Kunle Adelabu & Wale Jagun
-How chairmanship candidates, vice may emerge
The coast is getting clearer for those that may likely emerge as chairmen across the six council areas in Ikorodu Division, as delegates prepare for the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship primary elections on Saturday, April 10, scheduled to hold at the state secretariat of the party at ACME, Ikeja.
40 aspirants were cleared for the primary after the party’s screening last week, with the party encouraging consensus candidates to reduce tension and acrimony that are pervading the political space in Lagos, as political leaders, party members and aspirants pursue their interest with intense politicking.
While 15 were cleared for the contest in Ikorodu, only 2 got cleared in the race for the Ikorodu West LCDA’s chairmanship, and 9 scaled the hurdle in Ikorodu North LCDA. For Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, 5 aspirants were cleared and just 1 for Ijede LCDA and 8 in Imota LCDA.
Thus, the real politicking began as the chairmanship race was narrowed down to 40 real contenders from about 100 that initially signified interests in the race.
Meanwhile, there have been screenings across the six LCDAs in Ikorodu Division, which outcomes have yet to see the light of the day, weeks after. THE IMPACT gathered that the local screenings were characterized by discrepancies as virtually all the screening committee members are supporting one aspirant or the other, and their scores reflected their individual failings except a few of them that are independent and only looking for credible candidates. So, rather than protecting the interest of Ikorodu, they focused on their selfish interests. In Ikorodu Central LG in particular, because majority of the screening members were unable to defend their scores, the apex body was forced to set up another body to review the report of its original committee. Unfortunately, in politics, time waits for no one.
In some councils, the screening afforded members the opportunity to gang up against their perceived enemies among the aspirants irrespective of what such aspirants have to offer and what he has been doing in the party and community, while they supported aspirants that do not have track records in the party and community engagements.
This accounted for the clear contrast between the results of the screening done at the state level and the jamborees conducted at the local level which results have not seen the light of the day. Unfortunately, the sins of committee members with vested interest bears on the few ones that exercised good judgments.
The apex leaders also failed woefully to call the aspirants together and appealed to them,and if possible, let them know where they are going and while they have to reason with them. Instead, the aspirants were left to fight their own battles as they deemed fit.
Intervention Of Unseen Hands
While the traditional political leaders were going for the jugular of one another to make their aspirants the preferred candidates, a calculative and modern political leader put on the thinking cap with the aid of his strategist to do what is/are politically required, especially in this period of political uncertainties and vacuum, to fill the openings not seen by many.
It was a clever move that swept the rug off the feet of all the political forces in Ikorodu Division. While some accepted the reality, others embarked on moves to overturn what has gone far, and endorsed. The intervention across the six councils gave hoes to many that were in disarray and gave voices to many aspirants who were wandering. But that is why politics is politics. It’s never over until it is over. In situations like this, politicians are usually forced to the roundtable to negotiate and reach consensus, but only a few can make this happen at the moment.
Unknown to many aspirants and leaders, top leaders of the party, especially those that belong to the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), have been badly affected with the Lagos Speaker/Lagos Assembly members/Governor Sanwo – Olu faceoff. The governor too also seems not to know much about what is happening as far as the council elections are concerned in the state, as their access to the Presidency has been cut – off and no one wants to assert any authority again without the President’s directive. This provided those with the thinking cap to up their games and provided the necessary leadership.
Even, the chairmen in Igbogbo/Bayeku and Ikorodu North LCDA, Builders Sesan Daini and Adeola Banjo and a few leaders, clearly saw what some leaders were unable to see as they tried in vain to impose their own candidates, but had to succumb to the forces above them after realizing the silent and smooth operator at work. What they attempted was actually above their pay grades.
THE IMPACT gathered that at the moment, the power to determine who gets what as far as council election is concerned in Lagos State, is in the hand of Hon. James Faleke, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, Hon. Babajimi Benson, Mr Seyi Tinubu and a few others with the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila coordinating the whole thing in the Presidency. There are also others that are not that pronounced but also wield so much power and have been determining who get what.
