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  • Lagos APC: Council chairmen should reside in their domain

    Lagos APC: Council chairmen should reside in their domain

    Elected council chairmen and their deputies in Lagos State should henceforth reside in their local governments, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday.

    According to the chapter, a stiff penalty awaits any council helmsman that flouts the directive.

    Its Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, who spoke at the ‘Stakeholders’ Special Engagement with Mr. Governor,’ said the party would always demand transparency, accountability and good governance.

    The meeting was organised by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who urged the chairmen  to carry along the vice chairmen in running the affairs of the local governments.

    He also admonished the chairmen to campaign for votes on the platform of the party and not as members of rival caucuses in the party.

    The governor presented party flags to the 57 chairmanship candidates and their running mates at the meeting held at the State House, Marina.

    He warned against aloofness, complacency and over-confidence, saying that every politics is local.

    Sanwo-Olu, whose 60th birthday was partly celebrated at the meeting, added: “President Tinubu has given us opportunities in Lagos. He said, we should continue to hold his base very well.

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    “Every election is local. Don’t take anything for granted because we are in control of the centre, the state and the local government. You should go and work.”

    The governor’s wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, enjoined women to troop out on poll day to vote for the APC candidates.

    She called for peace and unity in the party, saying that these virtues should also be sustained in the state.

    Dr. Sanwo-Olu said: “The power of the woman is her voice and I want you to use it productively to improve our nation. “

    The Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, said: We should come out to work for the victory of our party. The candidates should reach out to other aspirants and ensure reconciliation.”

    Elderststesman Tajudeen Olusi, who chairs the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), advised the potential local government functionaries to shun the love of money, which is the root of all evils.

    Olusi also urged them to emulate the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, former Governor Lateef Jakande, President Bola Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu, whose records of performance in public life are unassailable.

    Ojelabi, who stated that council chairmen would be monitored, insisted: “No council chairman should reside outside the local government. “

    He stressed: ”They must reside in the local government. Anytime information reaches us that you are not living in your council, you will be sanctioned.”

    At the meeting were Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abimbola Hundeyin Salu, Chief Rabiu Oluwa, Prince Murphy Adetoro, Olorunfunmi Basorun, Otunba, Femi Pedro, Senator Idiat Adebule, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Alhaji Mutiu Are, Asipa, Kaoli Olusanya, Oyinlomo Danmole, Bimpe Adesola, Olawale Oshun, Moruf Akinderu Fatai,, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Senator Tony Adefuye, Joe Igbokwe, Demola Sodiq, Ayodele Adewale, Lateef Ibirogba, Abiodun Mafe, Muritala, Seriki, and Rasaq Ajala.

  • Lagos APC embarks on reconciliation ahead of council polls

    Lagos APC embarks on reconciliation ahead of council polls

    The Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified its reconciliation efforts with some members who felt sidelined or ignored during the recent primaries. TIMILEHIN BABATOPE reports.

    With the July 12 local government elections fast approaching, the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has launched a comprehensive reconciliation drive aimed at healing internal divisions and restoring party unity. The initiative follows months of internal discord triggered by the party’s controversial primaries, which left many members aggrieved and exposed widening cracks in what was once Nigeria’s most cohesive state political machine.

    The primaries, held on May 11, were intended to set the stage for a smooth electoral campaign. Instead, they reignited long-standing grievances, including allegations of candidate imposition, a growing generational divide, and exclusion of grassroots voices. While the APC leadership announced that 55 out of 57 chairmanship candidates had emerged from the exercise, the fallout has been anything but settled.

    In response, the party has initiated a high-level reconciliation process to address the discontent and reposition itself ahead of the polls. The stakes are high—not only does the APC aim to retain its hold over all 20 local government areas (LGAs) and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs), but the outcome will also have implications for the party’s strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The Lagos APC has enjoyed uninterrupted control of the state since the return to democratic rule in 1999. However, recent years have seen a weakening of its internal cohesion. The 2023 general elections exposed the party’s vulnerabilities, as it suffered unexpected losses and saw the opposition gain traction in previously unassailable strongholds.

