Kunle Adelabu
The KÓLÙJÓ Team, the campaign team of Comrade Japheth Odesanya, an aspirant for the lkorodu Local government Chairmanship seat, last week, continued its consultations and outreach to strategic individuals and groups, by visiting the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ikorodu chapter, in recognition of the body’s contributions to Ikorodu Community, Lagos State and the country at large.
Comrade Japheth Odesanya, who is the symbol of the team, alongside other members of his campaign team, were warmly received by the Chairman of the lkorodu NUT chapter and the number teacher in Ikorodu Division, Comrade Olwafemi Fakola, Jpil., and chieftains of the union, at the Teachers’ House located within the premises of the Methodists and Oga Primary Schools, Ikorodu. Incidentally, the KÓLÙJÓ symbol attended the later for his primary education.
In a statement by Kayode Alabi, Esq., Head, Kólùjó Press Directorate, he said that the team attached great importance to the union as partner in community and nation building and more importantly, in parleying the teachers towards political mobilisation.
“If you have to put someone on a pedestal, put teachers. They are society’s heroes – Guy Kawasaki”. Such is the position of great esteem they occupy in the books of the Kólùjó Team, when the heroes were accorded a courtesy call on Friday, at the Teachers’ House, the Nigeria Union of Teachers’ Ikorodu head office, on Allison Street”, the statement emphasized.
“The visit was in appreciation of the heroes’ immeasurable contributions to community and national development, and to equally galvanise the body into political action to right the wrongs committed by democracy activists at the return of the country to democracy”.
” Our symbol formally familiarised the union with his political ambition and reeled out the unconventional approach he plans to introduce to local governance, especially in the education sector.
In his words, “I was a Field Officer, NADECO, Member, Campaign for Democracy (CD), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Research Assistant, Citizens Forum for Constitutional Reforms (CFCR), member, PRONACO, Delegate, South West Constitutional Conference organized by PRONACO; alongside martyrs like Gani Fawehinmi and Pa Enahoro, Barr. Osagie Obayuwana, Comrade Wale Okuniyi, Barr. Femi Falana, to mention but a few, and unlike what the ANC did in South Africa, we retreated and handed over political responsibilities to political actors that were never part of the many struggles.
“I, hereby, wish to humbly urge you fellow comrades into action at this critical point of our politics as the local government is the nearest to the electorate”, Japheth charged.
In his reaction, the NUT Chairman, Comrade Femi Fakolade, expressed his appreciation for the visit and his admiration for the symbol’s eloquence and vibrancy, stressing that the place of those qualities cannot be overemphasized in the criteria that should influence decision making process.
He also dispelled the mischievous narrative that comrades don’t make good leaders as he can boast of his numerous accomplishments since his election into office.
He touched on some of the challenges confronting NUT, and how critically important it will be for the former Secretary to Ikorodu Local Government to toe a common path with a representative like Hon. Jimi Benson who, according to him, has in no little measure been benevolent to the union.
A retired Head Teacher and chieftain of the NUT, Mrs Bisi Bello Mustapha, in her reaction, commended the symbol’s sagacity over time in the affairs of Ikorodu, and minced no words at singling him out as exceptional among other aspirants thus far and admonished him not to rest on his oars.
“It was a memorable convergence, and we, the Kólùjó Team, wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Ikorodu NUT leadership, assuring the body that the established fraternity will blossom into a progressive synergy for the good of our education system when eventually our political aspiration comes to fruition. We are thankful”, Alabi added.