Unknown to many, agitations in Ikorodu Division died down about two weeks ago when some key aspirants were advised against obtaining the N5.5 million party nomination form, while some accepted, a few others, some of who spoke with THE IMPACT, also agreed, but insisted on getting the form even though, they are not going to get the ticket. This is because of their status and for future references. The remaining others that were not are pretenders, were actually unable to afford the money for the form in the face of their present economic realities.
Arrangements Across The Six Councils In Ikorodu Division
There is something about these arrangements across the six councils – it recognizes the traditional APC’s tradition of allowing council chairmen to serve two – terms, rotation between The Mandate Movement/The Mandate Group and Justice Forum and also recognized power blocs. In addition, it emphasizes the consolidation of youth in leadership positions and governance. But like every human arrangement, it is not perfect, as some are opposed to it and doing everything to overturn it, which is a challenge that is welcome in politics. As politicians always say, “nothing personal, it’s just all politics”.
According to sources, delegates across the division have been mobilized to cast their votes for the favored aspirants, thus, they are not only agreed upon by the stakeholders, but at the end of the day, these aspirants would emerge as the popular candidates.
- Ijede LCDA: Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo – Alogba/Hon. Kabir Kareem:
This is the team that has been favoured not only by men but also by the Olodumare. Both are serving as Chairman and Vice Chairman of Ijede LCDA presently, and there has been consensus for them to return. While the Chairman is a Justice Forum (JF) member, her vice is a member of The Mandate Movement/The Mandate Group (TMM/TMG).
Since there is no controversy about the choice of the duo, suffice to say that their partnership is one made in heaven, and it is certain to continue. Both are actually experienced in the administration of the council and are expected to up their games in terms of delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.
The quick resolution of the political situation in Ijede LCDA was as a result of proactive leadership that the council is blessed with.
- Imota LCDA: Hon. Sunday Benson/Princess Abisoye Oredoyin:
At the moment, THE IMPACT gathered that the current Vice Chairman, Hon. Sunday Benson, a chieftain of the JF, will succeed the outgoing Chairman, Hon. Wasiu Agoro who is a chieftain of the TMM/TMG. Hon. Benson served as the Vice to the outgoing chairman after he was unable to get the seat eight years ago. He is paired with Princess Abisoye Oredoyin, the current Supervisor for Works, Imota LCDA, and a chieftain of iCare Foundation.
It was gathered that the pair have received the blessings of the Ranodu of Imota, Oba (Dr.) Ajibade Agoro, and that of the outgoing chairman, Hon. Wasiu Agoro and other stakeholders. However, it is also imperative to state that some of the seven other aspirants that obtained the party’s nomination forms and cleared for the primary elections, did not accept the verdict and are pressing buttons in Lagos and Abuja where power truly lies against the arrangement.
Even though there are still protests, the extent to which the situation has been resolved boils down to the quality of leadership that are in control of the council’s affairs.
The ticket is actually a combination of experienced duo.
- Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA: Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun (HOA)/Barr Ade Ayeni:
The duo of Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun (HOA), a popular young politician and community developer who had been nominated twice as a cabinet member and also nominated for the position of the Secretary to the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA years back, and Barr. Ade Ayeni, an intelligent barrister, businessman and community builder who is the outgoing SLG of the council, have been penciled down to take over the administration of the from Builder Sesan Daini and Hon. Maja. While Aroyewun was sponsored by the Asiwaju Basorun led JF, Barr Ayeni is political son of Asiwaju Olusanya representing the TMM/TMG.
It was not an easy ride to arrive at the choice of the duo, but at the end of the day, Hammed Aroyewun, in particular, enjoyed the support of the two GAC chieftains – Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun and Sen. Seye Ogunlewe and also the chieftains like Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola and a host of others, including the outgoing council chairman, Builder Sesan Daini who has agreed that he should be the next chairman of the council and Ayeni to deputise him. It was gathered that the agreement was achieved with the intervention of the Ikorodu Federal representatives, Rep. Babajimi Benson. But can politicians be trusted to accept defeat or jettison their interests easily?
