Kunle Adelabu
-Ikorodu LG Chair loses out of political power game
The Secretary to Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Barr. Ade Ayeni, former Chairmanship aspirant, Mr Babawale Alogba, and Hon. Mathew Adesanya, a serving Supervisor, are among those approved to be co – flagbearers to the elected chairmanship candidates elected at the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections last weekend.
The 57 Chairmanship candidates were elected at the APC primary elections held at the party’s Secretariat at Acme, Lagos.
Other Vice Chairmanship candidates in Ikorodu announced by the APC on Wednesday, are Hon. Segun Aluko, the incumbent Vice Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, Hon. Kabir Kareem, serving Vice Chairman, Ijede LCDA and Princess Abisoye Oredoyin Jimoh, also serving as Vice Chairman in Imota LCDA.
THE IMPACT, in a piece titled: ‘Traditional Versus Modern/Emerging Political Powers: Who Decides Who Gets What In Ikorodu Councils’ Elections 2025’, with a rider, ‘How Chairmanship Candidates, Vice May Emerge’, had reported that all the names announced by the party would be the announced as the APC Chairmanship candidates, except Mr Babawale Alogba.
In the piece, it was also reported that Mr Azeez Lamina, the choice of the Ikorodu LG Chairman, Hon. Wasiu Adeshina, to succeed him, would now be the Vice Chairmanship candidate for Ikorodu. But we also raised the issue of concern of the people on the combination of Mr Adedayo Ladega and Mr Azeez Lamina and also the political implication of Adeshina having his say and way against the traditional political leaders that made him.
It was the assurance that Lamina would be given the Vice Chairmanship position that made him withdrew from the Chairmanship race and partnered with Ladega.
Aftermath the primary election, it was gathered that the politicking continued as usual, as the apex APC leadership in Ikorodu, especially the Justice Forum (JF), led by the former Deputy Governor Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, insisted on having its choice as the Vice Chairmanship candidate.
It was gathered that the JF had been pushing for Mr Babawale Alogba who is a son of a late prominent Ikorodu indigene and philanthropist, late Chief Musediq Alogba who was the brother to the recently deceased Alhaji Salisu Alogba, a former Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and first Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy in Ikorodu Local Government.
THE IMPACT also gathered that efforts to ensure that the JF put Babawale Alogba in good position for the chairmanship or vice chairmanship position started some few weeks back when the group constituted another screening committee to, again, screen members of the group aspiring for the Chairmanship position which nullified the one earlier conducted in February.
It was the second screening that produced Babawale Alogba as the favourite choice of the JF for the Chairmanship position and in the case of eventualities, for the Vice Chairmanship position. Unknown to many, Babawale Alogba, like a few other Chairmanship aspirants, also has connections in Abuja and Lagos, that are protecting his interest.
Aside that Alogba, who is a former banker, possesses the required qualities to serve in the position, it was also considered that it is pay back time for all that his late father, Alhaji Musediq Alogba and uncle, Alhaji Salisu Alogba, had done for Ikorodu Division, Lagos State and the party. Alogba is expected to bring his business experience, boardroom capacity and influence to bear on the administration. He is definitely a young politician to watch in the next few years.
The implication of the emergence of Babawale Alogba as the Vice Chairmanship candidate is that the incumbent Chairman of Ikorodu LG, Hon Adeshina, has completely lost out of the political game just like his counterparts in the other councils who attempted to impose their choice on the people.
In the case of Hon. Mathew Adesanya, a former Secretary to the Ikorodu North LCDA, the affirmed Vice Chairmanship candidate for Ikorodu North LCDA, it was another missed opportunity for him to achieve his dream of becoming the chairman of the council. For three consecutive times, he was denied the opportunity to administer the council even when it was glaring that he would emerge as the candidate.
This is because of his strong personality and independent status which many political leaders and others cannot cope with. So, his emergence as the Vice Chairmanship candidate, THE IMPACT gathered, was because of an intervention of a powerful figure that insisted that he cannot be schemed out of the race totally, hence, his emergence as the co – flagbearer.
As a former SLG, cabinet member and notable community leader, Hon. Mathew is expected to bring his vast experience to bear on the administration that would be led by Hon. Ola Apanisile, if their party eventually wins the LG elections.
