Kunle Adelabu
Though, it was expected that the incumbent representative of Ikorodu Constituency II, Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA) would be returned unopposed candidate for the second term considering the overwhelming support that he enjoyed across the three local councils that made up the constituency, but that is not to be as he will have to contend with Hon. Matti Olakunle Aliasau in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election slated for Wednesday.
Both met in the APC primary elections four years ago which AMA won and eventually emerged as the representative of Ikorodu Constituency II after the 2023 General Elections.
The duo are from Ijede Local Council Development Area which is the council that is enjoying the rotational power to present candidates for the Assembly seat for eight years of two terms. AMA, who was elected three years ago, is using Ijede’s slot and he’s seeking the party’s ticket for another term while he still has a year left in his term. After Ijede LCDA, it will be the turn of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA and thereafter, Imota LCDA.
The three years of Hon. Aro’s representation have been described as unprecedented in the annals of history in Ikorodu Constituency II with achievements in his legislative and representative capacities.
Hon Ama declared for another armed with proof of what he has been able to achieve in terms of lawmaking, representation and oversight functions.
In his declaration about two weeks ago, Hon. Aro gave his stewardship account on educational intervention, employment facilitation, road interventions and many more.
AMA prioritises education in the last three years, and through one of his initiatives – AMA GIANT BRAINS, he placed computers in the hands of our brightest students, preparing them for a digital future. He also introduced ZERO DROPOUT, an initiative which led his team into various communities to take children back to school.
He also removed financial barriers from parents every year by providing JAMB and GCE forms to students.
AMA also facilitated blocks of classroom in: Reri Secondary School, Lajo Junior Secondary School, Luwasa Secondary School and also renovated some school buildings with his personal earnings.
In the area of empowerment, the lawmaker said that he supported small scale business owners with several millions; empowered skilled youths and secured employment for over 100 of another set of youths.
Through deliberate effort, recommendation, and follow-through, AMA facilitated employment for over 100 constituents with the Lagos State Government.
The lawmaker has also impacted over 20 roads in the three local councils in his constituency and also provided many transformers and solar lights for many communities. His impact on the abandoned Igbogbo/Bola Tinubu/Igbe Laara Road which is now nearing completion remains a very notable one.
In the area of sports, AMA played pivotal roles in the ongoing construction of Igbogbo Stadium and he is also organising the largest football tournament in Ikorodu Division – Ikorodu Constituency II All Stars Tournament. The tournament is the largest in terms of participation, venues, crowd participation and prize money. There is also another one U-18 tournament which is meant to develop young talents.
As a legislator, Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun also played critical roles in joining other members of the House in making laws shaping Lagos State. Some of the laws he sponsored and co -sponsored were Electricity Law, Local Government Administration Law, Appropriation Laws, Lateef Jakande Academy Law and Lagos Geographic Information Service Law among others.
Above stated performance and many more are reasons that the entire royal fathers in Ikorodu Constituency II have endorsed AMA for second term. He also secured the endorsement of Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, GAC chieftain, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, GAC chieftain, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, former member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Wasiu Agoro, former Chairman, Imota LCDA, Builder Sesan Daini, former Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, the three council chairmen in Ikorodu Constituency II and other critical stakeholders, members of the APC and major political groups – The Mandate Movement and Justice Forum, across the constituency.
AMA is an accountant, entrepreneur, and politician. He began his education at Anwar-ul-Islam Primary School, Ijede (1991–1996) and proceeded to Luwasa High School, Ijede, for his secondary education (1996–2002). He later attended Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Accounting (2006–2011).
Before his foray into politics, AMA was involved in private businesses – timber and hospitality. He has also held leadership positions in trade associations. He was Regional Manager, Billington India Wood Import and Exporter, 2002- 2008; Associate Director, Temitope Group of Company, 2008-2012; Chief Executive Officer, MKTVARO Nigeria Limited and Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, AMA Hotel & Suites in Ijede.
On the other hand, Hon. Matti Olakunle Aliasau, a chartered accountant, administrator, teacher, senior council official and community leader par excellence, is also not a pushover. He has been a member of the progressives since 1999 and served the party in many capacities.
He is also not new to the Assembly contest in which he contested four years ago but lost to the incumbent in the primary election.
After his primary and secondary education, both in Surulere and Ijede respectively, Matti, popularly called ‘Ally’, gained admission into the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Yaba, Lagos, where he studied Business Administration between 1997 and 1999 and bagged Ordinary National Diploma (OND). He proceeded to the prestigious Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, where he obtained Bachelors of Science (B.Sc) in Accountancy between 1999 and 2003.
Between 2009 and 2011, Matti also bagged Masters of Science (MSc) in Business Management.
He is a member, Institute of Strategic Management; Qualified Accountant (CNA) and Student – Member, Certified information systems Auditors ( CISA). He has many other certificates in Administration and Management.
Matti has remarkable contributions in community developments and engagements. He was the President (third), Ijede Students’ Union (ISU) between 1998 and 2000; Foundation Assistant Secretary, Ijede Development Foundation (IDF) 2013 – 2017 and General Secretary , IDF, 2017 till date.
Olakunle Matti donated a borehole water project for the use of residents of Ojuyemoro/Oju Ogun community in Ijede which is still functioning till date.
He founded the Greenlight Concept which was designed to provide tutorial classes, nurture and encourage young people to study and pass their WAEC, GCE and JAMB in Ijede.
The aspirant is also a former president, Development Platform (DP), a platform whose membership cuts across the Ikorodu Division.
Politically, his engagement started in his days at the university. Matti was the former Auditor, Accounting Students’ Association, Lagos State University, (ASA – LASU), General Secretary, Faculty of Management Science, LASU. He was also the General Secretary, National Union of Local Government Employees of Nigeria (NULGE), Ikorodu Local Government between 2011 and 2014. He was also the Chairman, Audit Committee, LASUSU.
He started his active politics in 1996, when the struggle for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s Governorship ambition started. The aspirant, who said that he was a member of the AUF under the leadership of late Alhaji Munir Ajisebutu under whom he learnt the arts and science of politics, also added that he was the Director, Publicity, Omoluabi Group and a member of Justice Forum (JF).
Matti was Secretary, State Special Committee, Ijede Ward D1 (Alliance for Democracy) 2001.
During his service to the country as a Corps Member between 2004/05, Olakunle Matti served as a teacher in Bokkos LG, Plateau State. He also worked as a Tutor (Financial Accounting) at Stars International College, Eyita, Ikorodu, between 2005 and 2006 after which he joined Medview Airline, Ikeja, as Chief Finance Officer (CFO) between 2006 and 2008.
He got into the service of the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission in 2008 and his first council of call was the Ikorodu Local Government where he worked as acting 2nd Signatory and later Principal Accountant between 2008 and 2017.
He was later posted to Ikorodu North LCDA and served in the capacity of Internal Auditor and Assistant Chief Accountant between February 2017 and March 2021. Matti was posted to Iru Victoria Island LCDA in March 2021 as the Internal Auditor and now Chief Accountant.