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    The recent primaries have only compounded the situation. Party loyalists, including youth leaders and women’s groups, voiced frustration over what they described as a top-down approach that disregarded local consensus. Accusations of favouritism, imposition of candidates, and opaque decision-making processes have left a trail of disillusionment, prompting fears of voter apathy, defections, and even internal sabotage.

    Political analyst Kemi Bamidele summarised the situation this way: “People are increasingly disillusioned with the way the party conducts its affairs. They don’t feel like they have a say.”

    To avert a political crisis, the APC has constituted a Reconciliation Committee composed of party elders, respected youth and women leaders, and neutral observers. The committee’s mandate is clear: identify aggrieved factions, resolve disputes through dialogue, and reintegrate estranged members into the party’s campaign framework.

    Heading the committee is former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, whose return to the political fold is both symbolic and strategic. Denied a second term in office over six years ago, Ambode’s appointment is seen as an attempt to bridge the gap between old power structures and emerging reformist voices.

    At the committee’s inauguration in April, Ambode struck a conciliatory tone. “We cannot let personal ambitions undermine the legacy and future of the APC in Lagos,” he said. “Reconciliation is not optional; it is imperative.”

    Since then, Ambode and his team have been engaged in a state-wide outreach, holding discreet meetings with faction leaders, youth groups, ward-level stakeholders, and previously marginalised members. The consultations, described by insiders as intense and deeply personal, culminated in a mid-May peace accord that party leaders hailed as a breakthrough.

    The reconciliation strategy is multifaceted. It includes one-on-one consultations with aggrieved individuals, ward-level town halls to foster open dialogue, and closed-door meetings with power brokers to resolve entrenched disputes. In areas where the primaries remain contentious, the party is considering a review or revalidation of results to restore confidence in the process.

    “We need all hands on deck,” said a senior party official who requested anonymity. “Some members feel sidelined or ignored, especially after the primaries. We are now listening to everyone and making necessary adjustments to move forward as one family.”

    To further consolidate peace, the APC has established a conflict resolution desk at its state secretariat. The desk will serve as a formal channel for airing grievances and proposing solutions. Additionally, the party has instituted weekly review meetings to assess the progress of the reconciliation efforts and make necessary course corrections.

    A key aspect of the peace initiative involves reassigning meaningful roles to previously marginalised members. Many of them are now being integrated into campaign councils and have been promised future appointments. Reconciled leaders are also being prominently featured at campaign events, symbolising a renewed sense of unity and inclusiveness.

    In the coming days, the APC plans to roll out a strategic messaging campaign tagged “One APC, One Lagos.” The initiative aims to amplify the themes of reconciliation, unity, and inclusiveness across multiple platforms, including social media, community radio, and party bulletins.

    “The idea is to shift the narrative,” said another party insider. “People need to see that this is not just politics as usual. We are serious about rebuilding trust and restoring faith in the party.”

    Still, not everyone is convinced. Adejoke Balogun, a vocal youth leader, has been critical of what she sees as superficial gestures. “There’s a difference between sitting at a table and having a voice,” she said. “Until young people see real inclusion and not just lip service, this is just politics as usual.”

    Many observers caution that the current peace may be more of a tactical ceasefire than a lasting transformation. While the reconciliation effort has created an appearance of calm, the underlying tensions—factionalism, generational divides, and concerns over internal democracy—have yet to be fully addressed.

    According to party sources, some factions have agreed to suspend open opposition until after the council polls, choosing to “wait and see” how the leadership follows through on its promises. The real test, they say, will come in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.

    “For now, everyone is playing along because nobody wants to be blamed for losing Lagos,” said a long-time party member. “But if things don’t change fundamentally, this crisis will resurface.”

