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By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Bola Tinubu, Setonji David and Olaide-Mesewaku Babatunde |
Olaide-Mesewaku Babatunde, Ph.D the ex-permanent secretary Lagos State Ministry of Tourism has called the attention of President Tinibu to the quagmire in Lagos Assembly stating that it is time A Badagry person become the speaker of the house.
He said Badagy has contributed extensively to Nigeria politics and Lagos in particular and this is the time to reap the rewards.
Mesewaku said, "Your Excellency, sir, it is no longer news that the position of the Speakership of the Lagos State House of Assembly, recently enmeshed in a quagmire consequent upon the brouhaha generated by the impeachment of the former speaker, has, in principle, been resolved. This inevitably necessitated a change of baton, which speaks to the fact that a new speaker must emerge from Lagos West, under whose political jurisdiction Badagry falls, according to an impeccable political source.
This is to maintain equitable power distribution in the state. Your Excellency, sir, and the revered members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), I am not going to bore you with political arguments for or against why Badagry deserves to be considered for the Lagos State Speakership position—which, of course, are tenable in all respects—but I will emphasize just three factors why Badagry should be considered:
Badagry’s Historical and Political Significance
Badagry, the headquarters of Badagry Division, is perhaps historically the most important community in Lagos State that continues to suffer political stagnation, suppression, and abject neglect when it comes to power distribution and political human capital development. The only community that could rival Badagry in political history is Lagos Island. Its socio-political history dates back to 1843 when the Union Jack (the British flag) was first hoisted in Badagry. This singular act marked the beginning of British interest and the takeoff of the process that later led to the birth of Nigeria, with Badagry as the launching pad. Yet, till date, especially since the Fourth Republic, Badagry enjoys no political recognition for all this!
Badagry’s Electoral Performance and Loyalty
Contemporaneously, Badagry’s performance in all previous and recent elections since 1999, according to empirical sources, has been solid and commendable—‘killing’ all opposition parties by 90% within its enclave since the peregrination of the All Progressives Congress from Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1998, to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2006, and finally to All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013. Badagry remains unwavering and absolutely loyal, delivering 85% results at every election. The 2023 general elections in Lagos State provide a classical reference point.
Badagry’s Credible Representative
Badagry currently has an incredible, excellent, sound, intelligent, level-headed, knowledgeable, and highly responsible and responsive representative in Hon. Engr. Setonji David, the current Chief Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He has been a very loyal party stalwart who has endeared himself to all. He is, perhaps, the best-elected representative ever to represent Badagry in the Lagos State House of Assembly. I stand to be corrected.
I am therefore appealing on behalf of the good people of Badagry—the political leaders and elders, religious leaders, members of the traditional institution of Badagry, market men and women, the youths, and well-wishers—to acknowledge the toils and moils of Badagry since the creation of Lagos State and to consider Badagry, efficiently and effectively represented by Hon. Engr. Setonji David, as the next Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Badagry, please pray for him!