Hon. SOB Agunbiade, the Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly and the representative of the Ikorodu Constituency 1
Come Friday, June 7, 2019, the 40 newly elected members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, after their inauguration by His Excellency, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, as lawmakers for the 9th Assembly in the State, will elect their principal officers that will manage the affairs of the House for the next 4 years.
As a build up to the D-day, there have been intense politicking, maneuvering, lobbying and horse-trading by members of the House who are interested in the Speakership and other principal positions.
Positions to be filled are the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip.
These aforementioned positions are presently being occupied by Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa (Agege I), Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun (Lagos Island I), Hon. Sanai Agnbiade (Ikorodu I), Hon. Muyiwa Jimoh (Apapa ), Hon. Rotimi Abiru (Shomolu II) and Omotayo Oduntan respectively.
Everything being equaled, ranking lawmakers are expected to reach consensus on or before June 7 when a new Speaker and other principal officers will start presiding over the 9th Assembly.
One of the major contestants for the much coveted Speakership position is the three term lawmaker representing Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon. Sanai Oyeniran Bolanle Agunbiade.He was reelected in the last general elections by his people to represent them for the fourth term.
He contested for the Speakership position after the inauguration of the 8th Assembly alongside other contestants but the political permutation in 2015 favoured the incumbent, Rt Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. He was nevertheless compensated with the Majority Leader of the House, a position which his colleagues as well as Assembly staff members and journalists covering the Assembly beat could testified he has creditably managed .
Since his emergence as the Business Leader of the House, Hon. Agunbiade has not only been carrying other members, both old and new, along but has also been working in harmony with other principal officers to improve on the House legislative performances.
He has been working round the clock and despite his very tight schedule occasioned by the demand of the House as its Majority Leader, he has not allowed his responsibilities and commitments to his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the State , Senatorial and Council levels to suffer.
He has also, more than before, delivered the dividends of democracy to his people in Ikorodu.
Hon. Agunbiade’s outstanding lawmaking, representative and oversight functions have earned him many accolades and honours. Among these are the awards of the best lawmaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
He was also overwhelmingly acknowledged and honoured as the Ikorodu Man of the year in 2017.
His excellent representative and legislative performances was also recognized by the traditional institutions in Ikorodu as he was honoured with a prestigious chieftaincy title, ‘Opomulero’ of Ikorodu Kingdom (Pillar of Ikorodu Kingdom) by the Permanent Vice Chairman, Lagos State Council of Obas & Chiefs, Chairman, Ikorodu Division Council of Obas & Chiefs and Paramount Ruler of Ikorodu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu.
The title was a big challenge to the ranking lawmaker going by the enormous responsibilities attached to it and expectations of the stakeholders in Ikorodu from its holder but as expected, he has successfully delivered on these expectations and responsibilities.
If what has been happening in the House in the last four years is anything to go by, then, Hon. Agunbiade may get the nod of the majority members of the House and that of the party leadership to lead the 9th Assembly.
Aside the fact that Hon. Obasa has been presiding over the House, the major engine room has been the Majority Leader who has been effective, outstanding, committed and a good team player.
THE IMPACT gathered that this impressive performance by Hon. Agunbiade has earned him the support of the entire members of the House, especially the Principal officers and other ranking members, in leading the Hon. Bayo Osinowo’s Senatorial campaign.
As an outstanding lawmaker in the state who is highly revered by his colleagues and political leaders, the responsibility of delivering the votes of the electorate in the Lagos East Senatorial District for Hon.Osinowo was placed on him as the Chairman of the Tactical Committee, the highest arm of the campaign group of the Senator-elect. Hon. Agunbiade indeed delivered on this task excellently.
Many believed that the several sensitive assignments and tasks being given to Hon Agunbiade by the leadership and entire members of the Lagos State House of Assembly were attestations to his worthy character, discipline, capability and outstanding personality.
A source within the Lagos State House of Assembly, who spoke with THE IMPACT, stated:
“Although, the incumbent is favoured to retain the position but Hon. Agunbiade has emerged as a very powerful contestant for the seat. In actual fact, he seems to be the only one that is more capable to wrestle the seat and lead the House”, the source stated.
“His leadership in the last four years has provided the House with clear direction and has also improved the tradition of excellence which the Lagos Assembly is known for. His work rate and zeal are unmatched and his approval rate among his colleagues, Assembly staff members and journalists is also unequalled.
“In fairness to the Speaker and other members, especially the senior ones, there are many others who have maintained high marks in term of legislative duties and public perception”, he stated.
Aside his position as the Majority Leader which has shown his leadership capacity, Hon. Agunbiade has also proved himself as a worthy party man, strategist, mobiliser and reliable politician who is willing and ready to deploy his resources for the success of his party, considering the way and manner he handled the campaign and election of Senator Bayo Osinowo.
Hon. Agunbiade is also playing a prominent role in the harmonization arrangement of the Southwest House of Assemblies laws as other member-State House of Assemblies are using the Lagos State House Rules as a reference point.
Many have also attested to the fact that the incumbent Speaker and other principal members of the House believe strongly in his capacity to deliver on most difficult assignments which he’s always ready to accept without hesitation once such is in the interest of the House and State at large.
The seasoned politician is also being backed by the political, traditional, religious and major stakeholders in Ikorodu Division to attain the number one position in the House.
He has moved many important motions as well as sponsored and co-sponsored bills that have changed the socio-economic and political dynamism of the state.
He is one of the most accessible representative in the history of Ikorodu and Lagos State House of Assembly.
Hon. Agunbiade was first elected to the House of Assembly in 2007 and was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2011, 2015 and 2019 respectively .
He had chaired several sensitive House Committees among which were Committees on Commerce & Industry, Judiciary & Human Rights as well as served as member of many sub and special committees of the House.