So, it is not yet uhuru as the other four aspirants are not relenting. THE IMPACT gathered that, Mr Kunle Bakare, a serving Council Manager and Mr Nasril Titilola Andu, the immediate past Chairman, Igbogbo Day Planning Committee, are doing everything to pull the rug underneath the stakeholders and changed the agreement. Though, they are absolutely right to challenge this arrangement, but at the moment, it is certain to a very large extent that Aroyewun would emerge as the party’s candidate and Ayeni as his deputy, as stakeholders are mobilising their delegates to vote for the ticket as represented by Aroyewun, in the Saturday’s primary election.
While Aroyewun is versed in community and party organization, and also have the support of the youths and major stakeholders in the council, Barr. Ayeni, who has been SLG for eight years, has acquired enough knowledge about the administration of the council and he is expected to bring it to bear.
- Ikorodu Central LG: Adedayo Ladega/Azeez Lamina
Here is a council where there are so many gladiators and political leaders. Unfortunately, the leaders are not proactive enough, even when there are signs of an impending tsunami that is sweeping them away. Where they have failed, emerging proactive leaders are now providing necessary leadership. A race which many thought would be fought by known gladiators has now been determined by external forces with a relatively known aspirant coasting home with the ticket.
The emergence of Ladega/Lamina as favoured candidates still beats the imagination of many, because we forgot that anything is possible in politics. Ladega, ‘like play like play’, stormed Ikorodu political space with the federal power, and what many are saying ‘na lie na lie’, is now turning into a political reality, and has become a bus many leaders and party members are now running to board. For months, the names of Chief Bisi Akande, former Governor of Osun State, Mr Yinka Ajetunifuja, an Ikorodu indigene who works in the Presidency and a Senior Special Assistant to the President, and later, Rep. Babajimi Benson, were mentioned as the sponsors of Ladega. And of course, Rep. Benson has denied this. But, if that is even the case, Ikorodu leadership have enough muscle to counter this perceived ‘invasion’ of their territory. But rather, in their usual lackadaisical manner, they dilly dallied and toyed with the aspirations of about 25 aspirants who initially signified interests and 15 who later obtained the party forms. When you delay a decision, especially in a political matter as important as this, what do you expect?
If anything, the development has proven that Ikorodu’s political space is fragile and can easily be penetrated. This is because it is highly polarized with varying personal interests that are not considering the overall general/community interests. The proactive ones are in the minority and they don’t usually have their ways.
While Ladega emergence can be explained away as an incursion of the Abuja power, the way Azeez Lamina, an aspirant which many see as being sponsored by the outgoing Chairman, Hon. Wasiu Adeshina who is also part of the political structure, as the preferred vice chairmanship candidate, is another puzzle that the political actors in Ikorodu are looking for ways to resolve. Did the council chairman ally with the Abuja forces, ‘abi wetin’ happen? The scenario may find explanation in the popular political maxim, “There is no permanent friend in politics but interests”. But if critically examined, it may be far from any alignment or realignment, but something else But whatever it is, those are the names on the list and may likely fly.
While the emergence of the duo is nothing but what it is – politics, which could have favoured anybody, there is a campaign that they have not been taking part in the party activities and unlike Lamina who has been contributing to the development of the community, those opposed to Ladega emergence said that he lacks community engagement. In addition, it was also argued that the combination of the duo also lacks the required experience to administer a council as complex as Ikorodu, but their own supporters have countered that both are bonafide members of the APC and that they have been contributing silently. It was also argued that both run their private businesses which they have expanded over the years, and that Lamina is a senior civil servant until recently.
