By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The All Progressive Congress Chairman of Ikosi Isheri LCDA, and Chairman of Lagos East Senatorial District LGA Chairmen Forum, Chief Sunday Jegede, in an interview with KosofePost gives reasons why constituents are calling on the incumbent lawmaker representing Kosofe Federal Constituency, Honourable Rotimi Agunsoye, to run in 2023 and the authentic Ikosi Isheri LCDA, LGA Chairman, among other issues.
Here is the excerpts
Since the return of Nigeria to the democratic path on May 29, 1999, various representatives from the Hon. Dotun Animashun, Arch. Dayo Alebiosu, and others have spent two terms of eight years. Why the call on the incumbent lawmaker to go for another term?
His outstanding performance and broad-based achievements is major, because you will see the impact of his unrivaled achievements everywhere you go in Kosofe today. Wards: A Oworoshoki, B-Ifako Gbagada,C -Anthony Mende, D- Ogudu Ojota, E- Ketu Alapere, F-Ikosi Ketu, G- Isheri Olowoira Magodo, H and I Agboyi, and J-Ajegunle.
He has impacted on the lives of Kosofe Federal Constituency. Even though he refused to come out, we pleaded with him to continue with the good job.
Someone that has performed excellently well is supposed to emerge unopposed, just like Sen. Tokunbo Abiru.
Why is it difficult to replicate Abiru’s endorsement in Kosofe?
Looking at what Abiru has done within a short time, we can recognize his impact and I see no reason why we should not endorse him. If you are bringing in another person to learn through the ladder, it will take another four years to learn.
You may recall that the first four years of Agunsoye’s tenure were not as smooth as the second term because in the second term he was able to impact so many people.
Can you believe someone who has completed nine earth-shattering empowerment programs in seven years?If you can recall, let us bring other people’s performances and place them side by side with Agunsoye’s.
We are not contesting anything, but we are saying this man has done a good job and we should just urge him to serve us again.
Are you talking about ICT centers, the construction of hospitals, schools, and legal water holes everywhere?
Someone was there before Agunsoye, so let him come out and place his achievements when he was there and place them side by side with the incumbent.
Despite the state of the economy, this one is still coming out to touch every life. For someone that has spent 80 to 90 percent, we should all gear him up, and I pray that, by the special grace of God, come May 19th, he will emerge as the preferred candidate of the party. So we are all working together because of his performance.
Others are now declaring their intention to run for the House of Representatives. We should not make the mistake of bringing out someone who cannot win his polling unit because this man started from the youth level to the House of Representatives.
How can someone who has never held any position in the party before come out and say he is contesting for this seat?
You highlighted the empowerment that he had carried out, while some have argued that the cash gift, korope, and the keke Marwa are not sustainable, while some say these items do not have much impact on life.
Let them tell us when they were there if they gave out just one Korope to 10 people. Dayo Bush should come out and tell me when he gave out any items to the Federal constituency and it was only in his third term that he gave out 42 bags of rice throughout his tenure.
If you are criticizing someone who has contributed to the development of the lives of his people, let us know when they contributed an ordinary grinding machine for each local government. We have a council chairman that has been there now.
He should tell us what he has done when others are building hospitals and roads. He is only busy hijacking the LCDAs.
Is that why we elected him to the position?
We are still at the primary level, so I can’t address him now, but by the time we get to the general elections, we will put him in his place concerning this allegation.
Where are the records that show that the empowerment slots were given to other parties?
I can quote them. When you are talking about infrastructure, there is a gigantic bole hole being built.
Is that one done for only the party members?
So the hospital bills were paid for by party members? Are the schools built only for the party members?
At the appropriate time, when it is time to address the inter party, we will go deeply into all this, but for now, we are talking about the intra party level. If Koya was in the APC, he wouldn’t contest for the House of Representatives. He would be talking about counselor.
I still remain the LGA Chairman of IKOSI ISHERI, and I don’t expect a 75-year-old man to be claiming the LGA Chairmanship. He should be sworn in duly and I will thereafter Congratulate him. Hence, the status quo remains. So where are you bringing him in to disrupt the council? He is my Egbon. He should not go through the backdoor because he is an elderly man.