Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-No vacancy in House of Reps seat – Ikorodu leaders
The aspiration of Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency has continued to attract more support from leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), members of the party and major stakeholders across Ikorodu Division.
The latest being his endorsement by the apex leaders of the APC and thousands of the party’s members at the official declaration of the lawmaker for fourth term as the representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency.
At the declaration held at the Ikorodu Town Hall, Ikorodu on Wednesday, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, moved the motion for the endorsement of his House of Reps counterpart which was supported by thousands of members of APC and residents at the campaign rally.
Political, youth, market and other critical stakeholders including council chairmen took their turn on the podium to laud the legislative and representative capacity of Rep. Benson to deserve a fourth term in the House.
Rep. Babajimi Benson, declaring his aspiration for fourth term, said that Ikorodu will always be on top in everything and there is a need to maintain our first positions.
“Ikorodu is always on top and will always be on top. In the APC registration, we are number one. We are also number one in the last General Elections. We have another General Election coming up in January (2027) and there are so many competitions.
“We are not competing with others in Lagos State anymore, rather, we are competing with federal constituencies, and senatorial districts and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has so much faith and belief in Ikorodu.
“He wants us to repeat the same feat that we achieved in 2023 but we are going to do times three of that figure with the commitment of the Ikorodu electorate,” he urged the large crowd.
Speaking on the reason for the gathering, Rep. Benson thanked all the political and other critical stakeholders for their support and pledged continuation of more projects and programmes.
The three -term lawmaker, addressing the crowd asked if he should continue his representation, a request the large crowd roared at in complete affirmation.
While appealing to party members to allow his opponent to exercise his political right to contest against him, he, however, urged them to prove to him with their massive votes who their choice is amongst the two.
He thanked the leadership of the Community Development Committee (CDC) and Community Development Association (CDA) for organising a rally in his honour which is unprecedented. The lawmaker.also commended Ikorodu youth, market leaders and others that also staged support rallies and sponsored posters for him.
Senator Abiru whose appearance electrified and added colour to the campaign rally, enjoined the large crowd to reciprocate the good representation from himself and Rep JB with their votes during the primary elections and in future elections.
Like JB, Abiru charged on the need to sustain the number one positions of Ikorodu and Lagos East in terms of political and electoral values.
” Let us in Ikorodu and in Lagos East Senatorial District continue to move forward. Starting from Friday to Monday, let us come out to vote, and if we have done that, January own will be easy,” the Senator said.
Apex APC leader in Ikorodu, Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya, in a moving speech said that Rep. Benson and Sen. Abiru have access to the Presidency and other critical channels which they have been using to bring development back to Ikorodu and the senatorial district.
He urged members of the APC and the generality of Ikorodu people not to throw that away but sustain their representations in the interests of the division.
“Ikorodu, we are blessed in Ikorodu – we have Abiru; we have Jimi Benson. In Ikorodu, we are blessed, and we should not throw away these blessings,” the politician stated.
Former Deputy Governor and a chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, also threw his weight behind Rep. Benson, who he lauded as a performing lawmaker with assurance that he will be returned to represent Ikorodu Federal Constituency.
Prince Ogunleye who announced that the other aspirant (Hon. AbdulKareem Shittu) contesting for the seat against Rep. Benson is from his ward informed the crowd that he has informed him that it’s not yet his time.
The Divisional Chairman, APC, Otunba Olasunkanmi Tijani, who spoke earlier, said that the party leadership and members are gathered to endorse Rep. Benson, a person he described as a performer like a magician, to continue with his representation.
“What else do we say other than that we are here to witness the endorsement of a political magician — a man who has performed wonders in so many ways. I’m sure you all know this. He is a magician; someone we all love; someone who has brought a lot of unity to Ikorodu and we do appreciate him for what he has done. Now, it is certain that he is going to do more.
“I welcome you all to this occasion of the final endorsement of our candidate. The man that is here today is our man. We stand with him, by him, and we shall always stand for him.”
Otunba Tijani urged party members to use their votes during the primary election to make a massive statement about Rep. Benson across the nation.
“I want to advise you that during this (primary) election, and beyond the primary election, let them know in Nigeria that JB is doing wonderfully well and the only way we can always say thank you to him is by giving him maximum votes.
“Please, on the day of the election, come out in large numbers. The primary is a walkover, but during the elections, I am pleading and saying that we all should come out in large numbers. If every one of us here can bring ten people each to vote during the primary election and also for Asiwaju, for our governor, and for our Assembly members, I think we are good to go,” Otunba Tijani pleaded.
Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo -Alogba, Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Hon. Ameen Ibrahim Apanisile, Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, Omo’ba Hammed Aroyewun, Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA and Hon. Adedayo Ladega, Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, also spoke acknowledging the great impacts of Rep. Benson and his support for them. They pledged their total commitment to his re -election during the primary on Friday and in the General Elections.
Also speaking the Iyaloja General, Ikorodu Division, Chief (Mrs) Busola Isikalu, CDC representative, Mrs Florence, representative of non -indigenes and youth representatives also took their turns to laud Rep. Benson’s impacts and declared their support.
Hon. Gbolahan Ogunleye, representative Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun, representative Ikorodu Constituency II, Prince Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolwotan, aspirant for Constituency I, Mr Yinka Ogbe, another aspirant for Constituency I, Mr Kareem Alogba also aspiring for Constituency I seat and Mr Kazeem Omotayo who is also in the Ikorodu Constituency I race are also in attendance among many others.