    Beyond Lagos, the reconciliation effort carries national significance. As the traditional political stronghold of the APC, the state’s unity is crucial to the party’s broader strategic interests. A fractured Lagos chapter could embolden opposition parties and complicate the APC’s roadmap to retaining power in future national contests.

    The local council elections, while technically grassroots in scope, serve as a litmus test for the APC’s organisational capacity and internal health. With all eyes now on Lagos, the coming weeks will reveal whether the party has done enough to patch up its internal rifts—or merely postponed an inevitable reckoning.

    For now, the Lagos APC appears determined to present a united front. Whether that unity is substantive or symbolic will become clear not just at the ballot box on July 12, but in how the party navigates the turbulent waters that lie ahead.

  • Lagos APC resolving post-primary crisis, says Oladejo

    Lagos APC resolving post-primary crisis, says Oladejo

    • Over 10 petitions before appeal panel

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) is resolving the crisis arising from last week’s local government primaries, Publicity Secretary Mogaji Seye Oladejo said yesterday.

    He described the protests by aggrieved chairmanship and councillorship aspirants as normal reactions in any democratic setting, adding that they are not ignored by the party leadership.

    Oladejo, who spoke on the television, said not all the claims of the protesters are genuine, pointing out that some people were not prepared to adjust to defeat in a contest.

    He lauded the party’s election committee headed by Babatunde Ogala (SAN) for conducting transparent and credible primaries.

    Noting that the complaints against the exercise were limited to between eight and 10 local governments, Oladejo said the committee scored a pass mark.

    He said: “If they are only complaining in 10 councils out of 57, then, the election committee scored a pass mark.”

    Oladejo, a former Commissioner for Special Duties, said the complaints are not ignored by the party ,which had set up the Primary Appeal Committee headed by Lawal Pedro, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

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    He said the petitions before the appeal panel would dispassionately considered in a bid to resolve the crisis.

    Lagos APC, led by Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, had published the names of the 57 chairmanship candidates, sparking protests in 10 local governments.

    Protesters have continued to converge on the gate of the party secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja, blocking the entrance.

    Police had to be drafted to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

    Protesters from Ikosi-Isheri Council objected to the victory of the chairman, Samiat Bada, saying that her choice smacked of a third term agenda.

    After completing the term of the deceased chairman, Hon. Oyesco, she won a fresh term four years ago, and she also won the recent primary.

    In a statement, Aderemi Coker, said “having served for five years as vice chairman and six years as chairman, her re-nomination smacks of a third-term agenda, a move that fundamentally challenges both the rule of law and democratic accountability.”

    He said:”Citizens, especially youths are questioning whether their- voices still matter in system increasingly monopolised by a handful ofpolitical elite.”

    “The party risks low voter turnout, internal sabotage, and even defections if it continues to ignore widespread discontent. APC must not allow its internal processes to become breeding grounds for political stagnation.

    “Bada’s re-nomination sends the wrong message to millions of aspiring leaders, especially in Lagos that power is inherited, not earned. It contradicts APC’s own rhetoric about youth inclusion and progressive governance. The rule ofl law, political fairness, and public confidence are on the line.”

    In Agege local government, party members said the results did not reflect their wish.

    They said Babatunde Azeez and Abiodun Akinola, who were declared as chairmanship candidates for Agege Council and Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA) respectively, were imposed on  party members.

    Chairman of 2023  Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) in Agege, Sabitu Kamorudeen, who led the protest, said most party members were against the emergence of the candidates for the two council areas.

    According to him, the two candidates were hand-picked by some party leaders to serve their selfish interests.

    “We are here to challenge those using President Bola Tinubu’s name to impose their candidates.

    “The results are not only misleading but are  a gross misrepresentation of the democratic will of our party members in Agege and Orile-Agege.

    “The outcomes are not  a reflection of due process but reek of  manipulation and abuse of party machinery by entrenched interests,who have hijacked our local politics,” he said. 

