Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
In the build up to the forthcoming 2027 General Elections, traditional and political leaders from Ikorodu Division have spoken loudly of their demands from the All Progressives Congress (APC), emphasizing that the contributions of the division must count in terms of cabinet appointments and infrastructural developments.
The demands were presented to the Governorship candidate of the APC, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, during his visit to the traditional rulers in Ikorodu, with his deputy gubernatorial candidate, Princess Damilola Sonayon James and chieftains of the party, on Thursday.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo -Olu, and members of his cabinet were also in attendance at the parley held at the Ayangbure palace, Ikorodu.
Ikorodu, which has been contributing significantly to the ruling party over the years, has always agitated for proportionate and equitable patronage after every election but always ended up getting one or two cabinet positions out of over about 40 Commissioners and Special Advisers in the state.
Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, a chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), speaking during the visit, said that Ikorodu has unanimously endorsed the APC gubernatorial and other candidates, and assured that the division will also maintain its support for the progressives party with 250 000 votes.
“We have fully accepted the candidature of Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and I move that he should be our next governor. We also accept all other candidates of the APC.
“Ikorodu, in terms of registration, has the highest votes and I remember in 2011, when we were voting for the BRF’s second returns, and we recorded 99,000 votes which made the 250, 000 that we are promising in the coming election attainable. In 2023, it wa also the 50, 000 votes that we gave President Bola Tinubu, that is the highest in the state because no other part of the state measured up to that and you all are aware of the circumstances that even brought about the figure.
“You have seen the number of our registered voters in the build up to the forthcoming elections and you can be assured that we will deliver on the promised 250, 000 votes”.
The elder statesman, however, charged the APC guber candidate not to forget Ikorodu in terms of political allocations when his administration is constituted.
“Mr Deputy, you will emerge victorious and become the next governor, but don’t forget Ikorodu when you get into office.
“When I was in government between 1979 and 1983, Lagos had 13 Commissioners but today, we are having about 40 Commissioners. Unfortunately, we always have to embark on spiritual intercessions for us to get two cabinet positions. Let’s there be a change in this respect”, Asiwaju Basorun demanded.
The representative of Ikorodu federal constituency, Rep. Babajimi Benson, also speaking, assured the APC of sustained massive support, reiterating that the 250, 000 votes promised are attainable with the level of mobilization that is ongoing.
“You will know that the incoming govenor will be a successful one going by his arrival at 11am when the event is scheduled to start. That gave him a good point.
“I welcome you to lkorodu, the Miami of Lagos. Ikorodu undoubtedly didn’t score first in Lagos alone for Mr President, but we also emerged as the federal constituency with highest votes which makes us also first in Nigeria, and we intend to maintain that momentum.
“In ikorodu federal constituency, we have over 1000 CDAs and they are all fully mobilised to support you. Ikorodu had always been a progressive federal constituency which has always voted along the progressive line and today and tomorrow won’t be an exception”.
The three -term lawmaker, also raised the concern of Ikorodu, when he added his voice that the division should be remembered for adequate compensation after the elections.
“Mr incoming, the more your administration is equitable to Ikorodu, the more votes you get and the more opportunities. We assure of a 250,000 votes contribution and we also want you, sir, to assure us of a proportionate dividend.
“We have geared our local governments to out- perform some of the divisions in Lagos State. Ijede LCDA has been asked to outperform Epe Division, while Ikorodu North LCDA is preparing to outperform Kosofe LGA and Imota should take on Ibeju Lekki.
“Ikorodu Central has been mandated to outperform Ikeja. We have mapped our strategies and we expect results to be as expected, but we don’t want you to forget us when your administration is constituted”, Rep. Benson reiterated.
In his own contribution, the Senator representing the Lagos East, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, attested to the competence and experience of the APC guber candidate to administer Lagos State.