But trust Ikorodu, a few who are always ready to go all out like the symbol of the Kolujo Movement, Comrade Japhet Odesanya, a former students’ leader and former Secretary to the Ikorodu Local Government. From all indications, he is not accepting defeat at all and he is ready to step up where the leaders have failed. He has not only been mobilising delegates and appealing to their conscience but also ensuring the power that be, both at the state and the national levels, listen on account of his contributions to the party and how he has been mobilising for over a year. It is gathered that he has on his side those that matter in the state, especially the leaders of the TMM/TMG like Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, Mr. Tayo Ayinde and a host of others. It is also gathered that the former Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye and other leaders may stand in his favour.
Also not relenting is the incumbent Vice Chairman, Ikorodu LG, Princess Folashade Olabanji – Oba who is insisting that the position was promised to her by the former Deputy Ogunleye, Alhaji Junaid Owokodu and Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, when she was denied the opportunity of emerging as the chairman with Hon. Azeez Jimoh Olosugbo as her running mate, four years ago. It was also gathered that she is penetrating the power based in Abuja, including the Presidency, in her efforts to emerge as the APC Chairmanship candidate in Ikorodu LG.
It was also gathered that Mr Babawale Alogba is also using his contacts in the Presidency and Lagos, to ensure that he emerges as the candidate of the APC. In the same vein, Mr Yinka Majekoduni, we gathered, has not accepted defeat. He is also mobilising the delegates and pushing buttons to emerge as the preferred candidate. Another aspirant not also accepting Ladega/Lamina tsunami My Yusuf Atebo Owolewa, who is also pressing buttons far and near to ensure that he gets the ticket.
If anything, the situation in Ikorodu Central LG may be a long-drawn battle.
- Ikorodu North LCDA: Hon. Ola Ameen Apanisile/Hon. Mathew Adesanya:
This is a council that many expected to be volatile as it used to be. However, in the last few days, there are indications that the tension has gone down to a very large extent. It is all – comers affairs in the Chairmanship race in the council, with different power houses aiming to take over the Isiu headquarters of the council after the impending exit of the incumbent, Builder Adeola Banjo, in the next few weeks. Initially, it was seen as a fight between a former Secretary to the council, Hon. Mathew Adesanya and a few young but dynamic politicians, but the advent of the party chairman, Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani, in the race, changed the dynamics. While political observers were yet to recover from the shock, a former council chairman, Hon. Kunle Ogunbela also joined the race and the whole thing turned into a what Fela called ‘Roforofo’ fight.
It was, however, gathered that the intervention of Rep. Babajimi Benson, was able to avert the impending explosion by diffusing the situation. Surprisingly, Otunba Tijani withdrew from the race and adopted Hon. Ola Apanisile, the incumbent council chairman who initially was not certain about replacing his boss who did not support his aspiration until the interventions of forces powerful than him. As at the eve of the primary elections, five other aspirants have also stepped down and adopted Apanisile as the favoured candidate. Meanwhile, Hon. Mathew, who has been denied the chairmanship seat for the fourth time, has also agreed to deputise Apanisile.
The emergence of Apanisile did not only encourage political progression of young politicians, but also served the JF the justice that the group has been looking for since the inception of the council as the TMM/TMG has dominated the council and the party. The duo are also bringing experience. While Apanisile has been the Vice Chairman for eight years, Hon. Mathew is currently a cabinet member. He had previously served as Secretary to the Council and as a Supervisor. He also understands the party structure and he is a grassroots mobiliser of note.
- Ikorodu West LCDA: Hon. Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju/Hon. Segun Aluko:
The current Chairman, Hon. Sulaimon Kazeem and his vice, Hon. Segun Aluko, courtesy of the tradition of the APC, have been penciled down to return for the second term. However, the reelection bid of the chairman is being challenged by a former Vice Chairman of the council, Hon. Sesan Dada who is equally a force to reckon with.
Since the power that be in the party has favoured the incumbent whose name alongside that of his deputy, we gathered, have been penciled down as the APC Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship candidates in the forthcoming elections, the former vice chairman, Dada, is doing everything to change the situation, thereby, posing serious threat to the return of the incumbent chairman.
The chairman may emerge at the end of the power – game, but it is certain that Hon. Dada will still give him a good run.
