Ikorodu people on Thursday, June 12, 2014 converged to declare that it is the turn of Ikorodu Division to produce the next Governor of Lagos State since it has sacrificed his sons twice for other divisions and Epe.
The clamouring for ‘Ikorodu for Governor’ came up again at the Press Conference organized by Ikorodu Division Solution Alliance (IDSA) which took place at Something Else Club, along Lagos-Ikorodu Road, Ikorodu. A massive rally by Ikorodu youths who defied heavy downpour to registered their agitation later held at Adamsom Square, Ojogbe, Ikorodu.
Presenting the position of the group to reporters, Princess Folashade Oba, IDSA Women Leader, stated that, “the agitation of the people ofIkorodu Division for the position of governor of Lagos State is legitimate, timely and rooted in due principle of equity, justice and fair play.”
She added, “To appreciate it properly, we must understand the sectional nuances of the politics of governorship in Lagos State. Lagos Island has actually produced three democratically elected governors, first was Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, who claimed Lagos West (Ikeja) as his political base. The second was Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who also claimed Ikeja as his base, while the third is the incumbent Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), who claimed Surulere as his political base”
The Women Leader then asked Ikorodu people and other lovers of democracy and justice to see Ikorodu’s pursuit of its governorship agenda as a clarion call since Lagos West
has produced Alhaji Lateef Jakande (1979-1983; Lagos East (Epe), Sir Michael Otedola (1991-1993); Lagos West, Senator Bola Tinubu (1999-2007) and Lagos Central who produce the current governor, Mr Raji Fashola (SAN), 2007-2015.
HRM Oba (Dr) Salaudeen Afolabi Oyefusi, CON, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu who was represented by High Chief Kabir Sotobi, pledged the support of the traditional council to the group’s Ikorodu for Governor Agenda.
“It is our turn in ikorodu to produce the next governor and the Eminent Group is saddled with the screening of aspirants from Ikorodu Division. About five of them has shown interests and screened, but the process is not closed yet and we still expecting others too.”
He then challenged Ikorodu youths to rise up to the occasion and be in the forefront of the agitation. “The future is in your hands of the youths. We must work harder to achieve our aims of producing the next governor and there is no looking back. The failure of our elders in the past should also not be an excuse for us to relent. The awareness is now very high and we must sustain it. Never again must Ikorodu be relegated in Lagos State”, Odofin Sotobi challenged the Ikorodu youths.
Barrister Saheed O.K. Owosile, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chairman, Ikorodu Branch in his own speech said that the agitation is a just, legal and deserving cause which must be pursue to logical conclusion.
“We are asking for our social, economic, political, cultural, human and political rights. If for others, Ikorodu had on two occasions voted against its sons (Late Otunba Adeniran Ogunsanya and Prince Abiodun Ogunleye), they must reason with our agitations”, Barrister Owosile stated.
Owosile went Biblical when he stated that Ikorodu people should seek ye the highest prize and every other things will be added.