By After the successful shadow primary exercise among APC’s Ikorodu Constituency II, Lagos State House of Assembly aspirants in Ijede LCDA and the eventual emergence of Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun as the consensus aspirant, a group of party leaders embarked on consultations to the royal heads in the constituency, earlier in the week.
The team was made up of APC chieftains such as Hon. Adefarasin Hassan, Alhaji S. Ade Ajala, Hon. Aguda Emmanuel, Alhaji Kayode Fahm, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba and Hon. Bello Monsuru.
The consultations commenced on Thursday, May 19, at the palace of Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, HRM. Oba Semiu Orimadegun Kasali, Emugoriade I.
The spokesperson for the team, Alhaji S. Ade Ajala stated that it was the desire of Ijede LCDA’s royal, traditional and political heads to have a sole aspirant to participate in the APC primaries since the incumbent, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja Saka has refused to honor the rotational agreement.
Since all the aspirants are legitimate and bonafide indigenes of Ijede LCDA, eminently qualified and none of them was ready to step down from the race, it was thought wise to conduct an in-house primary among the aspirants and all the party leaders agreed to the shadow primary.
He further stated that the shadow primary was transparent in that all the aspirants were given comprehensive list of the delegates that would vote in the exercise 72 hours before the D-day to allow them market themselves to the delegates.
The delegation then presented a letter duly signed by Ijede LCDA APC chieftain, presenting Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun to HRM Oba Semiu Orimadegun Kasali, as the Ijede LCDA’s chosen aspirant because the unanimously agreed shadow primary was the perfect representation of Royal, traditional and political heads of Ijede LCDA.
They didn’t fail to express their concerns over the discreditable and reprehensible refusal of the incumbent and some political leaders from Igbogbo to honor the peace and egalitarian driven rotational agreement.
In his response, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo said as a peace-loving king, he stands wherever Ijede is standing. The monarch said since there was a rotational agreement between the Irepodun formation (Igbogbo, Imota and Ijede), it was just honorable to abide with the agreement, and if there must be a revisit to the agreement, it would be the responsibility of the constituency’s stakeholders to collectively evaluate the efficacy of the agreement and reach a new one, if need be.
He also commended the efforts of the Council Chairmen and political leaders that are taking necessary steps to make sure that the rotational arrangement is implemented.
In the presence of Ijede LCDA APC chieftains, Oba Orimadegun Kasali henceforth endorsed the aspiration of Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun and prayed for him.
On the same day, the chieftains took their consultation trail to the palace of the Oba Ranodu of Imota, HRM Oba Mudasiru Ajibade Bakare Agoro.
The former political leader and two-term ward councilor said, “I was very much involved in the rotational arrangement; the objective of the arrangement was predicated on equality, selflessness and significance of IREPODUN formation; and there is no justification whatsoever for dishonoring the rotational agreement and urged all the well-meaning people with integrity to distance themselves from such undemocratic act.”
The team also presented the same letter to the monarch who equally endorsed the aspiration of Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun with heart felt prayers.
On Saturday, May 21, the delegation headed to the house of Olubeshe of Ibeshe, HRM Oba Richard Ogunsanya; narrating the same development to the king and presenting him with the letter signed by the leaders as well as Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun.
The monarch, a former political leader and ward councilor said the rotational agreement is a substance of Irepodun’s peaceful coexistence and it must be respected. In his words, he said the “agreement has become our law”.
In the same manner, Oba Ogunsanya endorsed the aspiration of Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun after the unanimously signed letter of Ijede LCDA chieftains was presented to him.
The team then went back home to the palace of Alajede in Council where High Chief Alliu Musediq, the regent/Olisa of Ijede and chiefs received them in company of Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba, the Executive Chairman of Ijede LCDA, welcoming and embracing their own Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun.
The political leaders then headed to the palace of the Obateru of Egbin, Oba Adeoriyomi Akeem Oyebo who officially endorsed Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun and fortified him with prayers.
Summarily, the monarchs charged all indigenes and residents of Irepodun to honour the rotational agreement in the interest of peaceful coexistence, urging all and sundry to support the choice of Ijede LCDA.
See pictures from the visits below:
