he has taken NULGE to the next level.
He appealed to members of the union to vote for him and candidates of his group for better representation and continuity of good administration.
“I am urging everybody that come August 4, you should vote for candidates of the Ajose Mandate Group. You are not mortgaging your future by doing this, rather, you are securing better days for us in Lagos State; you are securing a continuity of Comrade Afolabi Ajose”, he said.
“I am telling you on behalf of those that we will be serving together, that we will not disappoint you and by the time we will be finishing and giving the baton of office to the Lagos Island, we will not campaign because our achievements in office will speak for us”, he added.
The candidate, Com. Ogunfowora Sewanu, a PhD student was a two – term NULGE Branch Chairman, Branch Secretary and was the first to build a NULGE Secretariat at Olorunda LCDA.
