Politics
The Battle For The Soul Of Alausa In 2023, Major Contenders To Watch Out For By Niyi Oladipupo
Gomez
There has been clandestine political meetings of sorts by some of the big political parties in the state; and the major issue on the burner is who becomes the next governor of Lagos come 2023.
It will be recalled that in the last dispensation, former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was denied the ticket to contest for second term under the banner of All Progress Party (APC) by Bola Ahmed Tinubu who virtually controls the party structure in the state.
Ambode was “politically ambushed” and had to succumb to the pandering and over-bearing influence of Tinubu, while the current governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu became the preferred bride.
Political pundits believe the same fate that befell Ambode could still rear its ugly head as we inch closer to the year 2023
For instance, keen political watchers in Lagos also believe that the 2023 gubernatorial election in the state will be full of intrigues and surprises as there are other powerful candidates eyeing the Government House in Alausa.
To keep the readers abreast of what could happen in the nearest future, we shall be analyzing the likely candidates to look out for and possibly their chances.
HAKEEM MURI-OKUNOLA: Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola who is generally known as HMO, is a Lagos socialite. Loved and admired by many.
He is a Lawyer, who followed the footpath of his late father, Justice Muri Okunola. He is also a public administrator, technocrat and current Lagos state Head of Service.
He has over the years grown to be a man loved by many for his uncommon calmness, intelligence, loyalty and astute brilliancy.
Muri-Okunola was also the former permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development in Lagos state. He began his fast rise through the rungs of public career at Ibile Holdings, an investment arm of the Lagos state Government.
Being the first son of the late respected Justice Muritala Okunola, he caught the eye of the then Lagos governor Bola Tinubu and who made him his personal assistant.
With his educational and family background, there are rumours that Hakeem Okunola believe that the time is ripe for him to throw his hat into the political mainstream arena in the state.
Consequently, he is of the opinion that he has come of age politically to take a shot at the Lagos state seat of power come 2023. His closeness to Tinubu and other political gladiators in the state is seen as a big advantage for him by political watchers.
But others who tend to tread with caution, believe his major drawback is lack of experience and that he may just need to bid his time for the appropriate time.
But in the fiery game of politics especially n Nigeria anything can happen!
WALE GOMEZ: Mr Wale Gomez is ultimately the new toast in town. A man of excellence and impeccable character; and a well known Lagosian in the social circle.
A man of considerable means, a successful businessman and an investment guru. Mr Wale Gomez is married to the beautiful former Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon Titi Oseni, now Mrs Titi Oseni Gomez and he enjoys a lot of political support from some key political gladiators in the state.
He is educated in some of the best known schools both home and abroad, and he is widely travelled.
Some keen political watchers see him as the ‘star boy’ to look out for as the political permutations of who becomes the next governor of Lagos state thickens up.
Rumour has it that most political parties in Lagos are already rooting for him to join their political party. This is the reason political observers believe that he is the most sought-after politician in the state.
In the run up to the last Presidential election, Wale Gomez was a major pillar politically and key ally of former Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and the PDP presidential candidate in the election.
His support group, ‘Re-build Nigeria Initiative’ became a formidable force during the 2015 presidential election in Lagos. The group made so much in-roads in the political horizon of Lagos and other adjoining states with million of supporters.
The group activities were so profound at that time that the opposition became jittery.
The handsome looking Wale Gomez is currently in the fore-front of a popular group known as “Iya yi to” L’eko. The group is leading a campaign for a new and better Lagos. Most political watchers believe Wale Gomez has all it takes to occupy Alausa House come 2023.
He has been a-behind-the scene political strategist and an ally of most of the big political gladiators in the state.
He is cool, calculative, forward-looking and extremely industrious. If he emerges as a governor in 2023, some political observers predict that Lagos will be better for it. But time will tell on which political platform he will be actualizing his dream as we inch closer to 2023.
But he sure remains a candidate to watch-out for!
MR DEJI DOHERTY: Mr Deji Doherty was born into the Doherty dynasty of Popo Aguda in downtown Lagos Island in the 60s.
Upon graduation from C.M.S Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos, he proceeded to Chicago, Illiniois in the United States of America where he bagged a degree in Industrial Engineering.
Doherty is the chairman of DAIN Group, which includes Dohagro Industries and 10 Degrees Event Center, among others.
He has tried unsuccessfully to become the governor of Lagos State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, without luck.
He has previously contested under the PDP platform in 2007, 2011, and 2015 respectively.
In the political circle he is seen as a serial governorship contester in Lagos state.
Political observers believe Doherty is not done yet, he still has his eye fixated on the Lagos State Government House in Alausa come 2023.
How he is going to achieve this lofty dream remains in the realm of political permutations and Horse-trading that are going to characterized the political space in the coming days and years!
By Niyi Oladipo
Breaking: Speaker Obasa Debunks Allegation Of Spending N17b On Assembly Gate
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday described the allegation that the House spent N17 billion on the fixing of a gate as spurious and funny.
A self-proclaimed group, Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, had accused the Assembly of spending the amount to construct a gate. The group also sought investigation of the claim.
Speaking at plenary, Dr. Obasa said the allegation stemmed from the fear of some people over 2027 which is still more than two years away.
Obasa further debunked the claim that the House spent N200 million on its recently organised 22nd thanksgiving service for staff.
“It is so funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in the whole year that we will decide to spend N17 billion on a gate? They even claimed that we expended 200 million on thanksgiving that did not hold.
“We are aware that at a period like this when we are approaching elections in 2027, we should expect such things. I think some people are scared and I don’t know why.
“This House did not and has not embarked on any such project. We are not that reckless. We had our thanksgiving last Friday and dignitaries from various parts of the State attended it,” the Speaker said.
Addressing further claims by the group about the alleged relationship between him and the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, the Speaker denied attending the latter’s screening and confirmation by the National Assembly.
“They said that I was at the National Assembly when they were confirming the EFCC chairman. I want to believe that there are CCTV cameras at the National Assembly to identify those who attended the event. The press must have written about it too. So the group should do more to confirm if I was there.
“This is just to deny the allegations in the interest of the public and not the writers because the writers are not those we should be joining words with,” the Speaker said.
Earlier, the House, through its spokesperson, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, had addressed the allegations noting that the Assembly bases its activities on integrity, transparency and accountability.
“It is ludicrous the claim about constituency intervention funds and constituency project funds and their handling by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko as claimed by the group.
“One would have expected a self-acclaimed anti-corruption crusading group to do its groundwork before jumping across the fence with conviction that it hit a jackpot to malign an institution of repute in the name of politics.
“Simply put, the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have any such funds. The Assembly does not embark on constituency projects. Instead, once every year, the House holds stakeholders’ meetings simultaneously across the state where constituents have the opportunity to tell the lawmakers their expectations and make requests for the betterment of the state.
“These requests and expectations are compiled and sent to the executive arm of government for consideration as inputs in subsequent budgets. If this is what the group takes as constituency intervention or project funds, we are sure this explanation has given the required education, moreover, it is common knowledge that it is the responsibility of the Executive arm to execute such projects,” the earlier statement by Ogundipe read.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
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