Governor Raji Fashola
The quest for who succeeds Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State in the 2015 general election is taking a new dimension. The political gimmicks in the state especially within the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) appears ready to present a fresh scenario to political observers.
The power to pick next governor of the State is
being benchmarked perhaps between the national leader of the party or
traditional rulers who are often considered as semi gods.
Already APC is twisted between religion and zoning,
a situation which has influenced the Lagos politics. The ruling party in the
state is widely believed to have zoned governorship the seat to Lagos East Senatorial
District trimming the number of aspirants significantly. While seven aspirants from
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) jostle for the seat of the governor, the
Labour Party (LP) has not rested on its resolve to clinch the seat of power.
Major Contenders
Despite the prune to senatorial district, the choice
of suitable candidates remains very competitive. The issue of anointed
candidate of course may not be ruled out but political observers have
maintained that the situation might have placed the party leader, a former
governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu at a tight corner on the best candidate, also raising
speculations that the APC gladiator had invited governor Fashola to a private
meeting asking him to suggest the right person as his replacement.
But the religion undertone may play a determining
factor. It’s on record that Lagos has been governed for over 15 years by Muslim
governors including the incumbent leader. So stakeholders in the state are
concerned that the trend is expected to change by having a Christian governor
by 2015. No doubt this will favour some of the Christian aspirants especially
likes of Dabiri-Erewa, Akin Ambode among others who fist into the three major districts
of Epe, Ikorodu and Ibeju-Lekki of the senatorial constituency.
As for one of APC party chieftain in the state,
Alhaji Kola Oseni who believed
the essence of governance is to serve the people irrespective of religious
differences. He said there are differences between the church and the state and
that the latter should not come into politics. In his opinion, there is need
for internal democracy such that all aspirants have equal chances of being
elected into power. According to him, “Can anybody go to Abia, Imo, Anambra,
Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states and say there must be a Muslim
candidate for the position of the governor? Democracy is the government of the
people, by the people for the people. You cannot go to Zamfara, Katsina,
Kano and Jigawa, say there must be a Christian governor. You cannot
go to Ondo State, Ekiti State and say there must be a Moslem governor?
“Why are
we mixing the state and the church in this matter? It is never done. Let
everybody go to the primaries and whoever wins, let it be. Let the people
decide for themselves. You are playing with fire. We don’t want religious war.
It is very painful for anybody to make that pronouncement that religion should
be the basis for the selection of the next governor of Lagos State. Religion
should be detached from politics. Jesus Christ was clear on it. When he was
asked whether to pay dues to Caesar, he said, give to God what is God and give
to Caesar what is to him. That is separation of church and the state. “They
should go to the primaries. If a Christian emerges, good luck. If a Muslim
emerges, good luck. I am Alhaji Kola Oseni, had gone to hajj 25 times, gone for
Umrah 29 times and I don’t discriminate. We don’t want religious war in
Lagos. So, whoever is saying this thing should shut up.”
Incidentally, among the major contenders eyeing the
top seat and ready to slug it out includes the House Committee Chairman on Diaspora,
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, a
broadcaster formerly with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and fortunately,
one of Tinubu’s favourite. She is probably having an upper edge on the basis of
gender equality and inclusiveness in elective positions.
Also, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, a presently serving
senator strongly believes he is best for the post. As for him, he “knows what
the problems and of the majority or average Lagosians are and solutions”, so the
issue of zoning or religion is entirely out of place and the constitution of
the party should be held supreme. Based on his argument, the issue of religion
is emotional and sensitive which should not be used as a benchmark. Others are Dr.
Obafemi Hamzat, a Dr. Leke Pitan, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Senator Gbenga Ashafa
and Mr. Akin Ambode.
Between The Leader And The Rulers
Among these aspiring candidates, some are favoured
by the party leaders while selected few seem to enjoy influence of traditional
rulers. First is Mr. Akinwumi Amboade, a popular but ex-civil servant in the
state. He is believed to have initiated innovative policies which enabled Lagos
to increase in its revenue collection as well as bringing sanity into the state
public service.
Ambode appears to be the favourite of the rulers
with immense support and endorsement from Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos. Though,
some had kicked against the political backing by the traditional ruler. But political
analysts have it that if the aspirant could get patronage of the Oba, he will
automatically enjoy supports from the Oba of Badagary and Oba of Epe.
“We say we are here to launch a book but we know why
we are here. We elders had met and discussed and the people have said that
Ambode will be the governor. Let no one misquote me, the others have right to
run. Ambode, may you lead all of them, Akiolu was reported to have said during
the launch of a Biography on the aspirant. “Ambode is not Ilaje, he is from Epe
and a true lagosian,” he had stated.
Unfortunately, Lagos Commissioner for Works, Dr.
Obafemi Hamzat whose father is the traditional ruler of Ewekoro in Ogun State
had his chances narrowed following public disclosure by the Oba that he cannot
rule the state from Ewekoro. A setback many considered may jeopardise the
aspirant’s prospect.
Reacting to this, Solomon strongly believed the
voters will determine Fashola’s successor after the primary among all
aspirants. He questioned why Oba akiolu should intervene in party politics
saying, “Kabiyesi was expressing his preference. He has also expressed his
personal opinion. We are talking of a party now; I don’t know which part or
provision of the constitution of the party says a traditional ruler can
endorse……Let me also tell you that he made the pronouncement at a time when we
had not even concluded putting party structures in place. So, it couldn’t have
been in consultation, with who? Is it with the political leadership? Is it with
the traditional leadership? We have had differenct opinions since then”.
Leaders of Ikorodu Division under the aegis of
Eminent Persons of Ikorodu Division interestingly were not particular about any
special aspirant but the entire political parties in the state. The group led
by Chief Babatunde Benson (SAN) of Benson dynasty clamoured that there are
competent individuals in the state who can succeed Fashola; a development which
obviously is in tune with the zoning of the next governor of the state. “For
too long, Ikorodu Division has been at the tail end of political benefits of
dividend of democracy. Indigenes and residents of ikorodu division should shine
their eyes to ensure that the division wins this race at this time in the 2015
governorship election.”
“For the purpose of emphasis, this effort is
directed towards all registered political parties in the state,” Benson stated.
A political group, Visioners of a Good Lagos, which came under attack a couple of months back,
for
suggesting that Tinubu
was planning to impose candidate on Lagosians publicly condemned actions by the
traditional rulers. Aside from condemnations by other political observers for
what they described as usurping the responsibilities of Lagos voters, spokesperson of the visioners, Mr.
Bambo Akin-Johnson
said intention of the traditional rulers eventually came public ahead of 2015.
Unfortunately,
if statements credited to the Buraimo Edu family is anything to go-by, Ambode
may have dipped himself into great misfortune as head of the family he
allegedly claims to belong had rejected him. Alhaji. M. Oladehinde Edu and
Alhaji T. A Edu in a statement recently explained how Ambode’s father, a school
teacher got transferred from Ilaje, Ondo State to Epe and eventually buried
back in Ondo state after his demise.
“At this
juncture, we categorically state here that in actual fact, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode
was a son of Festus Akinwale Ambode, one of teachers posted to Epe in old
Western Region; a native of Ilaje Ese Odo in the present day Ondo State.”
Spokesperson for the Edu family stated.
The unfolding
drama however may have a dwindling effect on the prospect of Ambode. No doubt,
there are other aspirants from the same senatorial district who could bounce on
the opportunity to take his place. However, Ambode may not rest on his oars
until the judgement between leaders and rulers play to his favour ahead of the
2015 governorship election.
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