AJEROMI 2025: WHO CLINCHES THE TICKET

Since the creation of Ajeromi Ifelodun’ local government, certain jinx are yet to be broken in her transition to a new Council government at Subsequent dispensations, typically, no incumbent Chairman has been able to handpick or choose a successor Chairman.

In specific instances, the state leadership of the ruling party has picked a Chairmanship candidate for the local government. However, political commentaries assume that the present local government leadership of the ruling party, APC, is no more jelly-like before especially with proper leadership expansion and delineation of functions, it has been fortified and made stronger, especially with the GAC member, the local government G16 standard and Ward G20 status.

The G20 should be able to pick Councilors for the Wards and G16 pick the Chairmanship candidates while the GAC is concerned with state overseeing roles, political commentators argue.

The second thing is that none of the past Chairmen of Ajeromi local government has ever come from the Ajegunle axis despite subsequent lame agitations, again, no time has there been less than five aspirants desiring to take over but some had often been lobbyists for appointments and this dispensation is no exception.

Presently, the incumbent government of Ayoola is gradually winding down and by August next year, a new regime will have taken over. Posterity will start her judgment on what Ayoola’s government did like other past regimes and it is from this standpoint that we look at the various Chairmanship aspirants.

Today, we lump the names often reechoing in political circles as aspirants to take over from the government of Ayoola under two groups; Ajegunle and Araromi axis and they include and we leave you to sieve out the appointment lobbyist from the serious Chairmanship aspirants;

Haruna Ariyo Olawole(Megida), Lekan Akinpelu(Lampholder), Hon Toyin Amusa, Hon Muda Afolanyan, Samsudeen Arogundade(Sunshine), Bolarinwa Abayomi, David Babalola, Jimoh Ibrahim, Michael Ojobaro, Noheem Oluwa, Prince OyeboWale Wahab Oluwa, Muftau Lawal, Ayo Fayemi, Saheed Ajao Ojora(Ojabe ), Adio  Bolaji Ibrahim, Rasheed Oyebola Gbose, Amudalat Temitope Oloola.

The latest available information to Lagos Focus News claims that Hon Fatai Oluwa whose name has repeatedly been shown in the speculators list is now eyeing to be Deputy Governor and no longer Chairman and Sabara Jalesimi has denounced aspiration according to close sources and attempts to confirm or refute aspiration of Samsudeen Arogundade whose name also is recurring in the list is yet to be ascertained

Hon Toyin Amusa with his Renewed Hope Campaign team is adjudged the most experienced of the aspirants. He has gone through the rungs, he has gone through the leadership ladder, he was two times Councilor, one time Vice Council Chairman of the local government, He was the Secretary to the Council (SLG) and it remains for him to be the Council Chairman.

He is barely visible on social media and has scanty advertorial signposts which political commentaries said could be a pointer to his political nature.

Within the Political Circle, Amusa is seen as a spendthrift, a selfish Politician, and a tribal bigot. Typically, people alleged when he coordinated the Ajeromi axis for the MHR, Hon Kolawole Taiwo, the N50k given to Constituents was appropriated exclusively by his tribesmen, Kwara indigenes.

A political opinion said his selfishness was part of what made Prince Rabiu deposed him as leader of the House. His campaign is not gathering storm and there’s no major political figure seen in his team.

His tentacle is what cannot be determined by this write-up but he is however, a very strong contender for the Chairmanship seat from the Ajegunle axis come the year 2025 though his strength, contact, and tentacle at the Olodi axis are what cannot be ascertained here.

Many politicians believe he will do well as the Council Chairman if given the chance as his technicalities and maneuverings are swift

However, it has been predicted that leadership can be skeptical about giving Amusa the ticket because he is tactical and experienced and this may be a huge factor against him Amusa is a good Chairmanship material though he might not be able to spend like some people in pursuit of the ticket but that does not mean to say he is poor financially because he is equal to the task and ready to sew his clothes according to his cloth.

However, this is politics, most times experience and qualification hardly count as the best may not emerge as many other things count, so agitation like Ajegunle L’okan and qualifications may not acquire him the ticket as it is left for APC leadership in Ajeromi local government to decide.

ALH Muda Afolanyan: He is a leader in the ruling Party, the Present Chairman of the Justice Forum in Ajeromi, a former Councilor, and also a former interim Administrative Secretary to the Executive Secretary of the Interim government. He was brought into political struggle by the late leader, Taju Adeshina under DPN and he became a Councilor

He was an Islamic law lecturer at one of the institutions. Ahaji Muda is one of those aspirants who are qualified to be the local government Chairman. He has a wide range of experiences and has been part of the political struggles of Ajeromi’ local government. Political opinions prefer he remains on the leadership side rather than service but aspiration is for all according to them other opinions said his political antecedents have not sufficiently brought out his acumen or proven his political administrative capability but others argue that his work experiences and exposure surpasses the acumen needed to run the council.

The APC Party Chairman is one of the pillars standing behind him, the very reason some politicians described him as a follow-follow, too loyal to a fault.

