Since his foray into politics, Shamusudeen Abiodun Olaleye has proved to be a valuable asset to cause of the Progressives.
Shamee as he is popularly called by associates, friends and even family members in his Isolo homestead and the larger All Progressives Congress (APC) has proven to be a grassroots politician with eyes for details which has made him popular among his peers.
Olaleye has created a very strong niche for himself since getting his first political appointment in 1999 – serving as one of the Personal Assistant of then representative of Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Niyi Fabikun.
His political started to rise when he was named the Deputy Executive Secretary of Alimoso Local Government in 2002, position he served with so much gusto and humility that he was appointed Secretary to the Isolo Local Council Development Area on creation of the council and after the council election in 2003.
He was at various times Supervisor for Works and Environment in the council before being elected Chairman of the council where he served two terms, proudly bowing out after completing his tenure.
It was as Chairman of the Isolo Council that his mass mobilizing skills blossom. He was arguably the most popular politician in that axis. The name, Shamee, is well known and ring louder than bell not only in his local Isolo LCDA, but also in Lagos State especially among council chairmen where he is treated with respect and honour because of his uncanny ability to make friends and display love to all.
That Shamee excel as the Director of Logistics and Planning in Islolo APC would just stating the obvious. His pastime is mobilisation of voters, he knows the nooks and crannies of the Federal Constituency and has contacts in every ward and polling zone of the area.
In all the elections he has served as Logistics, he excelled and delivered the Federal Constituency despite huge presence of Igbos living in that axis.
The only time APC and the Progressives lost in Isolo Federal Constituency was in 2015 when Olaleye was not the Director of Logistics for the election. When he returned in 2019, it was another smooth victory for the party and the Progressives family.
“The man is well loved in this axis. He is very popular and knows his way round the communities in the council area and the entire Federal Constituency, that is why he’s always excelling.
“I don’t like him because we are not in the same caucus but if the truth must be told, we need him at this crucial period. His mass mobilizing skill is second to none here and we are definitely going to need him,” Adebola Olaosebikan, an APC member in Okota told this medium on Sunday, 3 July, 2022.
Another member of the party, this time preferring to be anonymous, said Olaleye has all it takes to contribute meaningfully to the victory of the party in 2023.
“His ability to mobilize is second to none and I can say with all sense of modesty that but for God and Shamee, our candidate in the Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency II would not have won in 2019,” our source said.
That Shamee is needed is an understatement but will the powers that be in the area hearken to this call? Time will tell.
