Lagos Council Vice Chair steps down for Obasa’s son, stakeholders vow to resist candidate imposition
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Agege Vice Council Chairman in Lagos, Oluwagbenga Abiola, has withdrawn interest in the chairmanship in the council election schedule for July 12, stepping down for Abdulganiyu, son of Lagos Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.
Abiola, a political protégé of Obasa, said his decision was borne out of loyalty to his mentor but denied he was forced to quit the race as alleged by other party members.
Agege stakeholders on Monday urged Obasa to allow Abdulganiyu to contest the council chairmanship, citing the father’s contributions to the development of Agege and his long-standing political influence in the council.
Abiola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that rumours of him being pressured to withdraw are not true and insisted that he remains appreciative of Obasa’s role in his political career.
“I will never go against my leader, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa. This is the man who made me. He appointed me Special Assistant on Media when he became Speaker in 2015,” he recounted.
“In 2016, I was appointed Sole Administrator of Agege LGA, thanks to his recommendation to the Governor. That appointment made me the youngest council boss in Lagos State at the time.
“In 2017, I became Secretary to the Local Government, and in 2021, Vice Chairman – all through the party’s and Speaker’s support. So, why would I oppose a man who built me politically and helped me grow in experience and influence?”
Abiola admitted to having aspired to the chairmanship but explained that he respects the party’s collective decision.
“Yes, I aspired. Every Vice Chairman dreams of becoming Chairman. But the party has spoken, and I fully agree. Leaders and stakeholders have united. They’ve asked the Speaker to allow his son to contest, and I respect and support that.”
“I trust my leader. He knows what’s best and can recommend me for even greater responsibilities when the time is right. I’m still young and full of energy. I’ll work for the party and ensure we achieve victory.”
Abiola said he has instructed members of his Obasa Youth Alliance to fully support the party’s decision.
Protests against candidate imposition
Members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA) staged a protest on Tuesday against the alleged imposition of candidates for the council election.
The protest followed a demonstration during the party stakeholders’ meeting on April 14 which ended abruptly due to similar grievances over candidate selection.
Supporters of various chairmanship aspirants gathered on Tuesday at the APC secretariat before marching to the council secretariat to express their dissatisfaction with the alleged candidate imposition.
Some protesters chanted slogans such as “He is not part of us, no room for strangers in our LCDA,” “Elders and leaders are to build things, not destroy them,” and “We want an indigenous leader, not a stranger.”
Others raised their fists in the air chanting, “Don’t sell Ojokoro to strangers,” “Don’t give us a stranger,” and “We want people from within, not outsiders,” “We don’t want it, we don’t like it, strangers cannot lead us,” “Hon. Ojelabi, save APC Ojokoro,” “No imposition, Obasa is forcing it on us,” and “We demand a free and fair process.”
One of the protest leaders, Olusegun Akinoso-Olawaye, urged party leaders not to ratify any imposed candidate.
“Don’t place a leader on the people. Let all aspirants go to the field for free and fair primaries. We are not for violence; we are APC members, and we will not allow imposition.
“Many of these aspirants have spent their hard-earned money on the party, and we cannot allow their aspirations to be scuttled. We cannot let our house be led by strangers,” Akinoso-Olawaye told NAN.
He stressed the need for all aspirants to have the opportunity to test their political relevance in a fair contest.
He also drew attention to President Bola Tinubu’s participation in party primaries at the presidential level, insisting that all aspirants should be allowed to test their popularity the same way.
Another protest leader, Raimot Bello, added that the agitation is aimed at preventing the installation of an unfamiliar figure as the next council Chairman, which they believe would be detrimental to the party.
Ojokoro LCDA Chairman Hammed Tijani, commended the demonstrators for their peaceful conduct and assured them that no one would be imposed as a candidate.
“There is nothing like imposition. Meetings are still ongoing. We are all APC members, and the party will not be destroyed. I want to assure you that there is nothing like imposition; we are sorting out a lot of things,” he said.
APC Chairman in the council, Jelili Oseni, assured the protesters that Ojokoro would not descend into violence and “those who have worked for the party will be rewarded. There is no imposition here.”
Other APC leaders and stakeholders, including former Lagos Assembly member Ipoola Omisore and former House of Representatives member James Owolabi, were present at the council secretariat during the protest.
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