However it is in doubt if Hon Muda can spend like some money bag aspirants who had opened their financial war chest in prosecuting their aspiration, some others believe that Hon Muda wants to use the aspiration to retain his presence in the political circle or simply to negotiate for a Supervisory Councilor’s position..

HON Rasheed Oyebola Gboshe: Hon Gboshe has been in the political system for a long, he is a grassroots politician and has remained consistent in the political circle and has been credited with moving along his personality and contacts to whichever new office he occupies but popular political opinions said Gbose does not fit in the race but that he is in the race only for one reason.

Gbose is criticized for still holding the outdated AD mentality that this person or that will help rather than a faith in himself and the people he is looking up to are not looking his direction either, such persons as Fatai Oluwa, Boye Kalejaiye and including Prince Rabiu.

Hon Gbose was a former Councilor and presently a youth leader at the State. He is said to be capable of feeling the impulse and pains of the people if he grabs the ticket

He would also have some useful contacts upstairs that may have instigated him to the aspiration but presently contacts from up are said to have minimal inputs on who clinches the ticket.

Gbose as a renowned clearing agent would have some useful business contacts that can pull together a huge financial chest if it comes to shove but a lot of political commentaries said what is presently on the ground for aspirants surpasses Gbose’s caliber just recovered from the financial business drain and may not have the heart for uncertain political expenditure.

Hon Muftau Lawal: Muffy as he is called by his admirers has been one of the well-known old politicians in Ajeromi clime and he has paid his political dues. He had served as Supervisor at some dispensations. He has plied the trade of aspiration from the GDM era and had tried to be a House of Assembly member or Chairman at one time or the other under the Progressives but the opportunity never sticks as timing has often been his major setback.

He is both experientially and academically qualified to be the Council Chairman and he has the money to bankroll the aspiration because he is from a wealthy family.

AYO FAYEMI: He is the son of one of Ajeromi Ifelodun’s political leaders, Dele Fayemi, he has not summed up the courage to launch his aspiration but seems to be among the group who believes that somebody somewhere would hand over the Chairmanship ticket to him, an outdated style that may have worked before but not at this dispensation because people are wiser political commentaries argue.

Truly timing may not be favourable to Ayo Fayemi but If he does his homework well, 2plus 2 can give him 22 or simply 4. He should remove skepticism and fear and face his aspiration

Amudalat Temitope Oloola: She is the only female aspirant and is coming on the heels of, ‘Obiri Lokan’, perhaps she is the youngest of the aspirants too. She is the daughter of the popular Aiyetoro Bale. She is in the entrepreneurial skills acquisition business. She is one of those said to be running for political office negotiation but she is putting all her best into Social Media awareness creation and reaching out to her political contacts including within the senatorial zone.

SAHEED AJAO OJORA: He unveiled his “Gbangbadekun”, the Big Tiger Team in a style recently despite common knowledge that he is running. He has been adjudged a strong contender that cannot be wished away easily due to his family and the political irokos behind him.

His aspiration would gain support by intrusion into the Oluwa family where  Yeye Ireti, the politically savvy wife of the APC Apex leader would want to scuttle every effort to use any of the sons of the Oluwa, to the detriment of his son SAO serving his first tenure at the Lagos House of Assembly for a second term.

Many perceive his aspiration as Kamal Bayewu’s third term. Kamal Bayewu is the Banker turned politician who came from the Banking hall with very deep financial pockets, arm- twisted strong contenders to the number one Council position, and served two terms as Council Chairman of Ajeromi, he is the current Chairman Lagos State Civil Service Commission, he is a smooth political operator.

Ojabe as Saheed is popularly called was a two-term Councilor under Kamal Bayewu’s Chairmanship and had also served as Supervisor in subsequent administration.

He is from the Ojora royal family; he has a great chance as he is ably qualified too but just being seen as a proxy aspirant may not help him much though he has relevant experience to be the chairman. Finance may not be a challenge to him unlike many other aspirants but political opinions claim that Ojabe has hugely benefitted from the political system unlike many who had toiled and never recouped their political investments. Ojabe is tipped the aspirant to beat.

 Olamilekan Olu Akindipe aka LAMPHOLDER, anchors the Voice of Hope slogan, he has been described as a great young man, very respectful and has been a politician from the other side but since he joined the camp of the Progressives, he is said to be mixing well.

A lot of people say he poses an image that is eager to be known as a philanthropist and so, he is said to have helped a lot of people, and this credential many tout is a quality that will impact his aspiration positively and it has attracted many to him.

Lampholder has been predicted to be capable of listening to details from his leaders because he is the tail of the leadership in the local government and he will not disappoint the leadership if he becomes the Council Chairman.

In terms of his financial strength, Lampholder is adjudged okay, especially as he is said to have useful contacts that can bankroll the aspiration if it overweighs him.

But in terms of experience, Lampholder may have minuses or deficiencies but he has experienced people to guide him.

