Kunle Adelabu
Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State have passed a positive verdict on the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, Sen. Mikhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA, over his performances since elected over a year ago.
The leaders, spoke at the Eid – El – Fitr celebration get-together organised by the Senator at his Ikorodu country home, also gave unanimous approval that he should return to the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, for a second term.
Abiru was elected via a by-election on December 5, 2020, after the death of Senator Adebayo Osinowo, the former occupant of the position.
Alhaji Akanni Seriki Bamu, a chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), speaking at the gathering, said that he was in Ikorodu to honour the Senator because of his love for him.
While commending Abiru for delivering on his mandate, the party leader affirmed that the party will return him back to the Senate as many times as possible.
“I am also a Muslim and l am hosting people in my house in the spirit of the Eid-il-Fitr, but I am here today to honour Sen. Abiru because it is important for me to be here. I came here today because of his good characters”, Alhaji Bamu said.
“We have been having Senators but Abiru has done very well and passed. He is different from all the Senators that we have been having”, he commended him.
“I can also see projects that he has been doing. He has also been taking care of the party, leaders and the people.
“You will go back to the Senate again and again”, he said.
Another GAC Chieftain, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun who explained that it took them sometime to persuade Senator Abiru to represent the district as once done by his father, commended him for impacting on the people, especially with his educational scheme.
“The Senator is doing well because he inherited the attitude of doing good from home. Even if the senior Senator Abiru has gone, he has reincarnated in a bigger way”, he said.
“I want to congratulate you for your efforts so far. It took us some efforts to persuade Tokunbo to run for Senate. He was so glued to the banking industry that we had to continually talked to him before he yielded. Today, we are not regretting that he yielded because he has been serving us very well.
“The scholarship scheme that he launched has never happened before. Though, people do say that everything came from the Senate but I do not believe that this particular one came from there. It came from the passion of our Senator to give 600 students N50, 000 each”, he said.
“Since that day, I began to look at him that this man has a vision for all our children. May God continue to bless you”.
Asiwaju Basorun prayed that the Senator wins at the forthcoming primary and general elections.
“Let us all get ready because he has indicated to run for another term. His form was brought to me to sign here but I don’t have my membership card here, so, I couldn’t sign it. But when I eventually sign, I will pray that he will win the primary and the main election and come back to serve us more”, Basorun said.
Senator Adeseye Kingsley Ogunlewe, former Minister of Works, also commended Abiru for representing the district very well.
“We are here because we love him and satisfied with his performances. The only way to further express that is to vote for him massively by coming out on the election day and make his votes more than what any Senator would get in any part of Nigeria, That is the only way to make him happy”, he said.
“You have done well and I can see the future that is clear and I pray for it to manifest fully. The sky is not even your limit. I can see and feel it. Just be patient and by the special grace of God, you will get there.
“You are doing well”, Senator Ogunlewe added.
Another GAC chieftain, Chief Bode Oyedele, while also expressing satisfaction over the representation of Senator Abiru, also assured him that his votes will multiply in the coming elections.
“We are very happy that we have Mikhail Abiru as our Senator representing Lagos East. It is God that knows how to arrange things and same God has arranged yours, I pray that you will move higher”, he said.
“We are not despair at all about his return since we are in East Senatorial District and Lagos State. This is a Senator that was accepted in Ikorodu, Epe, Shomolu, Kosofe and Ibeju – Lekki. This time around, his votes will multiply because people are going to vote for him massively”.
Former Commissioner in Lagos State and Lagos East Senatorial leader, Alhaja Olayinka Oladunjoye, described Senator Abiru as a wonderful representative who is loved by many.
“This is good assemblage of people that made up of the Lagos East Senatorial District.
“I want to thank the Senator for being who he is. He is a wonderful Senator who has passed like Baba Bamu said. The sky is not even the limit for you because you are still going higher. God will continue to enlarge your coast and guide you.
“We have promised and determined to give Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) a bloc vote from the Lagos East and we are working assiduously to achieve that. I know that the Senator will make that happened.
“We are here because of the love that we have for the Senator. We will continue to show him love. Well done Distinguished Senator. You are doing well.
“I want to charge you all to go and get your PVC because without it, there is little or nothing that we can do for Senator Abiru and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu”, she appealed.
Hon.Wale Edun, the predecessor of Senator Abiru in the Lagos State Ministry of Finance, said that his performance is not surprising because of his background.
“The Senator representing the Lagos East is a tactician and we are going to re – elect him once more”, he said.
“He was my successor as the Honourable Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State. We are aware of his pedigree and his background. His father was once a Senator and his brothers are elected and contributing to the political developments.
“We need the likes of Distinguished people like him in politics as members of the legislature and executive arms because that is the only way that we can have good governance”, he said.
The host, Senator Abiru, while thanking party leaders, serving government functionaries and others at the event, said that his focus since being elected over a year ago, has been on Legislative duties, Empowerment facilitation and and Endowment.
“At this point, it is instructive that I recall my priorities and commitment to you all my leaders and constituents when I became Senator.
“I promised to be loyal to the party, our great leaders and the members of the party who have unanimously and overwhelmingly entrusted me with their confidence and mandate.
“I also promised to use my position as Senator, my energy and resources to further the well-being, welfare , prosperity and empowerment of my constituents.
“I promised to represent our party and good people of Lagos East with integrity, passion and commitment, leveraging all the experience, competences, knowledge and relationships that I have acquired over three (3) decades as an economist, chartered accountant, banker and CEO.
“All my career, I have striven to uphold the highest ethical standards, character, professionalism, and the principles of noble upbringing.
“I also promised to honour and improve the legacy of my predecessors including Late Senator (The Honourable Justice) M.A.O Abiru; Late Senator Ogidan; Senator Anthony Adefuye; Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe;Olorunimbe Mamora; Gbenga Ashafa and Late Adebayo Osinowo”.
He said that he has been delivering on these promises with his impactful legislative duties through motions, bills and oversight functions.
Abiru also listed his achievement in the area Needs Assessment, Education, Health, social – Economic Development, Finance Assistance, Business Capacity Development for Entrepreneurs and Endowment Scheme among others as some of his representative achievements.
“So, from day one in office, I was preoccupied with the assignment you have saddled me with so that I can give a good stewardship of the sacred mandate you gave me. With all sense of humility and to the best of my ability, I have strived to meet up with the standards set above in the last 16 months or thereabout that I have been in office.
“My focus remains around Legislative duties, Empowerment, facilitation and Endowment”.
Also on ground to give support to the Senator were his mother and beautiful wife, Feyisola.
Other leaders in attendance were Otunba Busura Alebiosu, GAC leader, Sen. Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (Yayi), Hon. Olayinka Oladunjoye, Vice Chairman, Lagos East, Chief Steven Oyedele, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, former Commissioner for Agric and former Vice Chairman, Lagos East, Alhaji Jamiu Quadri, Baba Oba of Egbin and APC chieftain in Ikorodu Division, Rep. Babajimi Benson, Member, House of Representative, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Alhaji Monzor Kolawole Olowoshago, Publisher, Oriwu Sun and Mrs Yinka Osinubi, former Financial Secretary, Lagos APC among others.
There were also many members of the House of Representatives, Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Council Chairmen across the State, Councilors and LGA and Ward leaders across the Lagos East Senatorial District.
