Upset As Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani Enters Race For Ikorodu North LCDA’s Chairmanship

Kunle Adelabu

-Other aspirants intensify campaign

Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani, Chairman, APC Ikorodu Division

The perception of politics as ever – changing, and unpredictable has always played out in many ways and the new development in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu Local Government in Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, should not be a surprise to political observers since it is in the nature of politics to throw up upsets time and again.

As it is, the Ikorodu North LCDA’s political calculation has overnight changed.

Before now, the council which is one of the four councils in Ikorodu has a serving Chairman, Builder Adeola Banjo, who will not be returning. Thus, the contest has now been opened for others interested to contest. Banjo served for about 10 years, first as the Executive Secretary, before he was elected as the Executive Chairman twice on a four-year term respectively.

The initial expectation was that the contest would be among the popular political figures many of whom have aspired over the time to lead the council. One example is Hon. Matthew Odesanya, a serving Supervisor and former Secretary to the Council. Others are Hon. Ola Ameen Apanisile, current Vice Chairman, Ikorodu North LG, Mr Odugbesi, the current Secretary to the council, and Prince Adedoyin Ogunbiyi Jokotex.

In addition to the foregoing are new entrants like Mr Tijani, a serving Councilor in Ikorodu North LCDA and son of Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani, and Dr Samson Bisiriyu, a community mobiliser and youth developer. Some of the aspirants have been engaging in intense underground campaign since last year.

THE IMPACT gathered that the Ikorodu Division Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani, who also doubles as the Chairman of the party in Ikorodu North LCDA and a divisional stalwart of The Mandate Movement (TMM), has also declared interest in the chairmanship race.

But, sources within the Ikorodu North LCDA apex political leadership, and party structure are saying that it was not his idea to go into the contest, rather, he was prevailed upon by some leaders to use his wealth of experience, connection and to pay him back for his loyalty and commitment to the party.

THE IMPACT was informed by reliable sources that the chairman of the council, Builder Banjo, former Secretary to the Council and also former party Chairman, Hon. Iyiola, the Justice Forum leader in Ikorodu North LCDA, Mr Jimoh Ojiji, and a state official of the party, are fully in the promotion of Otunba Tijani to succeed the current chairman.

At the moment, we cannot ascertain the position of Hon. Kunle Ogunbela, a first Executive Chairman of the Council who Otunba Tijani worked with as council’s Vice Chairman and Madam Toyin Salau, a former party chairman who is considered as an iron lady.

But, in the overall calculation, the entrance of Otunba Tijani, who is also called ‘Omo Daada’ by his teeming supporters has caused a serious upset and changed the political calculation in Ikorodu North LCDA, even though, some are also saying that he has not agreed to the demand that he must declare his interest in the race.

It was gathered that the team promoting ‘Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani for the council Chairmanship has also sold the idea to key apex leaders in Ikorodu Division including Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe and Asipa Kaoli Olusanya among others.

Just like other council areas in the division, the political arrangement in Ikorodu North LCDA is a rotational system when it comes to the Council Chairmanship, party Chairmanship and other positions. Since it was the Justice Forum (JF) that produced Builder Adeola Banjo, who will be completing his tenure in a few months’ time, it is now the turn of The Mandate Movement (formerly The Mandate Group, TMG) to produce the next council chairman.

Meanwhile, aspirant like Hon. Matthew Adesanya, who has been a grassroots politician and past holder of many positions within the party and council and has aspired for the chairmanship position of the council multiple times is still in the race and is not giving up on his aspirations no matter what.

We also gathered that Hon. Ola Ameen Apanisile, current Vice Chairman, Ikorodu North LG, Prince Adedoyin Ogunbiyi Jokotex, a health professional and young mobiliser, and Dr. Samson Bisiriyu, a community and youth activist, are sustaining their campaigns.

Jokotex, it was gathered submitted his letter of intention at the last LGA meeting of the APC last week to

In the latest development, Mr Taiwo Odumbo is another aspirant, we gathered, is interested in the Ikorodu North LCDA Chairmanship. He is an educationist and in charge of one of the foremost schools in Lagos State. Odumbo who was a former youth leader in the state is a chieftain of iCare Foundation of Rep. Babajimi Benson.

He is said to be very serious about the aspiration and is also going about his campaign strategically.

In all, interesting times lie ahead in the build -up to the election in Ikorodu North LCDA just like other council areas in Ikorodu Division.

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