Alhaji Olawole Ariyo, Megida as he is popularly called has the IleriOluwa 2025 theme, he is a young political tusk that has pulled the scale high towards 2025, and he has left no one in doubt that he is not pretending on the aspiration unlike lot others that are seeking for recognition or other appointments.

Megida was the DG of the Ayoola Campaign organization; he is from the Ajegunle axis of the Ajeromi local government. He has his banner if not on all streets of the local government but almost in all and he is very visible on Social media. If banner, social media political awareness and political spending or rather money is the only thing that it takes to secure the party ticket; Megida had already clinched the APC ticket.

Far back in the year 2013 when Megida went to Hajj at Mecca, he transformed higher in aspiration because before then he had been aspiring for a Councillorship position.

A lot of people say he has a great heart for the local government as he has huge investments in the area, Ariyo has been in a prominent circle of the Ayoola cabinet, so if the government is adjudged to have done well, it could be a selling point and if there is anyone who wants Ariyo to be next Council Chairman aside the lots that have benefitted from his philanthropic gestures, it is the incumbent Chairman and these do not mean Megida is going to be picked either as the next Council Chairman based on these.

Bolarinwa Abayomi is from the Alayabiagba axis of Ajegunle. He is adjudged a good and vibrant youth material for the post by many. He was a former youth leader for almost about 12 years. His ability is not in question but his pocket even though cannot be ascertained here may pose a huge challenge to his aspiration. He has the Council Chairman’s charisma.

JIMOH IBRAHIM; He grew up in the Odofin/Bale lane area of the local government. He was among the youths of his neighborhood who formed the millionaire club as a youth.

He is presently a State Auditor and in the rank of Commissioner II at the state civil service. He is however strange in the local government as many may not know him as a grass-rooter, neither is he dominant, so the question is can he be given a chance? Though from his body language and association Jimoh Ibrahim seems to be working from up to pick up the ticket but would it work?

He may have been foisted to the group likely hoping on the Lagos State Speaker’s magic, the Obasa angle, though some people were able to overcome the local politician’s dominance and entered with Sina Rambo style and bulldozed their way to influence and acquire political power in the local government but will this still work this time around­, the agitation now is for capability and inclusiveness of leadership and it is in very high demand presently.

Michael Ojobaro, a former youth leader at the National Youth Council of Nigeria, publisher of the color pages pictorial event Catalyst Magazine. He is more known as a security person who works with the police, army, and the local govt. to ensure the local government is peaceful. Many believe his journey for the chairmanship seat will be far.

Noheem Oluwa: has the mantra of “A new Ajeromi Ifelodun is rising”. He is known as a gentle and unassuming young man, smart and an introvert. He is very intelligent according to people that know him. He has been the chairman revenue committee in the local government. He is academically qualified and has the relevant experiences for the job of a Council Chairman, socially exposed and not a noise maker. Those who know Noheem said, he is easygoing and has gotten credit for his jobs. He is seen by many as an instructed person, who listens, he has been asked to drop his aspiration in the past, rationale political opinion says unless relevant political forces want to undo him, they will not consider him because he has paid his political dues and he is certainly one of the best aspirants.

The greatest undoing or obstacle in Noheem’s journey to the Council seat would only come from his house as a product of polygamy because the masses will always want a fit, suitable people-oriented chairman.

Many say Noheem’s quality is the kind the local government needs now, not extravagant, not noisy but thorough, calculative and submissive to the people but would the forces at his house allow him?

Wale Oluwa: is the flamboyant aspirant of the Oluwa family. He has been the secretary of the Oluwa royal family. He is good to go but he has to be very careful on both his advisers and campaign team workers as it constitutes many of ‘the jeunsokes’. It cannot be taken away from him that, Wale is at the forefront of those that have raised the aspiration bar for 2025; he is said to have done several awareness programs for school children, health programs, and school renovations.

Wale is said not to be too knowledgeable of all they do at the Council as he is said to have a limited understanding that Contract awards are the only job and again, he sees the Council from the myopic family point of view as he argues that the Rabiu Oluwa arm of the Family had produced the Chairman and Assembly and the Oba, so it is the turn of his arm of Oluwa to take this Chairmanship ticket and so his idea is bereft of proper understanding that Ajeromi local government Chairmanship is entirely communal rather than familial issue.

He is not known in the political circle as a politician but he has a renowned DR. biological political Father politician, so the blood of a politician runs in him some say. Many are of the view that the recent title coronated on him as the Maiyegun of Iwa and Apapa kingdom is a limitation rather than an advantage to his aspiration.

But many people especially those who had had property issues with the Oluwa Royal Family will have reservations about his aspiration and again a lot of others say with the manner he is spending, he is just a pure businessman who wants to buy the slot and recoup his expenditure later.

Some audacious Predictions by Political octopuses have zeroed the ticket on one of these three aspirants, the winner between Wale Oluwa, Noheem Oluwa or Ojabe of the Ojora family or the fallout from both royal families would result in the emergence of Lampholder but how true can this be, only time can tell.