    Spokesperson, PCC Orile-Agege LCDA,  Adetunji Akinyemi said that  members of the APC in the area  acknowledge and respect the supremacy of party directives and structures.

    According to him, such deference must not be misconstrued as passive endorsement of tyranny or authoritarianism cloaked as leadership.

    “We cannot support a scenario where a single individual, wielding inordinate influence, positions himself as the sole arbiter of who rises or falls within the party in Agege.

    “That is not party discipline, it is political capture, and it is antithetical to the democratic ethos of our party, the APC.The political climate in Agege and Orile-Agege is uniquely troubling,” he said.

    Also, one of party leaders in the area, Akeem Ashiruurged the state council of APC, political leaders and members of the party’s  National working Committee to act on the matter and check what he called hijack of the party in Agege and Orile Agege.

    “This is Lagos and this is Agege, it is not a political estate to be inherited or transferred at will. For many of us,  Agege is not only our constituency,  it is our home.We have no ancestral retreats beyond these communities and so we must insist on justice, fairness and the preservation of peace,” Ashiru said.

    A member of the group, Asanat Lawal, said that their allegiance remained with the broader APC.

    According to her, party members are committed to the party and second-term bid of President Bola Tinubu, but will not remain silent in the face of oppression.

    “We will continue to resist every attempt to destroy our democratic foundation of our local politics and we will defend the rights of our people to be represented by individuals of their choosing not by fiat, coercion or hereditary succession,” she said.

    The party advised discontented aspirants to submit their appeals to the committee by 12.p.m. on Tuesday ( May 13).

    Also, delegates from the Badagry West Local Government have faulted the recently concluded local council primaries describing it daylight robbery of their votes.

    Speaking during a protest held at the Lagos State secretariat of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Ogba, Ikeja, the protesters demanded outright return of their votes and a declaration of their candidate, Oluremi Funmi Nutayi as the winner of the election.

    Secretary of Nutayi’s campaign organization, Mr. Emmanuel Bankole urged the APC leadership and the electoral committee to consider the future of the party by doing justice to their appeal for restoration of Nutayi’s mandate.

    “APC  was founded on equity ad justice. But what happened last Saturday was nothing short of an eyesore. The security was so tight and the delegates were went in and our agent and aspirant were not given any tags of identification as against the rules of the election. They were asked to vote and leave the venue of the voting. As law abiding members of APC, our delegates voted and left the place. However, what was announced as result on Saturday was a complete embarrassment to the party.

    “We are dissatisfied with the result of the election hence we have filed our appeal to the Appeal Committee set up by the party. The rights of the delegates have been completely taken from them and our aspirant came with 13 delegates but by the time the results were announced we were told that one of the comtestanst got 19 votes, one other aspirant got one vote, one Sessi got one vote, Kudus Sewanu got one vote and Damilola James got one vote. Now, the total votes announced were 22 while the records showed that 25 delegates from Badagry West LGA participated and were allowed to vote. So, how could 13 votes belonging to our candidate disappeared without a trace?

    The party agent for the aspirant, Mawuyon Oluwasegun said:’’ It is seriously an embarrassment for us to bring 13 delegates to an election and their votes would not be recorded for our aspirant. It is nothing but a charade.

    ‘A chieftain of the party, Hodonu John File, said:’ “What happened during the election on Saturday was shameful and embarrassing ton our great party.  What we are saying is that party leaders and electoral committee should do the needful and restore the mandate stolen from our aspirant, Oluremi Funmi Nutayi. A situation whereby 13 delegates voted for an aspirant was not recorded for the aspirant is nothing but a case of stolen mandate that should not be allowed to stand.’’

    In Yaba LCDA, stakeholders protested at the APC state secretariat, rejecting the alleged imposition of Adebayo Adefuye, son of Senator Anthony Adefuye, as chairmanship candidate.

