Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi, fondly called BOG, says he is the candidate to beat in Lagos PDP governorship primary, writes Senior Correspondent, ISHAYA IBRAHIM
Babatunde Gbadamosi, as other aspirants, is upbeat on his chances in the December 8 Lagos Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary, believing that he would clinch the ticket.
But unlike many, he is coming into the fray as a private sector person – never held any political appointment. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Redbrick Homes International Limited, a real estate development firm.
He is inspired by Obafemi Awolowo, who became Premier of Western Region from his law practice, and Lateef Jakande, the journalist who governed Lagos after quitting the newsroom.
He said: “Obafemi Awolowo, prior to becoming the Western Region Premier, had never had anything to do with government. Yes, he was a politician. Yes, he was an agitator for Independence, frontline nationalist and so on, but he had never been in government.
“So, he had no experience. And when he came in, for the British, who had been running the Western Region for so many years, Awolowo somehow managed to surpass any achievement they made. ”
Jakande, he said, had never been in government until his election as Lagos governor. “He was a private sector man, a publisher and journalist of note. But he came into government with a passion for the people, with an agenda, with a plan. And so, when he came into office, he did what had never been done since Lagos State was created in 1967. And today, we are still discussing Jakande every time we discuss the issue of Lagos.”
Gbadamosi sees himself in the mould of these two men – someone who has never been in government, but has made a success in the private sector.
His words: “Like Awolowo before me, like Jakande before me, I’m coming in with no previous experience of ever working in government. I have been looking from the outside and I have a plan. I have a passion for my people. I am from Lagos State, unlike some.
“My ancestry is rooted in Ikorodu, going back to five generations. I am bringing the same private sector drive, the same private sector ethos of planning – planning on a short term, in the medium term and long term. I’m bringing that to the table. I am bringing a great deal of knowledge of development,” he said.
But he has a hurdle – getting the PDP governorship ticket which other aspirants, including Musiliu Obanikoro, Segun Ogundimu, Tunde Daramola, Ade Dosunmu, Adedeji Doherty and Jimi Agbaje, are also eyeing.
Gbadamosi said he is unperturbed, and that going by the ward congresses of the party held on November 1, his chances are even higher.
“That’s really a matter for the internal electorate in the PDP. Fortunately, the PDP is a democratic party and delegates have emerged.
“Yes, I am aware that one or two unscrupulous individuals are running around trying to change the list of delegates that emerged; they are trying to alter the list. The party is resisting that at the very highest levels and we know that come December 8, we will be holding the primaries with the list of delegates that actually emerged from the ward congresses,” he said.
There is also the talk that Agbaje has been anointed to fly the flag of the PDP in the February 28, 2015 governorship election.
Agbaje was the candidate of the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) in the 2007 Lagos State governorship election. He came second, despite running under a relatively new party.
As the election draws near, it is alleged that PDP juggernauts want to leverage on his popularity to clinch Lagos State. But for Gbadamosi, that would be suicidal.
He recalled that in the run-up to the 2003 election, Funsho Williams defected to the PDP and was given the party’s governorship ticket. That act, he said, divided the party and cost it the election.
“The PDP is a party of people that have a sense of history. And I want to assure that Jimi Agbaje’s entrance, however heralded, however celebrated by whoever is promoting him, is not enough to split the PDP in Lagos,” he said.
“Our leaders have denied endorsing anyone. I have spoken to Bode George about it and he said he has not endorsed anybody. We have spoken to the president of Nigeria and he has said he has not endorsed anybody. As far as the national party is concerned, they have said they have not endorsed anybody.”
He believes the contest is squarely for him, Doherty and Obanikoro.
“I think you will be talking about myself, Deji Doherty and Senator Obanikoro. Those are the three that actually have the grassroots. If it is indeed true that the leaders of the party are neutral, then Agbaje doesn’t have a chance,” he stressed.
