Ola Akinwunmi
The Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Ganiyu Egunjobi, has publicly endorsed Abdulganiyu Obasa—son of Lagos State Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa—as the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate for the forthcoming council elections.
Speaking to select journalists, Egunjobi declared that the young contender “deserves to succeed me,” dismissing accusations of imposition and defending the integrity of the May 10 primaries that produced Abdulganiyu as one of the party’s flagbearers.
Egunjobi rejected claims that party leadership had steered results in favour of Obasa’s family. “The reactions in those quarters where they are shouting ‘imposition’ is in the character of politicians in our clime,” he remarked, praising the election committee’s conduct and the broader state party leadership for a transparent process. He further suggested that dissenting voices only object because outcomes did not favour them.
Tensions flared earlier this month when some APC members staged protests in Agege and neighboring Orile-Agege, alleging that the Speaker had installed loyalists and kin—among them his son—in key candidacy positions. Labeling the demonstration “a charade sponsored by political desperadoes,” Egunjobi singled out its leader as a relative newcomer to politics who had previously lauded the Speaker in hopes of clinching a ticket for himself.
Addressing rival aspirants’ grievances, the chairman noted that several critics, including Sola Osolana and Bukola Sofidiya, had only recently rejoined the party ahead of the primaries and thus lacked the standing to contest. He hinted at external influences—“paymasters” from both Ogun State and the local assembly—without naming them directly.
Defending Abdulganiyu Obasa’s candidacy, Egunjobi highlighted his academic credentials as a PhD student and his longstanding community engagement in Agege. “People blabbing ‘imposition’ in respect of the Speaker’s son’s matter are not fair to the young man and Agege,” he asserted, stressing that merit rather than bloodline should guide voters.
Reflecting on his own tenure—set to conclude in roughly two months—Egunjobi recounted infrastructure and social-development achievements: newly paved roads, upgraded health centres, school refurbishments, vocational training expansions, and a deradicalisation initiative for youth formerly caught up in EndSARS protests. He also spotlighted a computer-based testing centre for JAMB candidates and a local security payroll under the “Paramole” scheme, which employs over 700 personnel to safeguard community order.
Turning to longstanding debates over Agege’s Awori and non-indigene divide, he urged politicians to move beyond identity politics. “We are all born and bred in Agege,” he said, pointing out that no single group holds a monopoly on the area’s heritage or future.
With the July 12 council polls approaching, Egunjobi’s endorsement cements Abdulganiyu Obasa’s bid and signals unified party backing for a new generation of APC leadership in Agege.