– Three Aspirants Screened, Two failed to Show up
Only three Governorship aspirants appeared before the Screening Committee, the Liaison Group of Eminent Persons and Residents of Ikorodu Division (EPID) on Wednesday, 4th June, 2014 at the Ikorodu Town Hall for screening, out of the five that signified interests by writing letters of intent to the body.
The IMPACT gathered that only five of about ten aspirants for the exalted position showed their interests in the governorship race to the Screening Committee of the Liaison Group of Eminent Persons and Residents of Ikorodu Division (EPID). Amongst them are; Arch. Taiwo Kara, Prince Segun Ogunlewe and Sen. Ganiu Olanrewaju Solomon from All Progressive Congress (APC) and Mr Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi and Pharm. Jimmy Agbaje from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Members of the Screening Committee are Prof. Nimbe Adedipe, Prince Tajudeen Odofin, former Commissioner for Finance; Prince Adegbola Amusa, former Executive Secretary Local Government Education Authority (LGEA); Alhaji Babatunde Rotinwa, former Head of Service; Alhaja Lamina, LATLAM Proprietor and Chief Tele Oduloye, former Chairman, Ikorodu Division Human Resource Development Board (IDHRDB).
First to arrive for the screening was Arch. Taiwo Kara, around 11.00 am. Prince Ogunlewe and Sen. Solomon followed respectively. The screening committee, IMPACT gathered decided to call them according to their arrival, but after the appearance of Arch. Taiwo Kara, the committee had to call on Sen. Ganiu Solomon instead of Prince Segun Ogunlewe.
It was gathered that this was as a result of Prince Ogunlewe’s pleading that the committee should screen the two-term Senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria, so as to depart with his teeming followers which presence seems made the former Head of Service uncomfortable.
While other aspirants came into the Town Hall venue of the screening unnoticed, reverse was the case when Sen. Ganiu Solomon arrived. He arrived with retinue of security men into the waiting hands of supporters who had laid siege for him at the Town Hall gate.
Sen. Ganiu Solomon entrance was also coloured by the Baales in Ikorodu and APC party leaders like Alhaji Sulaimon, popularly called “Koroof” and Mr Jelili Sanni, the Ikorodu Coordinator, Sen. Ganiu Solomon Campaign team.
Though the organizers did a wonderful job by not allowing those that do not have business gain entrance into the town hall compound, but this does not stop Sen. Solomon’s supporters from waiting outside for hours.
IMPACT exclusively gathered that the screening exercise by the Eminent persons was based on three cardinal points; prove of indigeneship; aspirants interests for Ikorodu and lastly; aspirants chances in winning their party’s ticket in other not to work in counter-productive to the parties decision.Prof. Kunle Ade Wahab had challenged the Liaison Group and good people of Ikorodu during the constitution of the former to ensure that eminently qualified candidates are brought forward and presented to the party leaders in the state. “Let us search for eminently qualified candidates for presentation to the powers-that-be in the politics of Lagos State. Thank God we have the numerical strength and the determination to occupy the Oval Office, come 2015.”
As at 3.00pm when our reporter departed the Ikorodu Town Hall venue of the screening, only three aspirants on the platform of APC showed up, but IMPACT gathered that the other two from PDP assured of their appearance before the committee.
On enquiry, Mr Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi, informed IMPACT that he was unavoidably absent due to other pressing engagements in Abuja, and was sadly, unable to attend.
Meanwhile, some questions are been raised on the screening committee’s acceptance of Pharm. Jimi Agbaje’s letter of intent on the ground that he is neither maternally or paternally from Ikorodu. While speaking with a stalwart of PDP in Ikorodu who do not like his name in print, he said, “Interesting point about Jimi Agbaje though – I was under the impression that he is from Lagos Island!! Why are Ikorodu elders like this?”
Meanwhile another PDP stalwart in Ikorodu, debunked the claims and informed IMPACT that Pharm. Jimi Agbaje is maternally from Ikorodu and he eminently qualified to pursue his dream on Ikorodu platform. He added that Agbaje is the only formidable candidate that can effectively challenge APC in the next general elections.
Those Interested in Governorship but do not Identify with the Liaison Group of Eminent Persons
Why do you think they do not identify with Ikorodu Division Human Resources Development Board (IDHRDB)
constituted Liaison Group of Eminent Persons and Residents of Ikorodu Division (EPID)?
IMPACT will bring you incisive analysis in the next edition, but we’ll like to hear your views via
e-mail to [email protected] or letter to the Editor.