Encomium
IF the information at our disposal is anything to go by, four members of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola’s cabinet or executive council are jostling to become the deputy governor to Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.
They are, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure, who came distant second in the governorship primary. Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello, the Commissioner for the Environment and Engr. Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure.
Another person who is also jostling for the running mate slot is Hon. Abdulateef Abdulkareem, a former non-cabinet member of the executive council between 2007 and 2011.
ENCOMIUM Weekly gathered that some of the criteria the party will use in selecting her deputy governorship candidate are that:
- The person must be a Muslim.
- He must be from Lagos West senatorial district.
- He must be a male.
We further gathered that Dr. Femi Hamzat, who had claimed to be from Epe in Lagos East senatorial district during the governorship primary race is now claiming to be from Mushin in Lagos West senatorial district.
His father, Oba Mufutau Hamzat, who is the de facto leader of Justice Forum is pushing for his son to be the deputy governor to Ambode.
Mrs. Oluranti Adebule is said to be from Ojo axis of Lagos West senatorial district. She is a Muslim and a former lecturer of
Islamic Studies at Lagos State University, Ojo.
The woman, who turned 44 on Thursday, November 27, 2014, got her Ph.D Curriculum Studies from Lagos State University (LASU) in 2013.
We gathered that she has the backing of Dr. Muiz Banire.
Engr. Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson, who is from Oshodi/Isolo axis of Lagos West senatorial district, is a technocrat, who rose to the position of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure when Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was the Commissioner for eight years. He later became the Special Adviser for Works and Infrastructure in the first term of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola between 2007 and 2011. He was to be made the Substantive Commissioner in the Ministry in 2011 when, at the last minute his name was replaced with that of Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Today, it is a common knowledge within the ministry that there is no love lost between the two. It is also well known that Engr. Ganiyu Johnson is in office but not in charge. We have it on good record that Ganiyu Johnson’s backbone and supporter for the deputy governorship race is his benefactor of many years, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Governor of the State of Osun.
Mr. Tunji Bello, the Commissioner for the Environment is from Lagos Island axis of Lagos Central senatorial district. A journalist and a lawyer, he’s on his second term as the Commissioner for the Environment in the state.
Hon. Abdulateef Abdulkareem was a member of the Lagos House of Assembly in the fifth assembly (2003 2007) representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II.
He was also appointed Special Adviser to the governor on Political and Legislative Powers between 2007 and 2011. He is currently the Chief Imam of Lagos House of Assembly Mosque, a position he has held since his days in the hallowed chamber.
We gathered that he has the backing of some Muslim clerics, while another sect of Muslim clerics are vehemently opposed to his candidature as a deputy governor.
Meanwhile, Hon. Abike Dabiri who had been rumoured to also jostle for the position of the deputy governor is from Ikorodu axis of Lagos East senatorial district, the same district with the governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. This explains why she has been dropped from the list of those gunning for the position.
– TOLANI ABATTI
