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CLASSICS: Children of Obas and godfathers who are political office holders

A time, it was, when kings and political godfathers appointed complete strangers into political offices. These days, traditional rulers and political godfathers, who have children that are old enough and have the pre-requisite qualifications to hold political offices approve their children for such positions.

ENCOMIUM Weekly takes a cursory look at the political landscape of Lagos State and point out those who are holding offices courtesy of their father who is a king or a political godfather.

 

HON. (MRS.) ADEJOKE ADEFILURE, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State. She has been holding political office since 1990, courtesy of her father, Alhaji Jimoh Orelope, who has been a prominent political leader in the Alimosho axis of Lagos State since the Second Republic of 1979-1983.

She was first elected into Lagos House of Assembly in 1990, appointed Commissioner in 2003 and 2007. Today, she is the most powerful female politician in Lagos by virtue of her position as Deputy Governor.

Hon. (Mrs.) Adejoke Adefilure is not the only child of the veteran politician that is holding political office, her brother, Mr. Lukmon Orelope, the secretary of Alimosho Local Government Council is another one.

 

OBAFEMI KADRI HAMZAT, the incumbent Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure has been a member of Lagos State Executive Council since 2005, courtesy of his father, Alhaji Mufutau Olatunmi Hamzat, another veteran politician since the moribund Second Republic of 1979-1983.

Alhaji Hamzat is not only a godfather in Lagos politics today but also a traditional ruler in Ogun State. He is presently Oba Afowowa Sogade in Ewekoro Local Government of Ogun State.

 

HON. GANIYU OLADUNJOYE HAMZAT, a ranking member of House of Representatives is another son of Oba Mufutau Olatunji Hamzat, who has been enjoying political power and influence, courtesy of his father. He has been a member of the lower chamber of the National Assembly since 2003.

 

HON. (ARCHITECT) DAYO ALEBIOSU is a second term member of House of Representatives. No doubt, his father’s political influence and clout took him there in 2007 and 2011. Even when he was thoroughly defeated at the party’s primaries by 99-1 votes, in his second term bid, he still got the party’s ticket, courtesy of his father, Chief Busurat Alebiosu a.k.a Bush, who has been a godfather in Somolu-Kosofe axis of Lagos since the Second Republic of 1979-1983.

Aside his father’s influence, Hon. Dapo Alebiosu, also has the influence and support of the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) whose cousin, former Mrs. Ranti Adams is now married to Hon. Dayo Alebiosu as his second wife.

 

HON. BABAJIDE AZEEZ AKINLOYE, is the first son of Oba Akinloye, the Ojomu of Ajiranland, Lekki, Lagos. He was a member of Lagos State House of Assembly between 2003 and 2011, before his election into the House of Representatives representing Eti-Osa Federal Constituency. His former colleague in the House of Assembly, Hon. Kolapo Kolade Osunsanya, who dared to contest the House of Representatives seat with him did not only lose in the primaries also lost his bid to come back to the House of Assembly for third term, for daring to battle the king’s son.

 

HON. TOYIN SUARAU is the son of Alhaji Akanbi Suarau, a prominent political leader in the Badagry axis of Lagos State. His son, Hon. Toyin Suarau who is a member of House of Representatives representing Ojo Federal Constituency, Lagos, was the executive secretary and later the chairman of Iba LCDA.

 

HON. (PRINCE) BASHIR OLOTO is from the royal family of Oloto of Oto-Iddo in Lagos Mainland. He is the younger brother of the incumbent Oloto of Oto-Iddo, Oba Ganiyu Odesanya. Aside this, Hon. Prince Bashir Oloto who is representing Lagos Mainland Constituency 1, in Lagos House of Assembly, is the Personal Assistant to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ACN National Leader.

 

HON. SEYI JAKANDE is the son of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, the first civilian governor of Lagos State.

Seyi, no doubt, became a member of House of Representatives representing Somolu Federal Constituency (which is a bit far away from his father’s Ilupeju residence) courtesy of his father’s influence and the respect the ACN leadership has for his father.

 

HON. JUMOKE OKOYA-THOMAS is the first child of Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, a business mogul and prominent son of Lagos Island.

Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas may not be a politician in the true sense of the word but nonetheless, remains a very influential person in Lagos State’s politics.

It is, therefore, not for nothing that his first child and daughter is serving a third term in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

 

HON. SULTAN ADENIJI-ADELE is the lawyer son of Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele, the former Commissioner for Sports, Youth and Social Development. Prince Adeniji-Adele remains a prominent politician and son of the ‘soil.’

His son, who is the youngest member of Lagos House of Assembly at the age of 32 (in October) certainly rode on his father’s influence to the legislative house.

 

HON. RAMOTALAHI AKINOLU-HASSAN is the daughter of late Chief Yinusa Akinola, a.k.a Double Chief, who died two years ago.

Chief Yinusa Akinola was a prominent political leader in the whole of Badagry axis. He was the first Vice Chairman and co-ordinator of Neighbourhood Watch in the State. Like her predecessor from the same constituency, Hon. Bola Badmus-Olujobi, her nomination, her nomination and subsequent election into the Lagos House of Assembly in 2011 was a sort of compensation for what her father did for the party.

 

HON. ALHAJA MUHIBAT RUFAI-ADEYEMI is the daughter of Alhaji Rufai, the Chief Imam of Ojo Local Government Area. Her father may not be a politician in the true sense of the word but all the same remains a very influential member of Ojo community by virtue of his position. Hon. Muhibat Rufai-Adeyemi’s election into the Lagos House of Assembly is certainly not devoid of her father’s influence as the Chief Imam of her constituency.

 

ALHAJI REMILEKUN DUROSIMI, is the father of Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, the former deputy governor of Lagos State and Alhaji Murisiq Yinka Durosimi, the chairman of Ojo Local Government Council Area. His daughter lost her second term bid as deputy governor because of her political miscalculation but he still has his son, Alhaji Murisiq Yinka Durosimi, returned for the second term as the chairman of Ojo LG.

The two children are certainly beneficiaries of their father’s political influence within Ojo/Badagry axis.

 

HON. RAMOTA ADEYERI OSENI-ADEBAYO, is the daughter of Oba Goriola Oseni, the Oniba of Iba in Ojo Local Government Area. She is the chairperson of Iba LCDA. Prior to this, she was the vice chairperson of the same LCDA until the former chairman, Hon. Toyin Suarau, was elected into the House of Representatives in 2011. She was a member of the Lagos House of Assembly between 2003 and 2007.

 

HON. IDAYAT ANIFOWOSHE is the daughter of Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Anifowoshe a.k.a K1 Ultimate. K1 is a prominent fuji musician as well as a member of ACN in Lagos State. We have it on good record that K1 is the godfather of Hon. Omowunmi Olatunji-Edet of Lagos House of Assembly and another lady in Isolo LCDA. They are his political god-daughters. Hon. Idayat Anifowoshe, a councilor in Lagos Island East LCDA is his biological daughter and occupying that seat, courtesy of her father’s influence within the party.

  • TOLANI ABATTI

This story was first published in Encomium Weekly edition of Tuesday, July 17, 2012

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