The All-Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts from Onigbongbo LCDA turnout massively at the official declaration of Barr Rakiyah Olufunke Hassan for the chairmanship position of Onigbongbo LCDA at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos on Tuesday.
The former Legal Adviser of the party and current Vice Chairman of the council assured her teeming supporters of an all-inclusive administration if elected at the party’s primaries come Saturday and at the Lagos council poll in July.
In her response to journalists after her endorsement by all the party leaders and members, she averred that; “honestly I am very impressed by today’s turnout and with the support our people have shone, I promised an all-inclusive government”.
The Ikorodu born law graduate also said “Local Government administration is the closest to the people, it should be very impactful and my aspiration is to make Onigbongbo LCDA a model, when it comes to local government administration in Lagos State”.
On her prospect for Saturday’s party primary she asserted, “from today’s turnout I am assured that Saturday’s primary is going to be a tsunami victory over all other opponents. I promise a better standard of living, I urged all party faithful to remain focus, they shouldn’t sell their vote but vote for competence and not sentiment, they should have hope for a better tomorrow”
The former commissioner for Commerce and Industry under the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2003, Chief Ebenezer Akinbolade urged members to remain focused and mobilize at least five persons each to vote for Barr Rakiyah Olufunke Hassan on Saturday.
One of the strong contenders for the position but who later announced his stepdown from the race to support the amiable Barr Hassan, Hon Adamson Ayinde spoke with Lagos Panorama reason he took the decision “As you may have known, I am an indigene of Onigbongbo and well qualified for the position, but I have a rethink considering that myself and Barrister Rakiyah Hassan have similar ideology for aspiring and we are both professionals, she is a barrister while I am an accountant, so I felt we should come together to take Onigbongbo to a greater height”.
He further stated “I was not advised by anyone to step down but my personal decision to give my support for Fukky 2021. As you can see the massive turnout here aren’t rented crowd but the good people of our great party APC I Onigbongbo” he concluded.
A party chieftain Otunba Wale Okesola also added his support for Barr Hassan “as an active participant of over twenty years in this present nascent democracy since 1999 when our amiable leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu piloted the affairs of progressive governance as the first governor in this dispensation. There political procedures that the party always adopt in ensuring that those who emerged in the process to take up the mantle of leadership to serve and not only to serve their personal interest because the people that are going to vote expect so much of us, so we have to do due diligence. As you can see today the turnout here is very impressive and it shows acceptance of the people. In fact, she has a daunting task ahead of her, but with her profile and personality I believe she will deliver”.
The Director General of Rakiyah Hassan Campaign Team, the pioneer Leader Onigbongbo Legislative Council, Hon Tunde Adenugba thanked all party stalwarts from all the six wards, most especially the ward Chairmen and leaders for their support.
Hon Adenugba advised members against cash and carry politicians who may be attempting to buy their vote, urged them to remain steadfast with the candidacy of Hon Barrister Rakiyah Olufunke Hassan for a greater Onigbongbo LCDA.
The current Secretary to the Local Government (SLG) Supo Sopeyin, did the citation for Barr Rakiya Hassan.
Other dignitaries at the event were Chief sawyer, representatives from the Oba Onigbongbo and Oregun, pioneer Vice Chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA Idris Gbolahan, former council vice chairman Hon Wakil Sadiq, Chairman Community Development Committee (CDC) Comrade Yayah Olanrewaju, former SLG Bolade Camil, former Chairman of Lagos Universal Basic Education Board Dr Remi Sopeyin, Executive Secretary Ikeja Local Education Authority Mr. Akeem Amosu, Chief Imam of Onigbongbo, President Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Onigbongbo LCDA and a host of others.