•How He Got His 6th Term Ticket Last Month
Lagos Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa is a grassroot politician. He is also a grassroots mobilizer, He is one of the top Lagos politicians and APC Chietains who recently contested and recorded a remarkable victory at the polls. He was resoundly re-elected for the 6th term by his Agege constituents. He represents Agege 1 Constituency in the Lagos State Assembly. And he has been winning repeatedly, Why is this so? It is because of the phenomenal impact he has made in his area. Many people know him in that area. He also knows them, from the Danfo driver, to the Vulcanizer to market leaders and artisans. He lives amongst them. He relates with them. Even the Youths hail him whenever he drives past on the streets of Agege. That is how popular he is.
No wonder when the election was conducted last month and the results came out, he won. It was land side.
Dr. Lukman Adeniji, the INEC Returning Officer for the Agege constituency election, revealed that Obasa had come out tops. He made the declaration at the Collation Centre in Orile Agege. He said that 8 political parties fielded candidates for the election and Obasa secured 17,214 votes to beat Mr. Raheem Alani of Labour Party, who had 3,933, Kafayat Biobaku of ADC with 62 votes and the PDP, which got 1,609 votes.
Over the last several years, Obasa has flaunted an impressive political career, which makes him win, back-to-back, for the past 6-terms. His people in Agege have continued to vote for him on account of the good work he has done.
Everyone talks about how he facilitated the Pen Cinema Bridge in Agege and how most of the roads in Agege are all in good shape.
According to an Agege resident, almost all the roads in Agege are tarred. He has also done a lot in the area of Education, as he freely distributes JAMB & GCE forms annually. And there have been testimonies from beneficiaries, some of who have graduated.
Why do Agege people like him so much? One of his aides, Dare Ojole, who is the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker revealed that it is because Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has transformed Agege, a highly populated metropolitan area of Lagos which shares boundary with Ikeja, the heart of Lagos where Government decisions are taken. “As we have seen today, it is only a mischief-filled person, who is not blessed with a heart that recognises development and progress that would not see the good that Agege has become”.
“Recently, Agege was described, figuratively, as a small London. And this has not been disputed by anyone. What is also not in dispute is that Agege never had it this good. Its nearness to the seat of power, in terms of distance, had only a minor influence on its growth. Before the emergence of Obasa as Speaker, Agege was just there – on a ‘straight line’ not curving upwards”.
“Even the staunchest of critics understands inside him that Pen Cinema used to be heartache for motorists and users. You could remain on a spot for many minutes in the midst of an endless crowd of street traders and pedestrians. A distance of less than one kilometre could cost you two hours of your time. With a bridge that was unveiled in 2021, Pen Cinema now has a road network that has been declared of international standard. Obasa happened to the road positively”.
“This is just one. Agege has some of the best road networks in today’s Lagos. Any need mentioning other areas of success? Check out the push by the Speaker to ensure the Education of the majority. This drive is a topic on its own”.
“When Obasa, a quiet down-to-earth figure, decided to take the mantle of leadership of the legislative arm of government of Lagos in 2015, many, especially the apolitical residents of the State must have laughed it off. They must have thought he was only seeking power for himself. The man knew his direction. He understood what Agege wanted and he knew that such a vantage position would make it easy to attract the dividends of democracy to his people. Today, these same residents now champion the “Speak Again” mantra. They have seen the result, the influence that such a position wields and ushers”.
“It is easy to hear “Agege l’oga wa”. This translates to “Agege is where the boss comes from.” Obasa towers, politically, above his physical size”.
“The Neighborhood Safety Corps, initiated through a Bill by the Speaker, today has thousands of employees and effectively complements other security agencies. The Lagos Sports law is another that has expanded youth participation in the scheme of progress. Get to Agege and see how the youth speak glowingly and excitedly about Obasa”.
“For those who find it mysterious that Obasa has continued to earn the mandates of the people without much hassles, the least is to try and understudy what makes the Speaker thick among his people. Despite the nature Nigeria’s politics, Obasa remains one of the small number of political office holders in Nigeria who could be in the midst of his Agege residents without any safety concern. A Speaker, he continues to live with the people, sharing in their challenges and seeking the best for them. He has never been known to run from his constituents only to return at the twilights of election. Does that sink?”
“Why do you then think he will not continue to get the mandate of the people anytime he desires to serve them? The primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held recently in the constituency speaks that much. Apart from the fact that he won without an opponent, his leadership skills were brought to bear before the exercise. The primary election in Agege was one of the most peaceful in the state”.
