The remarks of the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Yemi Ikuforiji, that it is the turn of the Lagos East Senatorial District to produce the next governor has been misinterpreted in some quarters to mean that the race has been flagged off by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). In this interview, the party’s spokesman in the zone, Chief Tunde Temionu, clarifies that the remark was Ikuforiji’s personal opinion. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE met him.
The Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Yemi Ikuforiji has said that it is the turn of the Lagos East Senatorial District to produce the next governor. What is your reaction?
The views that it was the turn of the East to produce the next governor of Lagos State credited to the Speaker, Hon. Ikuforiji, at the district’s forum in Ikorodu on the 2nd of July 2013, was his personal opinion, not that of the leadership of the district. The press and others may see it as an issue, but we in the East view it from the perspective that it was his personal opinion.
Sincerely, the Speaker is a seasoned politician. He is always there for us. Above all, he has a lot of respect for the leadership of the East Senatorial District. That notwithstanding, we strongly believe that he knows when, where and how to tackle sensitive political issues.
At the same meeting, other contributors and leaders of the party spoke in line with the precept and focus of the leadership of the district. Like the Speaker, nobody campaigned or made mention of governorship aspirations. Although the Honourable speaker’s noble wishes for the district might be the notion of the larger majority of the district, the leadership of the East would have circumspectly presented such an interest to the appropriate quarters (should the need arise) in its usual style, after democratic deliberations on such matters.
Many people are saying that the Speaker is eying the number one seat and he is using the East Senatorial District as a platform to take off. Is this true?
That is not true. The leadership of the party in the East will not subscribe to such a political mistake. As to whether the Speaker is interested in the governorship race, I am not in a position to speak for Mr. Speaker. Moreover, he has not formally told the leadership of the East of such an aspiration. He was invited, like other serving officers in the East, to grace the occasion, which he did. He has never missed any of our meetings, unless he was not invited. But take note that our forum is not a campaign organisation; it has never been used as such, and will never be used for such a purpose. In addition, it is a policy that, pending when party, candidates will emerge through democratic processes, the senatorial authorities will not recognise any aspirant. That has been our practice and we will not change.
What is the precept of the East?
Our precept is to educate and disseminate party information to the grassroots of Lagos East Senatorial District. Objectively, it reflected in the speech of the Deputy State Chairman and Senatorial Leader, Alhaji Abiodun Sunmola. He said, “Our party is at a very important stage, because of the arrangement with other progressives to form a formidable party that will take over power at the centre. There is the need for members to come together in unity, with the common purpose of holding our territory firm for our party. As leaders, we should come together and work in harmony, motivate our followers to enable them to completely remain loyal to the party.”
Obviously, we are building safer political shelters for our members, for them to have total confidence in the party. We are also giving account of our stewardship in accordance with our electoral promises as tools for grassroots political service support. Apart from those who could not attend the Ikorodu meeting due to pressing emergencies, we had all our elected and appointed officers in the East in attendance. They were also given the opportunity to make their views known. Honestly, we have business at hand that is more serious for now than promoting anybody’s gubernatorial aspiration at an unscheduled time.
What is the immediate focus of your party in the East?
Our objective is to prepare our grassroots members ready for any political assignment. Moreover, to know how they are faring, for us to exercise our usual routine caring leadership responsibilities. The welfare of our members is always our concern. We are not taking chances. Although we have a firm grip on our political territory, we are not leaving room for complacency. In the same vein, in that gathering, the State Vice Chairman and deputy Senatorial Leader, Alhaji Akani Seriki Bamu laid emphasis on unity. He saud that, in the interest of the party, leaders cannot afford to trivialise their political leadership values, especially at this crucial time when the leadership of our party is working hard to join hands with like minds in various parties to take over power at the federal level for the sake of good governance in this country.” You will notice that he (Bamu) spoke in line with our agenda and precept, as he appealed to all and sundry to come together and work as a team and face the challenges ahead of us with the spirit of one united family.
Without mincing words, our immediate focus is the political development of the human person through the application of development communication that is pivoted on education, information and agenda-setting concepts. Finally, our targeted audience is the grassroots.
