Lagos East 2019: Ganiu Abiru Quits As Ashafa, Pepper Go Toe To Toe

In what can be termed premature ending to a supposedly promising political career, the former Clerk of Lagos State House of Assembly and Chairman of Ikorodu Development Association (IKODASS), Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru, has brought to an abrupt end his campaign to represent Lagos East Senatorial District in the 2019 elections.

In a press statement personally signed by him and made available to BlackBox Nigeria, Abiru said the unsupportive attitude of political leaders from Ikorodu Division informed his decision to quit the race for the Red Chamber.

“Experience in the last couple of days shows glaringly that the interest of some of our political leaders lies in self-seeking pecuniary gains.  Their attitude towards our cause in recent time has called for caution and utmost restraint in pursuing our struggle any further.

Read also Adebayo Osinowo Seeks Support Of Lagos East Reps Caucus Ahead Of APC Primaries 

“The political leaders have chosen to align with familiar faces and their interests myopically should be the  interest of others in the Community  Their disposition to our cause as party primaries draw near has given us a genuine reason to reconsider our stance and jettison our cause, though this was not envisaged. The claim that we did not consult is nothing but balderdash. Some of our leaders don’t want their subordinates within d Community to be greater than them. Indeed, some of them are on vengeance mission. But no mortal can say Yes where God has said No and vice versa. I must confirm that I have no regret for my political action and promise to continue d struggle of liberation from self- seeking political overlords,” he wrote in the statement.

Explaining some of the achievements of his campaign before throwing in the towel, Abiru noted that the struggle to save Ikorodu division from political oblivion was the reason he accepted the call by youths of the community to vie for the post and followed up with wide consultations.

“We combed the nooks and crannies of Lagos east senatorial district where I met with the critical stakeholders in each community, political leaders, the youths and members of each community. Their positive response, their concerns and regret about the falling standard of representation in the district motivated me to continue in this cause and pursue the same up to this point of address,” he said.

In a related development, two term Senator ‘Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos East senatorial district, obtained  his senate expression of interest and nomination forms for the APC primaries scheduled to hold on September 26, 2018. 

The incumbent who currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Land Transport, was accompanied to the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja by Party Leaders from Lagos East and other well wishers.

 According to Senator Ashafa’s Media office, the senator used the occasion to thank everyone for their massive show of support and steadfastness over the years. While reaffirming his belief in the power of the people as expressed through the ballot and urged them to maintain the same passion with which they voted him into office in 2015.

In his words, “I would like to urge you all to be responsive to this great power that you hold – the power of choice. To be able to choose is a power so great that the consequences of its use, or misuse, are always life-changing and defining. Year after year, since 2011, I have kept faith with you as your senator in the 7th and 8th sessions of the National Assembly. Through your contributions at our various townhall meetings and constituency outreaches, you have also kept faith by showing support and offering constructive criticisms which have helped to make me a better lawmaker and also make Lagos East a shining example of what it means to have a responsive senator.”

With the current developments, the race for the Lagos East seat now lies between Senator Ashafa and Honourable Adebayo Osinowo popularly known as Pepper. 

Osinowo who joined the senate race some few months ago is fast becoming the candidate of choice as major political stewards have been endorsing him to unseat Ashafa. Only today, Chairmen of the Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas within the Lagos East Senatorial District came forward to endorse him. The Chairmen’s endorsement is coming on the heels of a similar endorsement by House of Representatives Caucus from the same senatorial district last week.