“Agege people know what they want. They know that having their own at the top is one of the best things to continue to happen to them. They know that Obasa is selfless and would always stand for them through thick and thin. He remains a course for study, not a subject of envy.
Rt Hon. Obasa’s Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele also attested to this. Just before the last election, someone sent him a message which reads: Sentiments aside, this man has really done well for Agege as a whole. So many roads (including my in-law’s street) built and many folks are empowered! I will always wish him success in all his moves.”
That was a short message Eromosele got from a Journalist and owner of a news medium recently. “I had just sent out a story that had to do with the sudden endorsement of Dr. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, the unassuming Right Honourable Speaker of Lagos, by notable leaders in the Agege area of the State, Eromosele explains. The media man could not hold back his love for the man who has succeeded in turning Agege, a very busy but hitherto behindhand area of the state into a “mini-London”, apologies to Segun Ekundayo, a friend and resident of the area, who told me in December last year: “Obasa is a lifetime opportunity and blessing to Agege. He can never be forgotten.”
To Ekundayo, a human and industrial relations professional, Agege is now a mini-London. He opinces that Speaker Obasa’s love for Agege is further boosted by the fact that he has remained a resident of the place even with his status as the 3rd citizen of the state. “You will hardly find a political office holder who would want to remain with the people he lived with before his stars shone so bright. Many would leave their original places and go stamp their feets in choice areas only sneeking back when it is time for election. Obasa has never lived outside Agege and this is the reason he sees every of the people’s challenges, he has suffered from poor road infrastructure just like the pepper seller, the businessman, the motorists and residents. And today, his name is everywhere, even in the mouths of children.
“Let me tell you, that bridge that was constructed to replace that Pen Cinema Roundabout has galluped the economic activities in this area. You know what they say about how infrastructure can affect businesses whether positively or negatively. The roads and other infrastructure have helped to improve businesses. Of course, we know he is a legislature, but his influence and the way he has attracted life to our area is incomparable. We have never had it this good,” he added.
“Prior to 2015, who would have thought that Pen Cinema, one of the busiest areas of Agege would one day become a hitch-free joyride for motorists and commuters plying that area? Visit Agege if you haven’t been there for a long time.”
The much about the roads was confirmed by Dr. Babatunde Adejare, a member representing Agege Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives. Adejare, while speaking at an Iftar programme recently, recalled a conversation he had with a Senator some weeks ago.
What did Adejare say? This Senator was in Lagos for the birthday ceremony of revered musician, Chief Ebenezer Obey. Then, in the course of discussions, the Senator, who could not hold back his observation, expressed bewilderment at the transformation of Agege, especially in relation to the road networks. Hear Adejare: “Days ago, during the 80th birthday of Ebenezer Obey, a visiting Senator was marvelled that Agege now has very good roads. I told him not to forget that we have the Speaker of Lagos here.”
Did that sink? Is it now very clear why Agege – not just the Constituency 1 – and its political leaders want Obasa to return to the House of Assembly in 2023, despite the fact that he has the Senate seat for Lagos West in his palms and would get it if he wants it? The leaders of Agege, who endorsed his return to the House of Assembly, already said that much.
Wale Ahmed, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy in Lagos, also believes that having Speaker Obasa come from Agege remains a blessing to the people and that a top-up of the blessing would be Obasa’s return to the House. “My prayer is that after the elections next year, we would all gather here to celebrate again,” he prayed.
To the average resident of Agege, Obasa remains one to be proud of. Testimonies of how he has always helped indigent students abound. This assistance to students has become a norm. Some of the beneficiaries are today professionals. Doctors, lawyers, politicians. He has built leaders and constantly plays his role, with much sacrifice, to create an environment that would genuinely help the majority to have food on their tables.
Employment and youth engagement? Obasa will always remain a shining example in this area. He would never want to talk about what he does for people. But the people know. They also believe that to show appreciation is to ask him to return to that position. They believe the now popular axiom: “The reward for hardwork is more work.” And to the other parts that form Lagos West Senatorial District, the people of Agege are saying: “We know you also want to enjoy the goodness that Obasa has become to us, but please è lò sèmpè, asi’n gbadun oga wa.”
A digital analyst Moses Ayobami recently wrote about Obasa.
“Of course, I got the job. It was not just me alone, my friends and their friends too. At the end of the process, about 5,000 residents of Lagos got the job just from an idea you thought about probably in your car or in the office amid your very busy schedule as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly or even while driving home and seeing the faces mapped with hunger, desolation and fear.”
