Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-Say they are committed to Sanwo – Olu, other APC’s candidates’ victories
Some of the leaders of the aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikorodu Local Government that embarked on protest and threatened to work against the party in the coming Governorship election, have pledged their loyalty to the party.
The aggrieved members also assured the party members and chieftains of their total commitment to the re – election of the incumbent governor of the state, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, and other APC candidates for the Lagos Assembly seats.
Three of them that spoke in the viral video of the protest that took place at the Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat last Friday, pledged their loyalty and apologized at a parley at the Divisional APC Secretariat along Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikorodu, on Monday.
Aside the three protesting leaders, the entire party members and chieftains at the parley, also recommitted themselves to the re – election of Gov. Sanwo – Olu, as well as Gbolahan Ogunleye and Aro Moshood Abiodun for the Assembly seats.
Mrs Adenubi Omodolapo Mariam who said that she moved from Mushin where she was born into politics, to Ikorodu, explained that her experience in politics triggered her anger.
“I went to the council with my canvassers, unfortunately, we were not paid and the party members were not happy and threatened to vote against the party. I had to voice out to Asiwaju Tinubu and Sanwo – Olu, to hear and intervene in our plights and prevent electoral problems in Ikorodu”, she explained further.
She pledged her commitment and loyalty to the party and victory of its candidates in the coming elections.
Another leader of the protest, Mr Olarewaju Muritala who is from Mowo – Nla in Ward G and one of the canvassers, said that it was anger that caused the protest. He apologized to leaders and members for his action.
“It was anger that caused all the outburst in the video. APC is still our party. I apologise for what happened. It was a communication gap. We did not know that our leaders were actually trying to protect ourselves”, he said.
He pledged to work for the party and ensure re – election of the governor.
Mrs Fuja Shola, Ward B, Ikorodu, in her submissions, also pledged her loyalty to the party.
“I am a full and committed member of APC and it was the party that secured my present job for me and it is what I am using to take care of my family”, she said.
“I am here today to let the party know that I am still a member of APC, and I am not going anywhere. I did not actually know that somebody was doing video recording during the protest.
“We assure the party that we are going to work for the victory of the party come Saturday”, she said.
APC apex leader in Ikorodu Division and former Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, said that the protest scared him and added that the meeting was called to explain the true situation of things to party members.
While stating that what created the problem was lack of communication, the chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), also assured that there will be improvement in dealing with party members henceforth, to prevent future occurrence.
“Party leaders have met to resolve the whole misunderstanding and we plead with you to accept our plea. We shall start distributing logistics for Saturday’s election from tomorrow (today). I beg you that you should not allow some people to deceive you”, Prince Ogunleye said.
He charged APC members, residents of Ikorodu and Lagosians at large to come out in large numbers and re – elect Sanwo – Olu as governor and other APC candidates.
“We must not allow those that brought people by bus from the Ilaro area and camped them in a Church to vote in Ikorodu, to do a repeat. The protest really disturbed me and we must not allow these people to take over Lagos from us”, the politician said.
“We are appealing to all Yorubas that we must come out to vote on Saturday for the re – election of Sanwo – Olu and Hamzat, and also elect Gbolahan for Constituency I and Aro Moshood for Constituency II. I thank you all for honouring our invitation”.
Chairman, APC Divisional Local Organising Committee (LOC) and former Commissioner, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, speaking earlier, cleared the air on the problems that led to the protest and apologized to party members on behalf of the leadership.
“We are here today due to the video of the protest by party’s canvassers that has gone viral and wrongly portrayed Ikorodu. We are here today to clear the air on the matter”, he said.
“On behalf of the leadership of the party, I apologise for the invitation of these canvassers to the council (Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat) last week. We recognized that there was either mixed up, omission and negligence.
“Unfortunately, when we were called about the convergence of the canvassers, we were already at Marina. This prevented us from having the opportunity to explained the situation to the people. That created the gap.
“It was learnt that after waiting endlessly for hours without any provision, people that were already not happy with the economic situation, became angry.
“What happened last Wednesday was very unfortunate and it created the wrong impression all over the world. It almost stains our white garment because we have an apex leader, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye who is recognized everywhere and respected because of his credibility, accountability and transparency.
“What happened was very unfortunate. The video was a stain on all of us which almost clouded our laudable electoral performance”, Asipa Kaoli said.
Explaining the remote causes of the agitation, Asipa Kaoli said that the method used in rewarding the party members was new and network challenges complicated the timely disbursements.
“This is the first time that such a method of allocation of money to canvassers was adopted. It wasn’t the fault of anyone or the party but the present cash swap policy of the policy of the CBN”, the APC LOC Chairman said.
“In Lagos State as a whole, we have 13, 325 polling units and in Ikorodu, we have 682 polling units and we have 15 canvassers in each unit which amount to 199, 000 canvassers in Lagos State and in Ikorodu that is 10, 320 and to multiply this with the amount of money, that is a huge figure and there is no cash to give but through transfer.