Barrister Ade Ayeni, who is announced as the Vice Chairmanship candidate for the APC in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, is another experienced political office holder, having served as the Secretary to the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA. Though, his presence in the cabinet seems to be a threat to some, but he served diligently for eight years without rocking the boat. Despite that, THE IMPACT gathered that some people still see him as someone that should not be allowed back into the council, and to achieve this, obstacles were placed against his chairmanship aspiration just like that of Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun who is today the Chairmanship candidate.
As political calculation would have it, Ayeni, who has been played out of the political game, bounced back into political reckoning when the initial plan of those that constituted themselves into cabal in the council failed. THE IMPACT gathered that the fact that his principal and political godfather, Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya, still have so much faith in him, this, couple with the support of the representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Rep. Babajimi Benson, who is also a constituent of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and one of the council’s political leaders, played out in his favour. He is also said to have used his connections outside Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and Ikorodu Division, to maintain his political relevance.
Ayeni, as the Vice Chairman, will not only be bringing experience from his eight years as SLG to help in the coming administration, but also his knowledge as a sound and knowledgeable legal practitioner.
Hon. Segun Aluko, the incumbent Vice Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, has maintained a dignified status in the last four years, despite several negative news about the administration that he is serving in. This has proven him as a political actor from highly disciplined background and also as a son of late revered political leader, Chief Aluko and also his mother who was also a political leader until she breadth her last.
Aluko is a partner that any chairman would pray to have, because he doesn’t go beyond his boundary and time. His return as the Vice Chairman candidate to partner his boss, Hon. Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju, is, therefore, expected. Politically, he is a candidate for a bigger position in the future.
The serving Vice Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Hon. Kabir Kareem who has been affirmed by the ruling APC as its Vice Chairmanship candidate in the council in the coming elections, is another young man that has maintained his honour and dignity while serving in the last four years, under her boss who is younger than him.
He came on board four years ago as a product of circumstance when his boss, Hon Jimoh Fathiu, was unable to make it back to serve his second term as the chairman, Ijede LCDA. However, rather than allowing the complex and fluid nature of Ijede politics to take over him, he has displayed nothing but maturity, candour and a good sense of his environment.
So, his announcement which, THE MPACT said that has been on the list in the piece published on the morning of the Chairmanship primary elections, should also not surprise anyone. Like Aluko, Hon. Kareem is also a candidate for higher responsibility in the future.
Princess Abisoye Oredoyin Jimoh, the Supervisor for Works, Imota LCDA, and now the preferred Vice Chairman of the APC in Imota LCDA, may be on her way to make history as the fourth female Chairman in Ikorodu Division, after late Yeye Fausat Gbadebo, former Chairman, Ijede LCDA, her daughter and the serving Chairman of Ijede LCDA, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo – Alogba, and Princess Jumoke Ademehin Jimbo, former Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, judging by her political, community and other activities, and also if she is able to maintain her relevance.
Although, she announced her interest in the Chairmanship race knowing well that her principal who was instrumental to the emergence of most of the chairmanship and vice chairmanship candidates in Ikorodu Division, Hon. Wasiu Agoro, would not be returning, but jettisoned her political aspiration to make way for the emergence of Hon. Sunday Benson. Our reporter gathered that her political godfather, who initially sanctioned her aspiration, pleaded with her to let go of it when some leaders in Ikorodu Division called for justice for JF in Imota, which favoured the incumbent Vice Chairman of the council as the Chairmanship candidate of the APC, against the interest of the traditional political determinant.
Her emergence as the Vice Chairman to join the council boss in Ijede LCDA as female council top officials, when the local government administration is properly reconstituted in a few weeks time, is a good omen regarding the clamour for women participation in politics and political leadership in Ikorodu.
But since politics is never a 100-meter dash but a long, tortious and tiring marathon race, politicians that lost out of the game will definitely not relax or throw in the towel but wait for the next four years to go at it again. Also, they will be waiting on the line as there might be secret moves to change the Chairmanship and the Vice Chairmanship candidates before the expiration of the final submission date to the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
Therefore, more political dramas are expected in Ikorodu, in the next few days or weeks. It is not over until it is over!