    The leader of the protest, Olorunibe Ismail, speaking on behalf of party members, students, artisans, and traders, condemned what he termed an assault on internal democracy.

    A petition, signed by stakeholders from all nine wards within Yaba LCDA, was submitted to the Appeal Panel.

    “There was no valid primary election in Yaba due to ongoing litigation. Yet, we were shocked to hear that Senator Adefuye had positioned his son from Shomolu Local Government as the sole candidate for Yaba LCDA,” Ismail said.

    He pointed out that Adebayo Adefuye ranked sixth during the party’s screening exercise and alleged that better-qualified aspirants were deliberately sidelined.

    The protesters demanded the reversal of Adebayo’s name and the conduct of a transparent primary election.

    Agbado-Oke-Odo: Petition highlights flawed primaries, at the APC state secretariat in Ogba, representatives from Agbado-Ijaye LCDA, led by Debo Owoseye, submitted a petition challenging the credibility of the primaries conducted in their council.

    Owoseye recounted how delegates and aspirants were initially denied access to the venue, later ushered into a secluded room guarded by security personnel, with no agents of aspirants allowed to observe the process. “Our delegates voted, came out, and were sent away without witnessing the movement or collation of ballots. What was later announced was a sham,” he said.

    The petitioners declared their support for Engineer David Oladapo Famuyiwa, insisting he deserved a second term and denouncing any imposition by party leaders. “We appeal to Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, a man of justice and fairness, to intervene. This is not the vision he had when he fought to create these local councils to bring governance closer to the people,” Owoseye said.

    The coordinated protests underscore mounting discontent within the APC’s grassroots structure in Lagos, with aspirants and stakeholders calling for reforms to strengthen internal democracy, end the culture of imposition, and protect members’ rights to elect their leaders.

    Protesters across all three LCDAs made it clear that they expect the APC leadership, particularly President Tinubu, to uphold democratic ideals.

    The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Moshood Jimoh commended the peaceful protests.

    He said: “Before now, the party leadership informed us that after the election on Saturday, from Sunday, those with concerns about the elections might protest, and we are working hand-in-hand with the party executives to ensure that people are freely allowed to express their opinions.”

     emphasized that no security breach, injuries, deaths, or damage to property had been recorded, adding that the demonstration was a healthy part of democratic engagement within the party structure.

    “The protest has been very peaceful for people to express what they feel about the election. It’s part of democracy — even within the party, it is part of internal party democracy,” he noted.

    The Police Commissioner disclosed that security operatives had engaged with various protest groups beforehand, securing assurances of peaceful conduct.

    “We had an opportunity to talk with some of the groups who came to protest, and they assured me they would be open and peaceful in doing that. What is happening is not anything to worry about,”

    He urged Lagosians to go about their lawful activities without fear, assuring that the police had made adequate security deployments across strategic locations to prevent any potential disruption.

    “Our tactical commanders, DPOs, and other unit heads have been directed to maintain order and ensure no one hijacks these legitimate grievances for any unlawful purposes. So far, so good — everything is peaceful, and we intend to sustain this achievement.”

  • Lagos APC gets Election Appeal Committee

    Lagos APC gets Election Appeal Committee

    All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has set up an Appeal Committee to look into protests by aggrieved aspirants, who participated in the local government primaries.

    The panel is headed by Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN).

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    Other members are Otunba Abiodun Olufowobi (Secretary), Jokotola Pelumi, former Speaker of House of Assembly, Lanre Ogunyemi, ex-state lawmaker, and Chief Chukwudi Adiukwu.

    A statement by the Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, advised discontented aspirants to submit their appeals to the committee not later than noon today.

  • Council poll: Lagos APC holds stakeholders’ meeting Wednesday

    Council poll: Lagos APC holds stakeholders’ meeting Wednesday

    The Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Electoral Committee will on Wednesday hold a crucial stakeholders’ meeting at the party’s state secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja.

