LAGOS ASSEMBLY SPEAKERSHIP: TIME FOR IKORODU DIVISION TO WAKE UP FROM POLITICAL SLUMBER

As the new Lagos State government takes shape gradually,  it is pertinent to note that, while other divisions of the State seems to be getting their fair shares of the spoils of the 2019 electoral victory, there’s little or nothing significant yet for the Ikorodu Division to show for its persistent loyalty and commitment to the ruling, All Progressives Congress, APC.

For a division that came third (45,879) in the 2019 governorship election result, after Alimosho (78,379) and Mushin local government(51,899), it is expected that the division would have been considered for, at least one of the appointments so far announced by the newly elected Lagos State Governor, His Excellency, Mr Babajide Sanwoolu.

Ordinarily, Ikorodu Division, with several eminently qualified sons and daughters in different spheres of life ought to have been considered for either the Governorship or the Deputy Governorship tickets of the ruling All Progressives Congress. This is considering the fact that the second term governorship ticket denied the former Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode was the slot of Lagos East, a senatorial zone where Ikorodu constitutes about two-third, with 30 out of 90 wards that make up the entire senatorial zone.

It is shocking that, though the division was also denied the Lagos East Senatorial ticket, which the division initially pushed for,  through the then candidacy of Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru, the Ikorodu Division is yet to be accorded its due recognition and political patronage its deserves. This is worrisome, considering the fact that Ikorodu Division has kept faith with APC, inspite of being denied the Lagos State Number one job, despite its clamour for the top job at two different consecutive times, in 2007 and 2015.

Shockingly too, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, a former two time Commissioner of Agric and Cooperatives, who is also the current Vice Chairman, Lagos East of the APC who have been tipped by many as a potential Secretary to the State Government was played out of consideration in the last minute, with the announcement of  a former Lagos HOS, Mrs Funmi Jaji. This is, without recourse to his unalloyed loyalty and support to APC as a party and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the party leader.

So far, the only major position conceded to the division, whose many sons and daughters played prominent roles as directors and members of strategic committees in the Babajide Sanwoolu Campaign organisation was Friday’s re-election of Hon SOB Agunbiade, representing Ikorodu Constituency 1, as Majority Leader of the 9th Lagos State House of Assembly.

Were the Ikorodu Division APC leaders relevant in the decision-making hierarchy of Lagos State, Hon SOB Agunbaide, a fourth term member of the House, who had earlier served as Majority Leader of the 8th Assembly, with strong legislative experience and exposure would have been considered as the party’s favoured candidate for the Assembly number one job, as compensation for the division’s many concessions to the party’s decision. But, alas, Hon Mudashiru Obasa, the immediate past Speaker of the 8th Assembly was nominated unopposed to return as the Speaker of the 9th Assembly.  This is without any ‘fight’ or ‘push’ from Ikorodu Division.

Except a drastic step is taken to address the current trend of political appointments in the State, the entire Ikorodu Division may simply continue to remain foot soldiers for the APC, with little or nothing substantial to show for it, as a division.

If for nothing, Ikorodu Division, one of the founding five divisions of Lagos State, with a former deputy governor, two former SSGs and two former Lagos State Heads of Service and several former members of the State executive deserves a better deal from the ruling party.

But, like the popular saying, power is not served a la carte hence, APC leaders across Ikorodu division really need to put their acts together, speak with one voice and negotiate for a better treatment and political patronage from the forthcoming Lagos State Executive Council.

In just few weeks from now, when names of Commissioners, Special Advisers and other political appointees in the State will be announced, it will be obvious to all, if Ikorodu Division leaders have eventually woken up from their political slumber or if the division’s millions of party faithful and residents will have to look elsewhere for their political redemption.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwoolu, his deputy, Mr Obafemi Hamzat with Ikorodu Division Monarchs during their campaign visit to Ikorodu

             Photo Credits: Oriwu Sun Newspaper and Mega Expression Magazine

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *