Lagos Assembly Speakership: President Tinubu: Awa Lokan, By Olaide-Mesewaku Babatunde, Ph.D

From Badagry to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR: It Is Badagry's Turn (Àwa lókàn), By Olaide-Mesewaku Babatunde, Ph.D The above title ...

From Badagry to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR: It Is Badagry's Turn (Àwa lókàn), By Olaide-Mesewaku Babatunde, Ph.D

The above title was adopted in an article written by me and published in The Guardian newspaper on 6th September 2015, poignantly addressed to President Muhammed Buhari GCFR, former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Efforts were copiously invested to draw the attention of the then-president to the perpetual political predicament of abject neglect, suppression, and stagnation that Badagry had been subjected to—not only since the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999 but since the creation of Lagos State in 1976. This was demonstrated through empirical data on the appointment of ministers from Lagos State.

It was argued that virtually all the five divisions or the three senatorial districts in Lagos State had enjoyed plump political recognition in this context, but Badagry appeared condemned to political servitude, as no minister had ever been appointed from Badagry—not for want of qualified personalities. The name of the late Dr. Sunny Ajose, the former Lagos State Head of Service, was then suggested in the publication for consideration from Badagry.

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:

1. 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!

2. 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.

3. 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!

Olaide-Mesewaku Babatunde, Ph.D.