PAUL ARHEWE 11/05/2011 01:05:00
The stronghold of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of Nigeria’s major opposition parties, was tightened during the last general polls, as the ‘progressives’ have successfully captured all, but one of south western states.
Except for Ondo State currently controlled by the Labour Party government, the Awoist styled party with a commanding force in Lagos; the Centre of Excellence, is a major thorn the ruling party will love to overpower in the region during another balloting exercise, certainly for 2015. In Lagos state, the incumbent and governor-elect, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) would, by 2015, complete his second term and ACN would be left to seek for a viable replacement: The question is; who would the party use to dazzle the electorate after Fashola?
Some people would definitely say it is too early to start showing concern over who succeeds the incumbent governor in the state, more especially as he is yet to begin his second term. Four years is a long time, but early planners usually carry the day. Lagos, as the commercial and economic nerve centre to the country, is a state the ruling party will not want to miss again.
No wonder President Jonathan had to relocate to the state some days prior to the last gubernatorial poll in order to step up strategy to outwit the ACN. For many Lagosians, because of his outstanding performance during his first tenure, the re-election of Governor Fashola during the last gubernatorial poll was almost as sure as the air we breathe. There was a general belief that even if he had left the ACN to contest under another platform, Fashola would have still emerged a winner of the poll.
The closest the Peoples’ Democratic Party have gotten to snatching Lagos was in 2007 with late Engr. Funsho William as its candidate in the state before his sudden assassination. William had won the heart of many Lagosians then, but was not allowed to achieve his dream of ruling Lagos. It would have been a difficult one for Fashola against William in 2007 than with Musiliu Obanikoro.
Last year, there were reports that the current Lagos state speaker Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji actually submitted a letter indicating his ambition to vie for the party’s governorship primary poll against Fashola. He may be the Joker for the party, based on his experience and pedigree, one which could be contested with Gbenga Ashafa, senator-elect, who is with a rising profile in the state’s political landscape. The saga behind the purported move by the State Assembly to impeach Fashola and truncate his vying for another term then was clandestinely initiated to make room for those who can’t wait till 2015 for him to vacate power to leave space for the wolves to come and dine.
Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, a fine gentleman with lots of experience; a onetime Speaker of Lagos Assembly until 2003 when he was elected to the Senate, has the mien and is a sagacious politician the party can use to spring a surprise in 2015, even though the party leadership supposedly forced him not to vie last year in the senatorial race.
In another vein, as a way to placate the womenfolk, the party may take a swap at preparing a female contestant to break the ice in this exclusively masculine tryst. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, re-elected to the House of Representatives on the party’s flagship, is fast gaining popularity in the state.
She may equally be the Joker if this second approach is adopted. Joke Orelope Adefulire, deputy-elect to co-pilot the affairs of the state with Fashola, may not really be a Joker here, as she will need to be tested to alter the pattern in which Sarah Sosan was discarded despite a tall performance as deputy-cum Commissioner of Education in the state. ACN would really need someone in its sleeve that could win the hearts of Lagosians and be really trustworthy to surpass the achievements of Fashola for the party to continue to tighten its grips on power in the state even in 2015.
Except for Ondo State currently controlled by the Labour Party government, the Awoist styled party with a commanding force in Lagos; the Centre of Excellence, is a major thorn the ruling party will love to overpower in the region during another balloting exercise, certainly for 2015. In Lagos state, the incumbent and governor-elect, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) would, by 2015, complete his second term and ACN would be left to seek for a viable replacement: The question is; who would the party use to dazzle the electorate after Fashola?
Some people would definitely say it is too early to start showing concern over who succeeds the incumbent governor in the state, more especially as he is yet to begin his second term. Four years is a long time, but early planners usually carry the day. Lagos, as the commercial and economic nerve centre to the country, is a state the ruling party will not want to miss again.
No wonder President Jonathan had to relocate to the state some days prior to the last gubernatorial poll in order to step up strategy to outwit the ACN. For many Lagosians, because of his outstanding performance during his first tenure, the re-election of Governor Fashola during the last gubernatorial poll was almost as sure as the air we breathe. There was a general belief that even if he had left the ACN to contest under another platform, Fashola would have still emerged a winner of the poll.
The closest the Peoples’ Democratic Party have gotten to snatching Lagos was in 2007 with late Engr. Funsho William as its candidate in the state before his sudden assassination. William had won the heart of many Lagosians then, but was not allowed to achieve his dream of ruling Lagos. It would have been a difficult one for Fashola against William in 2007 than with Musiliu Obanikoro.
Last year, there were reports that the current Lagos state speaker Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji actually submitted a letter indicating his ambition to vie for the party’s governorship primary poll against Fashola. He may be the Joker for the party, based on his experience and pedigree, one which could be contested with Gbenga Ashafa, senator-elect, who is with a rising profile in the state’s political landscape. The saga behind the purported move by the State Assembly to impeach Fashola and truncate his vying for another term then was clandestinely initiated to make room for those who can’t wait till 2015 for him to vacate power to leave space for the wolves to come and dine.
Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, a fine gentleman with lots of experience; a onetime Speaker of Lagos Assembly until 2003 when he was elected to the Senate, has the mien and is a sagacious politician the party can use to spring a surprise in 2015, even though the party leadership supposedly forced him not to vie last year in the senatorial race.
In another vein, as a way to placate the womenfolk, the party may take a swap at preparing a female contestant to break the ice in this exclusively masculine tryst. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, re-elected to the House of Representatives on the party’s flagship, is fast gaining popularity in the state.
She may equally be the Joker if this second approach is adopted. Joke Orelope Adefulire, deputy-elect to co-pilot the affairs of the state with Fashola, may not really be a Joker here, as she will need to be tested to alter the pattern in which Sarah Sosan was discarded despite a tall performance as deputy-cum Commissioner of Education in the state. ACN would really need someone in its sleeve that could win the hearts of Lagosians and be really trustworthy to surpass the achievements of Fashola for the party to continue to tighten its grips on power in the state even in 2015.
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