    According to a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the State Electoral Committee, Babatunde Ogala (SAN), and the Secretary, Nurudeen Bamidele, the meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.

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    Those expected to attend include Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, the 57 local government party chairmen, all three serving APC senators from Lagos, members of the House of Representatives, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, as well as apex party leaders across the 57 councils.

    Also invited are chairmanship aspirants cleared by the Screening Committee to contest the upcoming primaries, outgoing council chairmen, and members of the State Executive Council of the party.

    The meeting is part of ongoing preparations for the forthcoming local government elections in Lagos State.

  • LG polls: Lagos APC clears 432 chairmanship aspirants for primaries

    LG polls: Lagos APC clears 432 chairmanship aspirants for primaries

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released the official list of chairmanship aspirants cleared to contest in its forthcoming primaries, ahead of the July 12, 2025, Local Government Elections in Lagos State.

    The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, had scheduled elections into Chairmanship and 376 Councillors in the legislative arm of the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, for July 10, 2025.

    A total of 432 aspirants have been approved by the party’s Electoral Committee following a screening exercise held at the party’s secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, from April 29 to May 3.

    The screening committee, chaired by Babatunde Ogala, a former National Legal Adviser of the APC, with Babarinde Nurudeen as Secretary, was tasked with overseeing the vetting process and all preparatory activities leading to the party’s primaries in the 57 councils.

    Out of the 470 aspirants screened, 432 were cleared to contest in the primary elections, while 38 were disqualified or voluntarily withdrew from the race. Among those who voluntarily withdrew was Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, son of the Lagos Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who was asked to step down by President Bola Tinubu, the National leader of the party.

    According to the committee, the disqualifications were primarily due to lack of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), missing APC membership cards, and falsified secondary school certificates.

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    Concerning the APC guidelines, indirect primaries—where executive members across the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) will vote—are slated for Saturday, May 10.

    Disqualified aspirants have an opportunity to file an appeal between Sunday, May 4 and Monday, May 5. Those who wish to contest the outcome of the primaries can submit petitions to the Appeal Committee between May 12 and 13.

    Reacting, Ogala described the screening exercise as “thorough, rigorous and challenging.”

    He affirmed that all cleared aspirants possess the capacity to deliver quality governance at the grassroots level if elected.

  • Lagos APC debunks alleged report of Obasa’s resignation

    Lagos APC debunks alleged report of Obasa’s resignation

    The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has refuted claims that Speaker Mudashiru Obasa will resign as part of the agreement to resolve the leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    APC spokesperson in Lagos, Seye Oladejo, dismissed the speculation, stating, “To the best of my knowledge, there was no time the arrangement for Obasa to resign came up in the terms of settlement of the crisis.”

    However, he confirmed that Obasa is expected to withdraw the lawsuit he filed “in the interest of renewed peace and progress of the House and the party.”

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    On Tuesday, Obasa met behind closed doors with 39 lawmakers at the Assembly complex, including Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda, in a bid to ease tensions and foster reconciliation.

    Obasa, who was re-elected as Speaker on Monday following Meranda’s resignation, was initially removed in January over allegations of poor leadership, abuse of power, and intimidation of colleagues. 

    He, however, rejected his removal, insisting due process was not followed and denying financial misappropriation allegations.

    Efforts to resolve the crisis were led by the Governor’s Advisory Council, chaired by Pa Tajudeen Olusi, alongside APC chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, Lagos Attorney-General Lawal Pedro, and other party leaders.

  • Lagos APC will miss Oba Hamzat, says Are

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) member Alhaji Mutiu Are has described the death of Oba Olatunji Hamzat as a colossal loss to the political family.

    He said the deceased party chieftain and monarch of Afowowa Sodade, Ogun State was an outstanding, loyal, courageous and principled leader who believed in the doctrines  of party supremacy and discipline.

    He noted that Pa Hamzat served Lagos and Southwest progressive bloc with dedication and sense of responsibility.

