A group under the banner of the Kosofe Youth Movement has alleged plans by some top politicians in the All Progressives Congress to impose their choice candidate in the quest to fill the Kosofe Constituency II representative at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
In a Press Release by the group’s spokes person, Comrade Lateef Fadere, the group alleged that they unraveled a plan by the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, to impose his candidate “Yakub Balogun” as the party’s candidate for the position using the name of the party’s National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a cover.
Efforts by StarMedia Renaissance to speak with the parties in this release proved abortive as their lines were not picked and questions sent via text message were not replied as at this press time.
THE STATEMENT READS;
KOFOFE CONTITUENCY II: WE STAND AGAINST IMPOSITION OF CANDIDATES
The quest for Kosofe Constituency II representative at the Lagos State House of Assembly is still on as aspirants are slogging it out by making consultations with wards and various party hierarchies. You will recall that on the 10th of July, 2020, Hon. Tunde Braimoh who was elected to represent the constituency passed on thereby creating a vacant post that must be filled via by-election.
However, a source has it in a publication by “The Gazelle News.com” on August 4, 2020 that Yakub Balogun have been picked. The report says “Yakub Balogun may have been picked as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming by-election”. The report further stated that the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, gave the clearance for Balogun to be adopted. But, Kosofe Youths Movement hereby states authoritatively that political jobbers and mischief makers have been responsible for this misleading information given to the public.
It was alleged that the misinformation sprang up when the Agboyi Ketu LCDA chairman, Hon. Mayowa Osinowo and his counterpart in Ikosi-Isheri LCDA Hon. Princess Semiat Bada started flaunting their choice candidate under the cloak of the influence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to promote him, a move the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, allegedly got wind of, quickly countered the duo to also inform them that the said Yakub Balogun had hitherto been endorsed by the same “Asiwaju Tinubu”. This he allegedly did just to further promote his candidate. Kosofe Youths Movement, KYM gathered that the duo of Hon. Mayowa of Agboyi Ketu LCDA and Hon. Princess Semiat Bada of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA were said to be thrown to confusion knowing that the initial information they dished out was pre-planned and false.
KYM investigations revealed that these groups of people and their rumor mongers have embarked on this dangerous politicking adventure for selfish reasons as we gathered authoritatively that no aspirant has been picked and we challenge anybody that have proof contrary to this to come to the public with it. Asiwaju did not endorse any aspirant or candidate to fill the vacuum left by late Hon. Tunde Braimoh. KYM can confidently tell the Kosofe people that the Kosofe political leaders have contacted Asiwaju who have affirmatively denied endorsing any candidature instead, the National leader said the choice of who represents Kosofe constituency II is purely at the discretion of the kosofe political leadership.
The Kosofe Youth Movement in a statement signed by Comrade Lateef Fadere, the Youth Ambassador therefore advised the speaker Rt. Hon. Mudasiru Obasa to desist from undue interference in the politics of Kosofe. He says “it is an infringement on the fundamental rights of the people of Kosofe and an insult on the collective intellectual prowess and discernment of our people for anyone to attempt to manipulate the political will of the people of our constituency. It is the inalienable right of the people of Kosofe Constituency II to freely elect who represents them without interruption or manipulations from external forces or any quarter. We shall resist vehemently any attempt to sway the popular mandate of the people of Kosofe”.
“Comrade Fadere further stated that the said Yakub Balogun has no contributions to the wellbeing, growth and development of the constituency and he now want to reap where he did not sow, people that have contributed immensely, identify with the struggles and yearnings of the people of Kosofe like the immediate past Youth Ambassador ought to have been endorsed but the youths are having it calm. We challenge Yakub to come and point to his achievements or contributions to Kosofe constituency II that would warrant him been considered for such position. We therefore call on all the youths and the elderly in the constituency not to sell their conscience for money but rather vote base on what will guarantee dividends of democracy to all and sundry”.
We have also noticed from the publication of “The Gazelle News” the deliberate mismatched information of Yakub Balogun. The publication has it that “Balogun is an Awori man from Isheri-Olowoira in Agboyi Ketu LCDA of the State”. Kosofe Youth Movement, KYM wishes to correct these anomalies for the records, while the Late Hon. Tunde Braimoh hailed from Ward D in Agboyi Ketu L.C.D.A the Yakub Balogun’s Isheri-Olowoira is not in Agboyi-Ketu LCDA rather, Ikosi-Isheri LCDA. This is premeditated antics to bend the zoning arrangement of what goes to where in the party. KYM uses this medium to advise members of the APC political party who are fund of flouting party arrangements riding on the prestige and the goodwill of the national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to push personal agendas to abstain from such dastardly act henceforth as such is capable of tarnishing the name and reputation of his esteem leadership style. We also call on Asiwaju to ensure that the right steps are taken in Kosofe Constituency II by-election for probity and accountability.
Signed:
Comrade Lateef Fadere
Secretary
Kosofe Youth Movement