It was pomp and pageantry as the Executive Chairman Onigbongbo LCDA, Hon Oladotun Olakanle formally declared on Sunday to contest for the Chairmanship position in the forthcoming local government election in Lagos State.
The well attended event held at the Oregun High School playground have in attendance artisans, market women, religious and political leaders which included leaders, executives and members of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) Onigbongbo LCDA.
The Director General Dotun Olakanle Campaign Organization (DCO) and former Vice chairman of APC in the Council, Mr Ayo Arobieke while speaking with Lagos Panorama said “fortunately Hon Oladotun Olakanle is well-grounded politician. Well known by all and sundry, he doesn’t need an introduction to members of our party and the good people of Onigbongbo LCDA. He is a veteran politician with good knowledge of both the party workings and the council administration. We are all confident of his ability to perform and deliver”
“He started his political journey since 1999 at the formation of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) to Action Congress (AC) up till this very moment, supporting the growth of the progressives, he is very experience, aware and it’s time to entrust him with the full responsibility of taking Onigbongbo LCDA to the next level. As you can see the turnout here today, the primary is a done deal by God’s grace” asserted the veteran politician.
The Assistant Women Leader, APC Caretaker-Committee Onigbongbo LCDA, Alhaja Shalewa Olokodana also affirmed to the popularity of the council boss “Hon Dotun Olakanle has paid his dues, he is the right candidate for the chairmanship position of Onigbongbo LCDA. He is a man of his words, we know him since 1999 and we know his antecedents. So we are very sure of him. In sha Allah come May 29 he shall emerged as the party’s candidate, he is a grassroot mobilizer” averred the Assistant LGA Women Leader of the party in Onigbongbo LCDA.
Another political veteran in Onigbongbo LCDA Elder Dare Oladapo also spoke to Lagos Panorama said “Hon Oladotun Olakanle is prepared candidate by God, he is a candidate that have paid his due politically since the inception of this republic in 1999 and have served in various capacity. He is fully prepared an embodiment of what it takes to be the chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA.
On the chances of Hon Olakanle, Elder Dare stated that “with the caliber of people here, look at crowd behind you, it has speak loud and clear that the right candidate for this position is Tantoolorun, Hon Oladotun Olakanle is the man to beat, he is our candidate and the incoming Chairman of Onigbongbo” he concluded.
A party stalwart and member of the Apex member of APC Onigbongbo Dr. Ken Mordi while addressing party faithful from all the six wards, urged all party members to rally round Hon Olakanle for his experience and readiness to deliver.
Dr. Mordi stated that “Dotun is well prepared for the task ahead so I urged all members of the party to give him the required supports. He is our son that we are all well pleased with” he affirmed while he raised the arm of Hon Olakanle in endorsement.
Hon Olakanle in his remark he observed a minute silent for his former boss who passed on in August 2020. He stated that “providence has made me to assumed office as the chairman after the unfortunate demised of my boss Hon Babatunde Oke, a good leader, if anyone had predicted to me one year ago that I was going to assumed office as chairman last year I won’t have reason to believe, but as God Almighty wish and by his providence I have being administering the activities of the council in the last few months”.
“We have been working in our various departments namely Works and Infrastructure, Education, Health, Environment and as well as Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation”.
“In the Works and Infrastructure, I have initiated the reconstruction of Lawal street, Nofiu street in Ogbongbo, Baale street in Opebi on the request of our Oba Alayeluwa Kabiyesi, the Olu of Oregun who is currently in faraway in the US. This projects at the moment are ongoing and I have it on record that Oregun Primary Health Center out of the seven that we have been taken as the prototype for all other health centers that we have”. He stated these and more achievements thus far.
The Chairman was also endorsed by the League of Imams under the leadership of Chief Imam of Onigbongbo/Oregun Chief Imam Abdul-Jelil Oseni, Igbo Community led by Eze Uche Dimgba, South-South group, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Onigbongbo chapter, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Market Women, Artisans, Community Development Committee (CDC) and a host of other sociopolitical groups in Onigbongbo LCDA