“When I say fear, there was real fear. Residents moved about their activities suspecting every moves by the next person. Trust was often lost. A thief could just emerge from nowhere and hit his target and disappear without a trace. The police was doing its best. The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) heavily sponsored with state funds were doing extremely well, but with fewer personnel for a populated Lagos, a lot more was sure needed to protect the security of lives and properties.”
“For those who might want to read this ‘thank you note’ with some bias, I want to confess that I have only met Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa once and this was at the recently held town hall meeting in his Agege State Constituency 1. I could not get close to him because of his security aides. I know he is the third citizen of Lagos state and would have loved to hear my testimony. But I also know that he would, by chance, see it and then try to picture how many more Lagosians are silently remembering him daily.”
“I came to Lagos in 2007 and God had been kind to me since then. I got my first job three months after my arrival and living with an uncle. My second job came months after. Then I got an apartment at the Omole area of Ojodu in the state. However, for two of my friends, the situation was not like mine. The two of them graduated two years after me. After their mandatory one year national service, they decided to come to Lagos for the supposed greener pastures.”
“For four years since 2010, I was saddled with the burden of taking care of my friends. They got menial jobs with wages that could hardly meet their needs let alone having any left for those who think they should get returns for investing in their education.”
“The case of one of them was very pathetic. With no father, he was left with a mother who struggled so hard to ensure he survived the hardship that the Nigerian educational system has become. The poor woman, a farmer back in a sleepy community in Osun State, has five children and my friend is the first. So one can only imagine the level of anticipated returns his family members must have prepared for but which was denied them because of the growing rate of unemployment across the country.”
“When it was time for me to get married, I moved away from the apartment, pleaded with the landlord that my ‘my two brothers’ would remain there. Since then, I had augmented whatever deficit they had and it had been choking.”
“Then, suddenly one day, I heard that there was this Neighbourhood Watch Bill that was being proposed by the Lagos State House of Assembly. I became interested in the Bill and was one of those who eagerly waited for its passage, simply because I have often advocated for the creation of state police especially in a state like Lagos with such soaring population against a few number of policemen. I knew and remained optimistic that if it was passed, the Bill would provide for an alternative security outfit to the police which many had grown sceptical about.”
“My investigation revealed that the Bill was a private member initiative sponsored by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa himself. I was not surprised. Before he became the Speaker, he, like many of his colleagues at the House of Assembly had often agitated for the creation of state police. Their advocacy had remained strong over the years. They spoke each time they had any opportunity. But their cries had often been taken with a refusal for action by those supposed to consider the implementation.”
“I believe Obasa saw the need to ensure that the protection of every life and property in Lagos remained sacrosanct. He wanted every Lagosian to sleep with his/her two eyes closed. He wanted a rewind of the era where people could leave their properties and wares at particular spots and still return to find them. He wanted a sane society in Lagos. I am not in his mind, but that is what I think and subsequent events on eventual passage and implementation of the Bill proved me right.”
“Mr Speaker, I do not know if you will come across this note, but I cannot stop thanking you for this concept. For me, it is even beyond the security of lives and properties; it is about job creation. I want to testify to you that I have been relieved of the two burdens I had. They are now part of the about 5,000 personnel that make up the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC). Mr Speaker! They fortunately made it.
Since learning of the intendment of the Bill, I followed its development and implementation to the letter. I was one of those who attended the Public Hearing on the Bill at the Lateef Jakande Hall in the Assembly premises. While listening to the speech of Speaker Obasa, I pick interest in the job-creating section of the Bill. I got home and related my experience to my friends.
When the Bill was eventually passed by the House, I monitored it to its final ascent by the State Government, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.”
“I must also thank the Governor for the alacrity with which the Bill was not only ascented to but also the swift implementation of the new Law.
When the state government declared employment into the security outfit open, I quickly contacted my friends. The two of them did not hesitate. They were part of the first set to apply. Then prayers followed. Who do we know in power to help push? There was none. They simply followed all the processes. They were called. They completed the training. As I write this, I remember how one of them shed tears as he called me on phone to thank me for being more than a brother to them. With that emotion-ladden voice, he told me that he got his training kits and participated fully in the training. Days later, he got his uniform.”
“Today, he smiles each time we are together and discussing the past. He has never stopped thinking me. But I cannot keep all the thanks. I must give some of them to the man that initiated the Bill.
“Speaker Obasa, just like my friends thank me today for the relief, I am also thanking you for helping to lift the burden off me. You were elected to serve Agege Constituency 1, but you found yourself serving the entire Lagos State. Thank you on behalf of the about 5000 personnel of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps.”
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