    Are said in a statement in Lagos that Hamzat was a man of honour and integrity, adding that he will be greatly missed by relations and associates.

    He said: “I received the news of the death of our highly esteemed political leader, mentor and role model, Oba Muftau Olatunji Hamzat, with a mixture of shock and understanding.

    “It was with shock because the passage was not preceded with a long or protracted illness. Few weeks ago, he was at Akoka, Yaba, where he was conferred with a honorary doctorate degree by the European-American University.

    “However, it was with understanding because Allah took him away at a ripe old age of 86, having led a fulfilled life of dignified service to humanity.

    “It is nevertheless painful that he had to exit, 17 days to the inauguration of his beloved son, Dr. Kadiri Hamzat, as deputy governor of Lagos State.

    “Oba Hamzat was a principled politician, a courageous leader, incorruptible actor, an Awoust, and consistent player who never defected from the progressive camp.

    “The hallmark of his political career was loyalty. He was a believer in party supremacy, party discipline and the pre-eminence of gerontocratic monitoring.

    “Oba Hamzat will be greatly missed by his community, Afowora Sogade, Ogun State, where he was the monarch, his ancestral Ajiborisa family of Epe and the wider political class, particularly the progressive bloc.”

    Are noted that Hamzat left behind a formidable ruling party, the APC, a peaceful and potentially greater Lagos warning up for a new dawn on May 29 and durviving compatriots in the Lagos State GAC who will continue to guide the process in the wider interest of Lagosians.

    He said: “It is gratifying that the beloved leader is survived by worthy and promising children who are doing well in their chosen fields.”

    Are added: “Pa Hamzat was an outstanding and experienced politician, who moulded the lives of younger generation of political actors who subscribe to the progressive creed.

    Read Also: Lagos APC will miss Oba Hamzat, says Are

    “He was not a politician without a second address. Pa Hamzat was a successful banker and technocrat, who was fortified by the dignity of labour and involvement in community service before becoming a full politician.

    “In the First Republic, he entered politics as a member of the Action Group (AG) Youth Association, led by Pa Ayo Fasanmi. The motivation for joining the party was the captivating progressive ideas espoused  by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who presided over the pioneer administration in the defunct Western Region that has remained a reference point in Africa.

    “In 1979, Pa Hamzat became a chieftain of the proscribed Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), led Awolowo, and was elected into the Lagos State House of Assembly, where he aspired to serve as Speaker.

    “However, shortly after the inauguration of the House under Speaker Osinnowo, Pa Hamzat was appointed as Commissioner for Transport by Governor Lateef Jakande, following recommendation by the Mushin UPN leader, Chief Isola Solomon. In 1983, he was reappointed into the same position after Jakande was reselected.

    “Pa Hamzat played a great role in the initiation of the light rail project spearheaded by his ministry under the Jakande administration. The project, which was approved and launched by former President Shehu Shagari, was one of the casualties of military intervention of 1983.

    “Following the violent change of government, Hamzat and many of his colleagues in the Jakande cabinet were hounded into detention by the military. After extensive investigations, nothing incriminating was found against him.”

     

  • No crisis in Lagos APC over cabinet composition, says party chairman

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said there is no crisis in the ruling party over the preparation for the setting up of the next state Executive Council by Governor-elect Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    The party said the assignment will be performed by the next governor, following his inauguration on May 29.

    Its chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, frowned at the misleading report by a section of the media that the issue had become a bone of contention between the Mandate Group and the Governorship Advisory Committee (GAC).

    According to Balogun, the report was designed to cause disaffection in the party.

    He said in a statement in Lagos that the fake and mischievous report was also meant to cause disaffection among GAC members and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

    Balogun said: “There is no looming crisis in Lagos APC. For the avoidance of doubt, the governor-elect, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is focused on the task ahead of him, which is to accelerate the development of the state and improve the wellbeing of Lagosians.

