By Musbau Rasak
I am writing this as a son of the soil and somebody who is very conversant with political events not only in Otto-Awori Local Council Development Area but Lagos State as a whole, especially among the Progressives.
For the avoidance of doubt, let me do a little bit of introduction: I am Musbau Rasak, eldest son and child of the Late Alhaji Rasaki Alabi Raji of Raji Oba Compound of Idoluwo Ile, present day Otto-Awori LCDA. I was born in Idoluwo-Ile and I lived the early period of my 54 years on earth in the community. I am a true son of the soil, my mother is of the Oosa Compound in Ijanikin also in Otto-Awori LCDA. Therefore, I am a complete son of the soil!
I have to do this for those who will be asking questions about my parentage and antecedents to know I’m not an ‘atohunrinwa’, I know this article will ruffle feathers but the truth must be told.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: say the truth, no matter how bitter it is.
And the truth about the self imposed controversy on who should fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for 2023 House of Representatives election for Ojo Federal Constituency is: Lanre Ogunyemi stands heads and shoulder above the man being pushed forward to replace him. Ogunyemi deserves the ticket and there is no two ways to it and I’m still wondering why some people want to smuggle in Kayode Roberts aka Bibiire through the backdoor.
Personally, for me, it is sickening, wicked and primitive for some people to even consider this. Ogunyemi’s alleged ‘sin’ is, he is not an indigene.
Now let’s lay the facts bare!
Who brought Roberts into political limelight? Ogunyemi! And I stand to be corrected.
In the race for who become the Chairman of Otto-Awori LCDA during the 2008 local government election in Lagos State, it was Ogunyemi who not only stood by Roberts but also presented him to the leaders at the state level for him to become the Chairman of the LCDA; that was the beginning of his political prominence. Before then, Roberts was not known politically, let me add that prior to that, he was a junior staff of Olorunda LCDA. It is pertinent to note here that those promoting Roberts now and have suddenly become his men-Friday, were vehemently against his becoming the council Chairman then.
After his tenure in the council, Roberts had issues with the Lagos State House of Assembly over some spendings during his tenure. It was the same Ogunyemi he ran to then, not his new found allies who are hell bent on getting the APC ticket for him because he is an indigene through the backdoor.
Now the moral question, after all these enumerated above, is it morally right for Roberts to stand against Ogunyemi for the same ticket in Ojo Federal Constituency? A man that brought you out from political obscurity into political prominence, who stood by you and carry your case like cross on his shoulders. Nkan ti oselu maa da sile, apa re ko nii ka! Let’s have your answers.
Let’s leave morality and go for the legal!
Ogunyemi and four others including Roberts, collected the APC nomination and expression of interest forms for the House of Representatives ticket for Ojo Federal Constituency. There were attempts for consensus, all the aspirants insisted on going for primary election, and this writer can confirmed that the Robert group was the most vocal: let’s go for primary election.
Primary election was conducted and according to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and electoral officers from the state secretariat of the party, it was free and fair. And the result: Ogunyemi scored 28 votes out of the 55 delegate votes on offer, a clear 51% of the entire votes cast, no void vote at all. Bibiire was a distant second with 14 delegate votes. In the presence of INEC and Lagos APC officials, Ogunyemi was officially declared the winner, his hand was not only raised, he was also given the official signed result.
Other aspirants have congratulated Ogunyemi, affirmed the result and acknowledging that the primary election was free and fair.
Is it not crude for some people to now start making attempt to substitute the name of Ogunyemi with that of Roberts? This is pure illegality and thank God the Electoral Act is clear in its rules on how a candidate’s name can be substituted. I won’t dwell much on that because the rules are clear and I know the present leadership of the party won’t circumvent legality for illegality.
Let’s move to competence and ability to deliver!
I agree: both Ogunyemi and Roberts are competent, they are good, they have been tested in various political capacities and they have delivered. But in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, All Animals Are Equal But Some Are More Equal Than The Others. Yes, Ogunyemi and Roberts are competent but one is more competent than the other and that’s not denigrating the ability of Roberts, I insist he is competent and has the ability to deliver.