“That was why the party employed the service of people that can do large transfers and imagine transferring money to almost 200, 000 people with network issues. Even the transfer between two people transfers do encounter difficulties, and at times takes days to deliver, let alone the transfer to 10, 000 people. It was a technical hitch that caused the delay because the money has been given to the consultant”, Asipa explained.
“It was not as if the money was given to us in Ikorodu and was not paid because that was the claim in the video and we know that it was because of the anger”.
Asipa Kaoli also explained the intervention by the apex leaders in Ikorodu, on behalf of the over 300 captains of the canvassers.
“We have started engaging the party on the way out and how to sort out Ikorodu people but the consultant said that if Ikorodu people are removed from the list, there will be difficulties with the reconciliation”, he said.
“They have sent the list of people that have been paid to us, but when we tried to cross check, some of our people denied it. But the fact is that, some have received their own money, but the majority have not. The solution that we are looking at is to ensure that our party members get what is due to them.
“Sen. Tokunbo Abiru and Rep. Benson, who are part of the technical committee, have told us that only 780 people remain to be paid and we have been given the list and we have requested that we should be given their money for easy disbursement in Ikorodu. That was the proposal given to them on Sunday, but they promised that they will ensure that our people receive their money”.
The party leader further stated that if that did not work as planned, they may have to request for the money of remaining members in Ikorodu from the state and the leadership will ensure the disbursement”.
He appealed to party members not to allow misunderstanding to affect what they have been working for since the formation of the party, especially in the last four years.
“We apologise and appeal to you not to take your anger too far. This is a party that we have been building for years and the Sanwo – Olu government is what we have been building for four years and we cannot destroy it”, Asipa Kaoli appealed.
“Don’t let your anger and annoyance destroy what we have been building for four years. We are using this medium to appeal to us. We have seen the mistakes and the government and the party have accepted the blame.
“The same issue happened everywhere but unfortunately, we did not manage the Ikorodu issue very well. The problem is not peculiar to Ikorodu”.
To boost the morale of party members, Asipa Kaoli assured them that logistics for the coming election will be distributed before Saturday.
“The next phase is not going through any consultant and at the meeting held today (Monday) at Solomade, the distribution pattern for the Governorship election has been approved. For instance, in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA where I belong, we are going to distribute logistics to various wards and that is how it is going to be everywhere”, he explained.
“We have four members each in all the local governments that are to administer the distribution of the fund. In Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, it’s myself, Asiwaju Basorun, Sesan Daini and Hon. Gbenga Oshin.
“Once it is transferred to us, we will take it to our wards and ensure that the money is distributed without any problem. You are going to get the money before Saturday’s election. This is to assure you that the promise of the government of the party will succeed.
“Once again, I appeal to you on behalf of the leadership that we should recommit ourselves to the re – election of the governor. Let us respect the honour that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done to us by recognizing our performance. Don’t let us throw that away in the last minutes, out of anger”, Asipa Kaoli again explained.
“We have expressed our anger and now, we must also let the whole know that we have reconciled and ready to work for our party in winning the coming elections”.
Former APC Chairman, Ikorodu LGA, Alhaji Rilwan Ishola Jinadu, in his own brief remarks, assured party members of reward for their efforts.
He said that the protest has yielded positive results because the attention of the party leaders has been drawn to the plights of party members all over the state.
He pleaded that those that led the protest should not be castigated in any manner.
Prince Lanre Balogun, former Lagos State Commissioner for Rural Development, thanked party members for their commitment which gave Ikorodu the number one position in the last election in Lagos State.
He also appealed to members to accept the party’s truce.
“We are here to appeal to you and beg you for any shortcoming that might have happened. We are still in need of your support for the governorship election so that Ikorodu will be given more recognition, and get more appointment”, he said.
“I appeal to you to work fully for the re – election of Sanwo – Olu and for the Ikorodu Constituency I, we are going to vote for Gbolahan Ogunleye and Aro Moshood for the Constituency II”.
Also at the meeting were former Special Adviser on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, Divisional APC Chairman, Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani, former APC Lagos East Vice Chairman, Alhaji Gafaar, Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, Hon. Adeola Banjo, chieftain of the APC, Alhaji Musliu Animashaun (De Cubano), Chairman, APC, Ikorodu West LGA, Otunba Bayo Lawson, Alhaji Lamidi Folorunsho, Mrs Funmi Basorun, former Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, Hon. Jumoke Jimbo – Ademehin, former Sole Administrator, Ikorodu West LCDA, Mr Segun Anifowoshe, APC chieftain, Comrade Kehinde Okeowo, Matron Yemisi Ilubanwo, Vice Chairman, Ikorodu LG, Hon. (Mrs) Folashade Olabanji Oba, Chairman Ikorodu LG Hon.Wasiu Adeshina, among others.
Moreso, there were about 300 members of the party, including captains in each polling booth in lkorodu division.
