They are regarded in the Lagos State House of Assembly as the ‘untouchables’ because of their alleged closeness to the leadership of the House.
They are the heavyweights of the House and their behaviour and utterances especially during debates on the floor of the House showed how powerful they are. Even many staff members know members of this group are powerful hence they don’t joke with them.
When the primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC) approached, not many believed these members will scale the hurdles easily. Of course, they have the leadership of the House firmly behind them rooting for them.
But it was a rude shock to them on Thursday, 26 May, 2022, when the state Assembly primary elections of the APC took place.
When the results started coming in, they came with shock, disbelief and disappoinment for the Assembly Heavyweights.
It is obvious that Honourable Rotimi Olowo won’t return to the House when the 10th Assembly commences operation in 2023.
Olowo, representative of Somolu State Constituency I, seeking fifth term is the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, a very strategic committee. He is one of the closest Lawmakers to the leaders of the House. He wields so much power because of his closeness to the seat of power, but may have forfeited his ambition to indecision.
Thegazellenews.com learnt that Olowo at the onset indicated his desire to run for the House of Representatives seat of Somolu Federal Constituency. However, when it was obvious he won’t win, he ran back to seek alternative in the House of Assembly seat, apparently banking on his closeness to the power that be in the House. But party members in the constituency have made their choice hence our friend lost on both fronts.
The first story that created waves was the loss of the son of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Folajimi. Folajimi is one of the ‘annointed’ members of the House and nobody expected him to lose his ticket to represent Ikeja State Constituency I, incidentally the Constituency of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Nobody even expected that he would lose to a man who could not retain his councillorship position in Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA). But all these were thrown to the winds when Seyi Lawal, former Legislative Leader of Onigbongbo LCDA beat the incumbent Folajimi by 14 delegate votes to eight to pick the ticket.
Perhaps the result that made some Assembly staff happy was that of Honourable Victor Akande. “He behaves and talks arrogantly and will always flaunts his closeness to the leaders of the House,” a staff of the Assembly told this medium.
Thegazellenews.com can confirm that the Akande result was the most enquired about by the staff.
It was obvious that even his constituents were not happy with him. “He disconnected with us. He stopped living among the people,” Adeola Adetokunbo, an Ojo resident told this medium.
When the son of pioneer Commissioner for Establishment, Late Afolabi Ege, Segun Adebisi ‘dealt’ with Victor by winning 14 delegate votes to his 10, not a few were happy that Ojo State Constituency I will have a new representative when 10th Assembly of the Lagos Legislature commences in June 2023.
AbduSobur Olawale of Mushin State Constituency 2 is well known in the Lagos State House of Assembly. Apart from his popular nickname ‘Omititi’ many staff and colleague Lawmakers know he is the KWAM I of the House, he is the ‘choir’ leader in the House, initiating songs in support of the leadership at every opportuned time. Many believed his third term in office was a forgone conclusion but certainly they didn’t reckon with a certain Yinka Esho-Kazeem who beat him roundly at the primary election. Sadly, there won’t be a ‘KWAM I in the House when it resumes for the 10th Assembly next year, unless a new ‘choir’ leader emerges.
Mrs Mojisola Alli-Macaulay of Amuwo-Odofin State Constituency I is one of the favourites in the House. Despite her contribution to a motion during the EndSARS period which drew her at loggerheads with youths during the era, she still enjoys popularity with the House leadership. The primary election however proved how unpopular she is when she lost woefully to Folorunsho Olaitan who polled 12 delegate votes to a mere four she was able to muster, meaning there won’t be a Mama Amuwo in the House for the 10th Assembly.
Honourable Fatai Oluwa of Ajeromi Ifelodun State Constituency I has a reputation among his colleagues. He is alleged to be the one recording voices of colleagues for presentation to the leaders. When the 10th Assembly commences, he won’t have that opportunity again, he was beaten at the primaries by another Oluwa but not a relation of his. Incidentally, this Oluwa until now, was a staff of the House many believe could have been a walk over for Fatai, but God works miraculously.
Another favourite of the House leadership who bit the dust was Honourable Rasheed Makinde of Ifako Ijaiye State Constituency 2. His case was worse, he could not even win a single delegate vote where a newcomer Emmanuel Olotu had 17 delegate vote.
Hakeem Olusola Shokunle was one of the trusted allies in the House. The Oshodi-Isolo State Constituency I representative wines and dines with the leaders but the fact that he was beaten by Stephen Ogundipe, the man he has beaten in the past elections was a clear indication that he has become so unpopular in his constituency. Ogundipe really ‘battered’ Shokunle winning 20 delegate votes to Shokunle’s four.
Shokunle’s counterpart in the Oshodi-Isolo State Constituency 2, Honourable Jude Idimogu was even worse. Like Shokunle, he was beaten by somebody he has defeated previously. Ladi Ajomale, son of former state Chairman of APC, Henry Oladele, perhaps scored the highest victory of the lot. Idimogu was beaten 30-0 by Ladi, it was what they called in football, a ‘massacre’.
Lanre Afinnih of Lagos Island State Constituency 2 was beaten by his predecessor, Shola Giwa.
The fate of some other favourites of the House leaders are hanging in the balance: Nurudeen Saka-Solaja, Chairman of the very strategic and powerful Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for State is still battling to take the ticket for Ikorodu State Constituency 2. He had posted that he won, but evidence presented at the Appeal Committee sitting and the rotation policy have dented his third term ambition; another favourite Okanlawon Ganiu Sanni is battling to retain the ticket for Kosofe State Constituency I but the verdict of the Returning Officer for the Constituency, Fouad Oki was that the election was inconclusive.
The tsunami is still reverberating in the House, as the Assembly was shaken to its when the results came in but truth be told, not few were of the belief that the affected Lawmakers were architects of their own misfortune.
“They revel in the relationship with the House leadership, they became disconnected with their constituents. This is the result. Even the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa and his Deputy, Honourable Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni didn’t joke with their constituents. Obasa was returned unopposed as the candidate in his constituency while Eshinlokun-Sanni won an overwhelming majority to pick the party’s ticket for Lagos Central Senatorial District. These are clear indications that they are connected with their constituents,” a resident of Mushin told thegazellenews.com.
“When they are campaigning they live among us, but when they win, they relocate, many of these Lawmakers just disconnect with their constituents as soon as they are voted into office. Give it to him, Obasa still lives among his constituents in Agege and you say he is going for 6th term, why won’t he when he is very connected with his constituents,” a resident of Isolo told thegazellenews.com.
