9th September, 2011
In a move to announce the arrival of the womenfolk on the political scene in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, fifty female members of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, are jostling for chairmanship slots in the October council election in the state.
Prominent among the women being screened alongside the 486 contestants for chairmanship positions is the former Deputy Speaker in the 6th Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adetoun Adediran who is vying for the chairmanship of Surulere Local Government Area.
In Somolu, three women are in the race for the number one seat in the council area. One of them is Princess Bolajoko Osokoya, General Secretary of the ACN in Somolu Ward B. She will rely on her service and loyalty to the party to see her through.
Another woman contestant from Somolu, Hon. Abiola Olufunmilayo Okunsanya was formerly an aspirant to the Lagos State House of Assembly in the area. The ACN persuaded her to step down for the incumbent legislator in 2007, which she did.
In 2011, she also obeyed the party directive that the incumbent be allowed to serve a second term in office.
Speaking with P.M.NEWS shortly before she entered the hall for screening at the ACN State Secretariat along ACME Road, Ogba, Ikeja, Hon. Okunsanya said her chances are bright even when she and the other two women are facing an uphill task to unseat the incumbent chairman.
Mrs. Abiola Soaga is a grassroots politician par excellence. For about 18 years, she had been in the local politics in her Ikorodu North LCDA as Assistant Secretary, Ex-officio and currently Vice Chairman of the Community Development Association at her Odogunyan base.
She is also a ward officer of the ACN in the area.
Soaga is a trained teacher, cosmetologist and has as her role models and motivators the former First Lady of Lagos State, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa who is representing the area at the House of Representatives.
“I believe as a mother, a community leader and a woman of valour, I can offer purposeful leadership. Thatâ€
Another formidable woman for the Ikorodu West LCDA chairmanship race is Princess Ganiat Olajumoke Jimbo-Ademehin. Presently the vice chairman of the council, the Sekumade Royal Family of Ipakodo princess has political blood running in her veins.
She is the daughter of the late Otunba Lateef Jimbo who was a UPN and AD stalwart, noted for serving his people diligently while alive.
Added to her royal and family background, she has a bright chance since the incumbent chairman has served two terms and may not be going for a third term. Princess Ganiat said the people will easily embrace her programmes of empowerment for the youths and women and also introducing innovations in agriculture and sports among others.
The 50 women in the race also include: Togbeola Kehinde Victoria, (Badagry), Gbadero Chigeonu Funmi,(Ojo), Ayodele-Aro Remilekun Grace (Isolo), Olabanji-Oba Folashade and Kuwa Kanu Senayon Olaide, (Badagry West).
Others are Alli-Balogun Ganiat Shade, Hassan B. A, both contesting for the chairmanship of Surulere, while in Coker-Aguda, four women are in the race. They are: Taiwo Omotara Idiyat, Ajala-Ekundayo Olatokunbo, David Unique Idongesit and Akinyemi-Oba Adetutu Omobolande.
In Oshodi-Isolo, Adesola Florence is in the race, Oladunjoye Stella (Eredo), Adegboyega-Badmus Kabirat (Iba), and Gbenro Agnes Adebisi (Amuwo-Odofin) among others.
The women who spoke with P.M.NEWS expressed optimism that the ACN has promised to reserve 30 per cent of the chairmanship slots for women, adding that this and their individual records will work in their favour.
The women are slugging it out with 436 men who are vying alongside them for the 57 chairmanship seats in Lagos State in the election scheduled for next month.
Leading the list of the highest number of aspirants is Surulere Local Government with 30 contestants followed by Agboyi-Ketu LCDA with 21, Ikosi-Isheri LCDA has 19, Bariga LCDA and Olorunda LCDA with 17 each, Ikorodu West LCDA and Kosofe LG have 16 each, while Onigbongbo and Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDAs have 14 aspirants each.
Ikorodu North and Apapa-Iganmu LCDAs have 13 aspirants each, Oshodi/Isolo, Agege and Ikorodu LGs have 12 aspirants, Amuwo-Odofin LG and Odiolowo-Ojuwoye LCDA have 11 aspirants each; Eredo, Ifelodun, Somolu, Yaba Coker-Aguda, Badagry and Mushin councils have 10 aspirants each; while Lagos Island and Ikeja LGS have nine each.
The ACN started the screening of its candidates on Monday at its ACME Road state Secretariat. The exercise will end tomorrow.
Aspirants who scale the screening may likely go into the primaries. Where only one candidate will emerge from each of the 57 councils. A congress might be arranged to ratify the candidacy.
As at press time, over-zealous security men at the ACN Lagos Secretariat barred journalists from entering into the premises to report the screening. The journalists were made to stay in the rain while the screening lasted.
—Moyo Fabiyi & Jamiu Yisa