“Our incoming governor is an experienced bridge builder who understands Lagos dynamism. We have worked together under BRF administration when he was the Commissioner for Works and I oversaw the Ministry of Finance, and I can attest to his competence and capacity to deliver”.
In his royal remarks, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Engr.) Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, described the emergence of Dr.Hamzat as reward for loyalty.
“What is happening between the incumbent and the incoming is a bond; that is the reward of loyalty.
“We are already getting worried when we do not see them bringing the campaign to Ikorodu, but when met with the Deputy, he assured me that Ikorodu should relax and today, they are here to see us”.
The royal father emphasised that traditional rulers also play significant roles in the political development of the state.
“Even though, they are saying that traditional rulers cannot get involved in politics, but many of us were actively involved in politics before we assumed the throne.
“We want to tell the incoming and Mr Governor that the role Obas are playing during electioneering period is not small. They expend their resources and ensure that everything went well, but people don’t see all of these.
“All the Obas are politicians and they do not have any other party except APC. They are firm in their support for the APC”.
Oba Shotobi, who presented the demands of Ikorodu Division to the APC governorship candidate, also reiterated the position of the Ikorodu political leaders that massive votes will be delivered.
“It was true that we stood up to agitate for Ikorodu for Governor, but once we were told the direction that we are going, we accepted the decision and we are speaking with one voice. So, don’t doubt us in Ikorodu, believe and trust us. Just leave the election for us, we will do the needful to attain our commitments.
“Most of the things that we are demanding have already in print and a copy has been given to the Dr Hamzat and we will be discussing fully about it with him later”, the royal father said.
He offered special prayers for the success pf the Deputy Governor and the APC.
Adeboruwa, HRM Oba Semiudeen Kasali, prayed for the APC success in the coming elections, while HRM Oba Mudashiru Agoro, Ranodu of Imota, commended Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat as the only deputy that has never given his Governor any problem.
The royal father also lauded him for his performance as the then Commissioner for Works in the state during which he constructed the Imota ring-road, and assured him that Ikorodu will repay him for his father’s role in development of progressive politics in Lagos state.
Oba Agoro also charged Ikorodu residents to give maximum support to the APC candidates in the coming elections.
Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, commending Ikorodu for its grassroots mobilisation and stressing its strategic importance to Lagos, also emphasised that the state is safe in the hands of his party which started its modern redevelopment.
“The 250, 000 votes pledged by Ikorodu is achievable. Ikorodu has started a model that every one of us must copy across IBILE and LCDAs. We must include our religious houses in everything that we are doing.”
“We all know that we cannot experiment with Lagos because of its importance. That is how God created Lagos. If we are doing 33% of non -oil GDP, that makes us very important and as such our party is the only one that can manage the state which we have been doing over time from the administration of Asiwaju (President Tinubu) as governor of Lagos State.
“Ikorodu Division is mentioned in 34 places in the Lagos Development Plan up to 1935, and part of our model template is that we must power Odogunyan because companies are coming back and there is no other place for them to go except Odogunyan and Fatai Atere, and they must have embedded power. So, by nature of our development, it is only Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry that can still accommodate coming developments.
“How to now make sure that each and every one of them relies on their specific advantage is what we must do.”
He added: “Lagos State by God’s grace will keep progressing. Unfortunately, those contesting against us do not have any understanding of how the state works. They haven’t seen the house and they do not know how to describe it and knowledge is correlated with experience. You cannot rely on what you don’t know. It is only what you know that you can remember.”
Reacting to Ikorodu’s request presented by the royal fathers, Dr Obafemi assured that the state won’t forget Ikorodu after the election.
“Kabiyesi has given me a love letter (list of items) that Ikorodu wants from our government after the election. Although, it’s not comprehensive, but quite detailed. It includes roads and others. Ikorodu is very special.”
“We are not going to forget because if “I” is removed from IBILE (Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos and Epe – the divisions that constitute the state), it will no longer be Lagos again. Therefore, we cannot and it is not just practicable and as we have said, how do we continue to expand Lagos horizon? If we decide to build a manufacturing company or an ICT hub, where else do we take them to if not Ikorodu and other places?
