Kunle Adelabu
The Divisional Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Ikorodu Division, Otunba Tijani Jimoh Olasunkanmi, has thrown his weight behind the decision of the state chapter of the party to conduct the coming council elections in the 20 Local Government and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
The decision was confirmed about two weeks ago by the State Chairman, APC, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi.
Otunba Tijani, spoke with THE IMPACT at Senator Tokunbo Abiru District Office in Ikorodu, during the distribution of farm implements to farmers in Lagos East last Friday.
“I don’t think that we will have any problem in picking who will be our candidates, because, one, the best candidate must be a member of our party. That means that he must have been serving the party before now and not somebody that is just coming because it is election time. No, that won’t happen.
“We will look very well and assess all the contestants.
“We will look at competence, and of course, experience. We want to know where you have served before if you have the required experience. We want to know if he has served in a position that is closer to the position he is aspiring for,” remarked the APC Ikorodu chairman”, he said.
Otunba Tijani Olasunkanmi explained furthermore:“You don’t just come from the blue and tell us that you will do this and that. The question is that do you understand the system which is the closest to the people in the grassroots? It is the nearest to the grassroots and we should not make any mistake in picking our candidates.”
Speaking on the qualities that his party would consider as regards picking candidates across the one council area and five LCDAs in Ikorodu Division, he said that the party would consider candidates that are level – headed and someone that can manage human and other resources.
“We are going to look at their experience, antecedents, service and level – headedness. You can’t say that we don’t have one or two that possess these qualities. We will also be mindful of know – it – all candidates.
“You can’t know it all. As a Council Chairman, you must be open to other people’s ideas and suggestions and if you feel that you are Mr Know it all, you will be dragging us backward.
“We also do not want a megalomania who will see money and turn mad. You cannot be someone who has only seen N100, 000 before and be clamouring to manage a council with millions, it will make the person become crazy and that is what we are seeing today.
“I am not saying that the position should be given to the rich and children of the rich, but somebody in that position must be mindful that he’s going to manage both human and material resources as a local council administrator,” Otunba Tijani added.