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    “He is taking his job step-by-step. No group or individual is knocking heads with another over cabinet. When he is inaugurated, by the grace of God on May 29, Governor-elect Sanwo-Olu will form his cabinet to the admiration of all and sundry.

    “The Lagos APC is intact and solidly behind Mr. Sanwo-Olu. We all share the laudable dream of that visionary APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for a greater Lagos State that accommodates all, irrespective of social status, ethnic origin or religion.”

  • ‘Sanwo-Olu will fulfil campaign promises’

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Tunde Balogun spoke on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at 67 and expectations about the in-coming Sanwo-Olu administration.

    After elections, what next?

    The expectation of the people who voted us was to have good government. They want good governance. They expect us to come out with good programmes which we already have as a party in All Progressive Congress (APC) over the years and we had some cardinal things.

    We have programmes on transportation, health, education, housing and a lot of other areas.

    Firstly, on integrated transportation system, we want to have a type of transportation that has to do with maximum use of all things we have naturally.

    Like inland water ways in Lagos, we want to make maximum use of that, by using boat or ferry to transport people from one point to the other.

    On transportation, we want to make use of some mode of transportation through water, roads, bridges and railway that will be interconnectivity.

    Like, if you are coming with rail from Mile 2 going to CMS, there will be a terminus at a stop where you can be transfer to a bus. Getting out from the boat or ferry through water system to CMS and getting to a bus which will take you to other parts of Lagos.

    Also, we would ensure that the railway becomes one of the main modes of transportation in Lagos that can convey a lot of people at once from a point and take a large number of workers from that point in Lagos to other parts.

    Also, for the health system, we want to have a comprehensive health insurance scheme for Lagosians so that when you pay the premium for the insurance, you will have access to free medical treatment locally and this is part of the comprehensive health insurance scheme we are talking about.

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    Also for the schools, we want to rehabilitate all our schools and ensure to have quality teachers with constant training with all teachers.

    We want have a lot of hospitals that will be well equipped. We want to improve the personnel of hospital and to improve the facility there. We want modern equipment for the facility in our hospitals. We want to train the health workers include doctors, nurses and all health officers in the hospitals.

    We want to ensure that our public schools are the best, that is to have quality teachers and the kind of education giving to our children must be standard.

    Also, we want to ensure that our housing programmes are second to none. We want to have a programme that will be a multi-modern system.

    How would you describe Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a leader?

    As a man, he is fantastic and unique human being. He lives his life for others to thrive. He lives a life of service to humanity. I was looking at a picture of him in one of the daily newspaper recently with about five to six leaders in Nigeria such as Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode and Adeola Ipaye, a lawyer. All these men were brought into limelight. They were made by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He promoted them to a leadership position in Nigeria. He did it single-handedly.

    To tell you the kind of man who he is more that any Nigerian, he is a man who have created more leaders than any other Nigerian either dead or alive now.

    He is very kind, generous and a philanthropic. He is generous to a legendary point.

    As a leader in politic, he is experience and brilliant. He has a lot of capital politically and enjoy it because of his year of experience and political acumen. He is a political strategist. In context of African, he has no equal to me.

    What advice do you have to the citizens of the country?

    All Nigerians should learn to live together as brothers and sisters. We should tolerate one another. If we really want build a good country, we must be our brother’s keeper. We must not discriminate against one another, no matter where you come from. Once you are a Nigerian, we should learn to accommodate ourselves and that is the way the country can unite together.

    How can Nigeria be a better place in the next three years?

    The role of a political building is first of all to offer good leadership, exemplary leadership, inspirational leadership that can inspire others to do well.

    To make this country better, a good leader must be ready to unite his people. He must lead them by example so that others can follow. He must be a man who must devoid of violence so that we can continue to live peacefully. He should not be a selfish man. He must be selfless, that is the way a nation can be build.

    What we need in the next three years is such leaders that can lead and leave by example, try and unite the people that can promote the economy of the well-being of the people in the country.