Oshodi-Isolo 2021: Who flies APC flag?
By Rasaq Adebayo
Saturday this week is the D day for all aspirants seeking to contest under the All Progressives Congress (APC) party to know their fate.
A very few of them will be favoured by the party’s primaries while many others will fall out of the race.
Since about two weeks ago, the political atmosphere in Oshodi, Isolo and Ejigbo has been tensed as all the aspirants have been pushing from pillar to post, seeking support from anywhere they could to be victorious at the polls.
In Oshodi-Isolo LG, some political analysts predicted that the May 29 primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may not be the determinant or basis for choosing a chairmanship candidate that will fly the party’s flag for the 2021 local government election in Oshodi-Isolo LG.
The prediction was based on a new development in the race with the emergence of an aspirant, Ismail Badmus, the son of the erstwhile leading politician in Oshodi, Alhaji Ganiyu Badmus, who joined the race unnoticed.
Ismail Badmus is a civil servant working with the Lagos State Government, his late father was the apex leader of Mandate Group, a caucus of APC in Oshodi-Isolo LG.
It was rumoured that the party leadership brought out Badmus to present him as the party candidate in honour of his late father.
Other aspirants were jolted and jittery not by the emergence of Badmus but by the rumour of his purported imposition on them. They claimed that Badmus has never participated in politics, wondering why such an inexperienced person would be fixed to man such a sensitive political position.
Some others believed that the council chairman, Hon. Bolaji Muse-Ariyoh, who had been supporting Hon. Yusuf Adesanya, had no choice but to divert his support to Badmus.
However, the claims have been debunked. First, the leadership of the party at the local government headed by the acting chairman, Hon. Saheed Animashaun discredited the rumour of any imposition.
He said no party leadership either from the state or the local government has imposed any candidate, saying every aspirant will be given equal right to participate in the primary election and that the winner will be the party’s flag bearer to contest the general election.
This was corroborated by the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who debunked having preference for any particular aspirant as rumoured. Asiwaju has said he does not have any candidate for the local government election, maintaining that all aspirants should be allowed to contest in free and fair primary.
Secondly, Hon. Yusuf Adesanya said he still enjoys the support of his godfather, the council chairman and that he is sure of victory, saying the imposition of a candidate remains rumour which could not be true.
A source closed to the late Badmus, who was wondered seeing the son of the late politician, Ismail Badmus, obtaining nomination form to contest for the chairmanship of Oshodi-Isolo LG, revealed to this reporter that the late Badmus had vowed that none of his children would participate in politics hence, he rejected all the political appointment supposedly given to him to be given to his children during his lifetime.
The source said the late politician did not want any of his sons and daughters become a politician.
All efforts to hear from Ismail Badmus proved abortive as his supporters told this reporter that he could not talk to the press and that they were not ready to release his contact to any media.
Out of 12 chairmanship aspirants who obtained the party’s nomination forms, it was gathered that one did not participate in the screening, leaving 11 in the race.
Meanwhile, going by their activities, popularity and public opinions, the game seems to be among a few contestants who are more prominent among the aspirants whose charisma, experience and backbones people believed will work for their victory.
One of the leading aspirants is former Lagos State House of Assembly aspirant, Hon. Kehinde Oloyede known as Kendoo.
Kendoo has the full support of the Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos State chapter, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (MC OluOmo). Oluomo is a strong member of APC whose influence paved way for the incumbent member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I, Dr. Bashiru Dawodu.
Apart from Oluomo’s political influence which many believe would help Kendoo secure the party’s ticket, Kendoo himself is a politician and philanthropist popular among the residents of Oshodi since when he come out to contest for the House of Assembly.
TPL Daisi Osho is another prominent aspirant who also has a big chance of winning the party’s primary based on his position as the incumbent council vice-chairman and his many years of political experience.
Osho, an architect and urban and regional planner by profession, has been holding political posts since 1993, starting with the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). He has worked with ranks and files in politics. He believes he is the most qualified aspirant to win the election based on his academic and professional qualifications coupled with his political experience.
With the backing of the outgoing council chairman whose influence is believed to be stronger in the politics of Oshodi-Isolo, Hon. Yusuf Adesanya is believed to emerge as the party’s flag bearer.
Adesanya has been in politics for two decades. He has held leadership political posts and was once the Executive Secretary of Oshodi-Isolo LG. With his experience, he is boastful of victory despite all odds.
Known for his social activities and empowerment programmes across the council area, Adebanji Atewogboye (Skibanj), is another popular chairmanship aspirant in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).
He had once aspired for the member of the Lagos State House Assembly. He also has a greater chance among the contestants to win the primary.
Ismail Badmus, though new to the game, is another big aspirant standing the chance of winning the election who came to limelight after the party’s screening.
Much was not known about the aspirant prior to his emergence as an aspirant to contest the local government chairmanship election under the platform of APC.
He is expected to ride on the influence of his late father as many believe that he would be favoured by the party leaders who are still loyal to his father.
Ismail Badmus is a civil engineer, a graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State.
After his university degree, he went for his NYSC in Enugu State where he briefly worked with a consultant firm (APG CONSULT) before securing the Lagos State Government employment in November 2006.
In 2012, a support group named The APC Youth League was introduced to Lagos State through his late father in which he was also an active member. In 2015, he was nominated as the coordinator for Lagos State.
In Isolo LCDA, six aspirants will be locking honrs on Saturday to jostle for the party ticket. But the race is hotter among three aspirants who are very prominent in the game.
The three prominent contenders are Hon. Bayo Olasoju, Hon. Akeem Muniru and Hon. Mojeeb Adam.
Meanwhile, there was a turnaround in the politics of Isolo last week when one of the supporters of Hon. Muniru, the member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Jude Idimogu, took a U-turn and diverted his support from Hon. Muniru to Hon. Bayo Olasoju.
This development made political observers believe that Hon. Bayo Olasoju, with the supports of other big political leaders including Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, stands the chance of winning the party’s primary election on Saturday.
The Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos State chapter, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (MC OluOmo) is also throwing his weight behind Olasoju.
Hon. Taoreed Taiwo is another contestant that may shake the party’s primary election on Saturday. He got the support and blessing of his father, Pa Imran Taiwo, a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) last week.
There are just only two contenders in Ejigbo, the incumbent council chairman, Hon. Monsuru Bello (Obe) who is seeking reelection and the Hon. Peter Ajayi.
Going by the public opinions, Obe is leading the race though Ajayi is also trying to work it out to emerge victorious.
Though this medium cannot predict the winners, the newspaper and political observers are watching and waiting for the outcomes of the party’s primaries which are expected to be free and fair.
