Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
Former Commissioner for Rural Development in Lagos State, Prince Lanre Balogun and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Adio Saka, have both expressed their satisfaction at the appointment of Comrade Japheth Odesanya as the Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) in Ikorodu Division.
The chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), acknowledged Odesanya’s qualities when he paid them separate courtesy visits on Wednesday, in continuation of his consultations with major stakeholders across Ikorodu Division.
So far, the RHA Coordinator has visited notable leaders and stakeholders across the six councils in Ikorodu Division, starting from Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, former Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, GAC chieftain, Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya, APC chieftain, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, former Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA), Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, former Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Dr. Nurudeen Agbaje, Special Adviser on Rural Development, Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun, representative, Ikorodu Constituency II, LSHA, Omoba Hameed Aroyewun, Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Adedayo Ladega, Chairman, Ikorodu LG, and Hon. Ameen Apanisile, Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA among others.
Prince Jamiu Adio Saka, who hosted the RHA team in his office at the Ikorodu Plaza, Ita -Elewa, Ikorodu, congratulated the Coordinator, and also urged that Ikorodu should not take 2027 General Elections for granted, and called for more work to ensure massive victory for President Bola Tinubu.
“The best will happen with regard to the election of Asiwaju. We believe that that one appears to be a done deal, but then, we must not take it for granted; hence the importance of various groupings going round to reinforce the good works that have been done, at least at the grassroots.
“So, I want to congratulate you on being appointed as a coordinator. It is not a tough task; it’s based on capacity and confidence — the capacity to get it done. So, I congratulate you and I welcome you. I can only wish you well.
“If there’s any area where we are required at the party level in Ikorodu West, let us know”, he said.
In his own reactions, Prince Lanre Balogun, who described Japheth as a veteran in grassroots politics, said that the appointment is deserving.
He emphasised that the appointment is an important one which must be approached with maturity and as a team.
“This is a position that is well deserved. You know you are a veteran in Ikorodu political firmament. You have played big roles within the Ikorodu politics that no one can ever forget. It is now for you and your set to be entrusted with a position of responsibilities, because we are gradually leaving the stage and we want to look back and know that the people that we are leaving behind are not just capable, but also are carrying with them the mantra.
“One thing that is certain is that, as an ambassador of Renewed Hope, it carries a lot of weight. It is a position that requires a lot of resilience, a lot of comradeship, and a lot of oneness in the Ikorodu project, because it is going to expose you to many opportunities, networking, new awareness, and new areas.
“I love you for something, you are not a person that is alone man. You walk as a team, espouse cooperation, and forge team work. And anybody that takes teamwork as his mantra, idea, and also uses such,as an ideology, can never fail. I say that with all convictions. You can never fail.
“It is a position that we have been looking forward to, and if they call me like fifty times, I will say that it should be given to Japheth, because you are the one that can do it. In handling this, we are not just talking for Ikorodu; we are talking about someone that can represent us in the comity of nations and conglomeration of many other local governments.
“For this, we have to put our best foot forward, so that by the time you meet people from Kosofe, Shomolu, Lagos Island and other areas, they can’t say Japhet should go and sit down and as a matter of fact, if they are going to pick anybody for the headship of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, it’s going to be you. You have all the qualifications, and everything that is needed”.
While commending his consultations to leaders and stakeholders, Prince Balogun also added that Japheth has good background to work on since Ikorodu has been on the lead and ahead of others councils in Nigeria, in terms of votes, and membership drive for the APC, and urged him to build on it.
“So, that foundation has already been built, and it’s solid that you can only build on it. The opportunities in this assignment are limitless. There is no limit to what God can do. If you look at the skies you see stars, thousands of stars, and I want you to continue to climb, no stopping, and there is nothing that can stop you.
“Your work as an Ambassador for Renewed Hope is to deliver Asiwaju 100%, nothing like 99.9%, because the man has worked. He has worked and we have a lot of things to campaign with and to tell people that this is what we did. In addition, we have good representatives – Senator Mukhail Abriu is doing fantastically well and in fact, if there is no JB (Rep. Babajimi Benson), there is no Ikorodu. If you look around even in front of my house, JB is doing wonders everywhere”.
Speaking earlier at both visits, the RHA Coordinator, Comrade Japheth Odesanya said that he had visited the leaders to formally introduce himself in his new capacity, and sought their blessings and support to achieve massive results for the return of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
He said that he has been moving around the Division to meet leaders and other stakeholders, because the assignment requires collective efforts and he wants to succeed with others.
He emphasised that the primary objectives of the RHA is to properly educate the grassroots people on Tinubu’s programmes, policies and his impacts on them and the country at large, and making sure that they are aware of the importance of re-electing the president to sustain the drive.