However, side by side, sentiment apart, for me, Musbau Rasak of Idoluwo Ile, Ogunyemi will represent me and other residents of Ojo Federal Constituency better in the House of Representatives. He has the experience, he has been tested and he has delivered.
As a two term member of the state House of Assembly, Ogunyemi remains the best from Ojo and his records are there, not hidden at all. I won’t start listing them but I would not forget to state that one of the greatest legacies of this man in the House of Assembly is the championing of making the use of Yoruba language compulsory in all Lagos schools including tertiary institutions. The Ogunyemi led House Committee organised a stakeholders’ summit attended by prominent Yoruba monarchs led by Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; and late Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Lamidi Adeyemi III. The outcome of that summit was the passing of law by the state House of Assembly for compulsory use of Yoruba language for teaching and learning in Lagos schools. That’s just one out of many!
For his eight year sojourn in the Assembly, he was simply among the best, contributing constructively to debates on the floor of the House and participating fully and actively in committee and oversight functions. Now ask me why will I not support such a man imbued with knowledge, wisdom and experience to represent me?
This is a new era in Nigerian politics, we must put our best hands forward: inshaa Allah Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will emerge Nigeria’s next President next year. He needs the best we can offer to work with him either as legislators or executive members, Ogunyemi as a Rep member will do well and I know he and Her Excellency Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule will complement each other well. I’m not sentimental and I don’t compromise quality on the altar of ethnicity. Sebi we are all Yoruba.
Let’s now examine loyalty to party’s cause!
Can anyone of these people beat Ogunyemi to this? The answer is no! I’m a student of history and I know that Ogunyemi and I were always together at Sunday Adigun Street, Alausa,.Ikeja home and campaign headquarters of Tinubu then. It was the earliest period of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s aspiration to rule Lagos. I was posted to He was a Principal Coordinator for Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organisation (BATCO) and was in the forefront of the Tinubu campaign then as a young man from Ojo. We were at Burell Avenue together when Tinubu wanted to submit his INEC forms. We were attacked then by supporters of Late Funsho Williams, we were together in Mushin and Lagos Mainland, hotbeds of our campaign train. Majority of those campaigning against him now were then in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), working against the aspiration of Tinubu.
Both Ogunyemi and present Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu worked with then Deputy Governor, Femi Pedro but when ambition split Pdero with his boss, Tinubu, Ogunyemi didn’t need the wisdom of Solomon to resign his appointment and go back to his leaders for further instructions.
Add that to his being the only man that has been elected twice as the state Secretary of the party, nobody can now question his loyalty and commitment.
The issue of indigeneship is relative. The question we should ask here is that since his political sojourn, where has Ogunyemi delivered his patronage? Otto-Awori LCDA! Who were the beneficiaries of his empowerment programmes and dividends of democracy? Otto-Awori people. It is on record that all the infrastructure and other state projects he has gained through his office have been domiciled in Otto-Awori LCDA, so why are we laying emphasis on this indigeneship matter.
Let’s put sentiment aside and unite to support this gentleman, for now he is the best among the aspirants and thank God he has done the needful: he has won the primary election, so why the hoofs and cries over spilled milk?
This is the time for Ojo Federal Constituency to enjoy another superlative representation in the Lower Chamber since the present state Chairman of APC, Pastor Cornellius Ojelabi represented us between 2007 and 2011.
Ojelabi was active, he was a top notch parliamentarian, he was an active committee member and his role in the adhoc committee set up to investigate the stupendous waste of resources on the country’s power sector during the Obasanjo administration cannot be forgotten in a hurry. Since he left in 2011, Ojo has been groping in the dark in the Green Chamber. The time for revival is here.
And let me add this that the onus lies on our capable Chairman, Pastor Ojelabi to deliver his constituency and Senatorial District, he needs all our support and prayers not divisive tendencies. Pastor Cornellius Ojelabi, Olorun Aa duro ti yin, Olorun Aa ran yin lowo, e ku ise Egbe!
I rest my case, ireee ooooo