“So, we must just get ready.”
The incumbent Lagos Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo -Olu, who was thankful for Ikorodu supports over the years also assured that Ikorodu is too big to be forgotten.
“Ikorodu is not a small town. It’s a town that is always in the lead. I am here to thank Ikorodu for everything- what people of Ikorodu did yesterday, today and what they will still do for us in future.
“It is because of this that I have to ensure that I am part of the team that will be visiting Ikorodu, even though I have not been visiting other places that the campaign team have been going and I apologise for that”.
Re-emphasising the importance of Ikorodu, Gov. Sanwo -Olu urged political leaders and residents to deliver on the pledged 250,000 votes, and assured that all the demand of the division would be met.
“So, I am banking on the 250, 000 votes that Ikorodu has promised us, and the assurance that leaders have given us that Ikorodu is united in this regard.
“Once we scale through the Presidential election, the governorship will just be a consequential one and we have a lot to campaign with. We must stand firm for the Presidential votes and also for the Senatorial and that of the House of Representatives. In fact, your MHR (Rep. Babajimi Benson), always boast in Abuja that he’s going to maintain the highest votes by any federal constituency in Nigeria.
“So, we are here to thank you and enjoin you to canvass for us and after the elections, we are going to implement all your demands, including the number of cabinet members that you have requested for”, he assured.
Gov. Sanwo -Olu also confirmed that Ikorodu wil also get a food hub bigger than those that have been constructed across the state.
“We are going to have a food hub in Ikorodu bigger than others that we are building”.
Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, APC State Chairman, in his own assurance, said that the coming elections will not be the same, while also reiterating how important Ikorodu is to the ruling party’s success.
“We have listened to you carefully and I want to assure that this election is not going to be business as usual.
“Ikorodu local government has a total of 694 polling units, Alimosho has 1545 poling units, but the rate at which people are moving into Ikorodu, we need to watch it. Ikorodu is no longer an indigenous local government from all that we have seen. You are on top with the INEC and the APC registrations.
“With this, you need to really double – up in reaching out”.
Presenting some of the strategies that his party is adopting during the forthcoming elections Pastor Ojelabi, said: “We are looking out for volunteers that are going to man each of the 694 polling units genuinely. If we also have 15 canvassers in each of these units with necessary documents that will enable them track people in these areas, our target is achievable.
“The directive that we gave our party chairmen along with the leadership is that they should involve people that can influence the voters. The CDAs should not be left out; artisans, youths and othe strategic partnerships. It’s not left to members of the APC alone, but also to those who have what it takes to galvanise votes. I am appealing.
“Mr Governor, Sen. Abiru and Hon. Jimi Benson know what they have been facing in making their demands actualized. Not everything that they have requested from the President that has been met, because if it’s me too, I won’t leave those that gave me 10 votes and take care of those that gave me three or four votes. It’s normal to take care of where I got 10 votes first”.
The state APC Chairman, assured that every electoral input will definitely count this time around.
“The quantum of our investment, votes, will determine what we get. I want to plead that this election is critical to us as a people; Yoruba race and more importantly, as Lagos State.
“I want to assure you as the chairman of your party that it’s not going to be business as usual where monkey would work and baboons will be the one eating. The quantum of what you are able to deliver to our success would determine what you get”, he said.
Also at the event were Oba Abdul-Akeem Adeoriyomi Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin Kingdom; Oba Adefarasin Saheed Hassan, the Alajede of Ijede, Oba Bashir Sotonwa, the Sekumade of Ibeshe; Oba Richard Abayomi Ogunsanya, the Olubeshe of Ibeshe; Oba Olukayode David Raji, JP, the Eweye of Isiu and Oba Ahmed Olakunle Ogunnaike Ogunderu, the Alagura of Agura among others.
