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…..Says. “This Local Government Belongs To Me”
In compliance with the directive of the governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun that leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) across the 20 local governments areas of the state nominate five names each to constitute the local government caretaker committee which will run the affairs of local governments till a democratically elected local governments are constituted, the APC leaders in Ado-Odo/Ota local government on Monday October 21, held a crucial meeting where all the five caretaker committee members were chosen.
At the meeting held at the Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos home of the Ogun State deputy governor, Alhaja Noimot Salako, the leaders agreed that elections should be held to pick the committee members who are spread across the five local council development areas (LCDA’s).
The leaders at the meeting were the deputy governor of Ogun State, Alhaja Noimot Salako Oyedele, Senator Akin Odunsi, Senator Gbolahan Dada, Hon. Waliu Taiwo, Hon Tunji Akinosi, Hon Kazeem Salako, Hon Sheriff Yusuff and Alhaji Adegbenro.
It was further agreed among the leaders that the deputy governor conduct all the elections, while the eight leaders in attendance will vote for their candidates as elected nominees for the five LCDAs which are Agbara/Igbesa, Ado-Odo, Sango/Ijoko, Atan/IIju/Ilogbo and Ota LGA.
A source who was privy to the process informed our reporter that the elections of caretaker members from four LCDAs went smoothly without any rancor. However, trouble started when it got to the stage to elect the nominee for the Ota local government area who will eventually become the local government caretaker chairman. It was gathered that election began peacefully with all the eight leaders casting votes for their preferred candidates. The candidates were Hon Segun Ojolowo-Ojuko, Hon Wasiu Lawal and Hon Kamoru Aina.
After the votes and counting was done, the deputy governor, Noimot Salako Oyedele who acted as the election umpire announced that Segun Ojolowo Ojuko had five votes, Wasiu Lawal polled two votes while Kamoru Aina had one vote.
We learnt no sooner had the votes announced than Senator Akin Odunsi rejected the outcome, saying, “Segun Ojolowo can not be the chairman….. the Olota of Ota had called me that he wants Wasiu Lawal as the chairman. No, no, no, this election will not stand.” Odunsi reportedly cried. The source revealed that Hon Waliu Taiwo and Hon Tunji Akinosi took exemption to the position of Senator Odunsi and countered him vigorously.
“Hon Waliu Taiwo and Akinosi said they were not aware the Olota of Ota had interest in any particular candidate, and that the leaders had voted and name of the winner must be forwarded to the governor as the popular choice. They insisted that Segun Ojolowo Ojuko won the election fair and square.” The source stated.
In the ensuing melee, we were informed that deputy governor Noimot Salako Oyede in a dictatorial manner declared that she does not care about the votes of the party leaders and that the local government belonged to her as the deputy governor of the state and her decision was final. She then announced that she would forward the name of Hon Wasiu Lawal who scored two votes to the governor as the choice of the leaders. It then became obvious that the deputy governor’s preferred candidate was Wasiu Lawal, and had plotted with Senator Odunsi to scuttle the process.
The declaration by the deputy governor reportedly shocked majority of the leaders who decried her dictatorial tendencies, vowing that the wishes of the majority must prevail while reminding her that the local government is not part of her family estate.
Meanwhile, we gathered that the Olota of Ota,Oba Abdulkadir Obalanlege has washed his hands off the caretaker committee imbroglio. “Olota has sent a text message to governor Dapo Abiodun that he does not have a preferred candidate, and that nobody should drag his name into the dirty waters of politics.” Our source at the olota’s palace told us.
