Kunle Adelabu
-Says he has made unequaled history in Lagos State
The Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Oyeniran Bolanle (SOB) Agunbiade, has declared his support for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Ikorodu Constituency I, Mr Ogunleye Gbolahan Adetokunbo (OGA) who is the son of the former Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye.
Hon. Agunbiade, who will be stepping down in June, after 16 years as the representative of the Ikorodu Constituency I, and eight years as the Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly which are unprecedented records, also said that he was stopped from returning to the house by God.
He said that the former Deputy Governor whose son will be taking over from him has been good to him, and that he will be supporting his son and every other APC candidate in the coming elections.
Hon. Agunbiade spoke at the New Year Party of his working team, the Onward Movement of Nigeria, tagged, ‘2023 Praise & Worship Party & Celebration of Victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of Nigeria (ahead of the election), held at his constituency office, Grammar School, Oke Ota – Ona, Ikorodu, on Saturday, January 21, 2023.
The ranking lawmaker said that he had had a successful run at APC primary elections and general elections, despite negative tags by some people. He blamed some party members as the ones causing mischief within the party.
“It was a fierce battle and war between 2021 and 2022, but here we are still standing. We had the primary election and there was no fighting and that vindicates me that I am not a cultist.
“Our leaders are always in their various homes, but it is some people that are always against me that usually approach them to say all sorts of things about me. They are angry that I had successfully won primary and general elections four times and also successfully represented my people and they think that I must be stopped from going for the fifth time. They are not the ones that stopped me, but God did. He alone knows why I will not be returning to the House”.
While commending the former Deputy Governor for supporting his candidate to be appointed as a Supervisory Councilor, Hon. Agunbaide also recalled how those opposing him also kicked against the nomination of his aide, Yakub Ajalogun for the position.
“During the appointment of Supervisory Councilors (in lkorodu Local Government), I nominated someone, they went to meet Baba (former Deputy Governor) and told him that the boy is from SOB, and that he is not supposed to giving any slot, but baba said he was going to. He called me and today, the person is a Supervisory Councilor. I can’t forget that; you are a wonderful man and thank you very much for what you have done. You gave me the slot for Supervisory Councilor despite the fact that people stood up and expected us to fight as if I am from PDP or another party. Thank you very much and for that effort, I should be able to support your son who is the candidate of APC in Ikorodu Constituency 1”, Hon. Agunbiade affirmed.
“Baba has done me favours, even though it is his son they brought up to deny me of returning to the Assembly. They said that nobody can dislodge SOB unless his son. Baba was former Deputy Governor and chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and today, he is one of the most revered political leaders in Ikorodu Division.
“During the primary and aftermath, I also tried to get back my mandate, but the elders will continue to be the elder, and they will always find a way to get whatever that they want. I have agreed and we are going to mobilise votes for Ogunleye (Gbolahan Ogunleye) as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly”, Agunbiade further confirmed.
Hon. Agunbiade, who said that he has made history, having spent 16 years and being the Majority Leader for two consecutive Assembly which has never happened before, was appreciative that he has served successfully, and will be returning to his people with his head up high.
“I have spent 16 years in the State House of Assembly, a feat nobody has ever achieved in the history of Ikorodu Division, and I was never brought home sick or dead. I have every reason to be thankful”, Hon. Agunbiade said thankfully.
“Some of the people that we went in together (in 2007) didn’t make it to 2011. Senator Pepper (late Bayo Osinowo) said, ‘‘taking small things from another man’s things, is enough’’. I have spent 16 years, isn’t that enough? In the history of Lagos State, there’s nobody who has become the Majority Leader for two times, but I did and today, as I am speaking with you, I am the Chairman of all the Majority Leaders in the whole of Nigeria”.
“I was with the Governor and he said they went for the burial of one prominent person in Nigeria, but glory to God, I am alive and I am standing in front of you all.
“I charge all Onward members to continue to go out as you have been doing and campaign for APC and all APC candidates. Go from corner to corner; house to house and area to area to campaign for APC and use your PVC to vote for APC”, he charged.
“Those of you that want to vote for Abiru, Jimi Benson, Gbolahan Ogunleye are doing that because you are a member of the party. Call your landlord, landlady or your tenant and tell them to vote for APC from the top to the bottom.
“We are saying that we are standing in support for Asiwaju and all the APC candidates in this Senatorial district”, he added.
