Following widespread rumour making the rounds in the political circles in Ikorodu Division and some parts of the State, the leadership of The Mandate Group Ikorodu Division, a formidable group within the ruling, All Progressives Congress APC has denied planned by its members to protest the re-nomination of the immediate past Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya as a Commissioner-Nominee from Ikorodu Division.
The rumour was against the backdrop of unconfirmed reports which claimed that Ms Olusanya, daughter of an APC Chieftain, who himself was a two-term Commissioner for Agriculture between 1999-2007, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya has been shortlisted among nominees for consideration as Commissioner in the second term administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.
Reacting to the rumour, a former Lagos State APC Secretary and Lagos East Senatorial Leader of The Mandate Group and an Ikorodu indigene, Primate Charles Odugbesi has dismissed the rumoured protest, describing it as malicious and unfounded.
Odugbesi made the disclosure in a public statement which was made available to Ikorodu Oga Radio on Tuesday.
The statement of rebuttal is hereby reproduced below;
The purported protest against the candidature of a nominee by Ikorodu Division Mandate Movement
It has come to our notice, a rumour going round that some members of The Mandate Group in Ikorodu division, loyal to both Cardinal James Omolaja Odunmbaku, JP., MFR and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are planning to stage a protest against the nomination of one of Ikorodu indigenes, particularly Ms Olusanya, daughter of one of the chieftains of APC in the state. We have come out to unequivocally deny any such move either in dream or in reality.
The Mandate Movement, from our part, will never go against the nomination of any indigene of Ikorodu or any person at all for any position in the state or on a national level. If the Governor, who the lady worked with, deemed it fit that she is good to go again, so be it. A good term, to us, deserves another term. One of our group’s aims and objectives does not include blocking people’s chances.
So I, Primate Charles Odugbesi, JP, the leader of the Group in Ikorodu division deny any such move or thought. So it is an imagination of some dubious people who are enemies of good things for Ikorodu division and we hereby distance ourselves from such move.
Our prayer is that whoever is or are chosen to represent us will have the spirit of love and fear of God to carry out their assignments.
Primate Charles Odugbesi, JP,
Senatorial Coordinator,
The Mandate Movement Nigeria and Diaspora
