The Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Ganiyu Egunjobi, has publicly endorsed Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker’s son, Olamilekan Obasa, as the All Progressives Congress, APC, chairmanship candidate for the forthcoming local council elections.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, Egunjobi affirmed his support for Obasa’s candidacy, stressing that the young politician deserves to succeed him.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the APC primaries held on May 10, the chairman dismissed allegations of imposition and manipulation, asserting that the selection process across local government areas was transparent and legitimate.
“I think the reactions in those quarters where they are shouting ‘imposition’ is in the character of politicians in our clime,”;; Egunjobi said.
“I’m sure if the results had gone their way, they would be lavishing praise on the electoral process. The election committee put up a good show and should be commended, same with the leadership of the party in the state.”;;
Tensions escalated in Agege and Orile-Agege following a protest by some APC members who accused Speaker Mudashiru Obasa of installing loyalists and family members, most notably his son, Abdulganiyu Obasa, as flagbearers for the July 12 council elections.
However, Egunjobi dismissed the protest as a staged display orchestrated by political opportunists seeking to undermine the party’s internal processes.
“I watched the video of the so-called protest and I was amazed to see those who led it. A political neophyte, who is a charge-and-bail lawyer, anchored it.
“For your information, this man until recently was gushing about the Speaker, thinking singing the praise of Obasa would get him the party chairmanship ticket for Orile-Agege,”;; he said.
He further stated that some of the disgruntled aspirants, such as Sola Osolana and Bukola Sofidiya, had only recently re-joined the party shortly before the primaries and, as such, lacked both the moral standing and constitutional backing to vie for the ticket.
“We know some of their paymasters in the persons of a certain serving senator from Ogun State and a three-time House of Assembly member in our area, to mention but a few,”;; he hinted, without naming names.
He also addressed the controversy surrounding the candidacy of Speaker Obasa’s son, who is reportedly contesting for the vice-chairmanship position in Agege, Egunjobi defended his qualifications, describing him as highly capable and drawing parallels with established political dynasties in both Nigeria and the United States.
“This is someone that is well-read, a PhD student for that matter, who has been touching lives in Agege long before now. In fact, he deserves to succeed me.
“People blabbing ‘imposition’ in respect of the Speaker’s son’s matter are not fair to the young man and Agege,”;; he declared.
