Okla hosts Constituency's leaders to sustain Osinowo's legacy.

*Celebrates Pa Sosanya's Birthday in style

 

By: Taiwo Fadipe

       Olusegun Apena

The lawmaker representing kosofe constituency 1 in Lagos state house of assembly Hon. Sanni Ganiyu Okanlawon on Saturday August 8 at his residence at Arowojobe Mende Maryland, treated a gathering of some notable political leaders in his constituency to delightful music, sumptuous meal and drink in what appears to be a prelude or a dress rehearsal for soon to come annual "Ojude Okla". 

 

Hon. Okanlawon also used the opportunity to formally celebrate the birthday of All Progressives Congress Lagos East senatorial district party chieftain and a member of Governor Advisory Council (GAC) Pa Olumiyiwa Sosanya who turned 77 years on August 6th.  

 

The lawmaker who is fondly called "Arole Pepper" or "Okla" had in conformity with NCDC directive sent out invitations to not more than 30 crème de la crème party stalwarts in his constituency, four from each ward, to attend a get-together party at his residence designed to bond the party leadership in the area together the way Sen. Adebayo Osinowo used to do before his death. 

  

The leaders who honoured the invitation of the former Special Adviser on food security to erstwhile Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode are GAC member Pa Olumuyiwa Sosanya; the one-time Executve Secretary of kosofe local government, Hon. Gbemisola ketiku; former Lagos state local government service commissioner, Hon. Adebayo Busayo; kosofe local government Vice Chairman, Hon. Awosola; former Sole Administrator of the local government, Hon. Jumoke Animahun; APC LGA Chairman Alh. Kehinde Bello; member of extended GAC Hon. Musiliu Aigoro; chief of staff to Kosofe Local government chairman Prince Fatai Gbadebo; Agboyi-ketu LCDA Chairman, Mayor Dele Osinowo; two-time Lagos state house of Assembly contender, Barrister Moyosore Ogunlewe and kosofe local government secretary to the local government, Hon. Abayomi Ologbonori. 

 

Others are former Deputy Executive Secretary Kosofe Local Government, Hon. Jumoke Dairo; kosofe LGA CDC Chairman, Hon. Segun Babatunde; Ward C Apex chairman, Chief Olukayode Onasanya; Hon. Titi Moritiwon, Ward G councilor Bolaji Kareem; Former LGA chairman, Alh. Seidu; Former Ward C chairman Abiodun Aladesanmi, Kosofe Local Government Supervisor for Education Hon. Lanre Oladunjoye, Hon. Olayinka Rabiu (Whyttee), Elder Samuel Omowo, Alh. Ahmed, Mrs. Victoria Olowoyo, Mr. Tunde Balogun, Mrs. Abiola Davies and Hon. Funsho Oduntan.

However the executive chairman of Kosofe Local Government Hon. Afolabi Sofola and Chief Temionu could not make it to the event.

 

Hon. Okanlawon in his address thanked the leaders for honouring his invitation and explained that there was no scintilla of subterranean political intrigue behind the organization of the gathering, stressing that, rather, the desire to sustain the legacy of peaceful coexistence and harmony among party leaders and members which was left behind by the departed political leaders of the party in the local government area, such as late senator Adebayo Osinowo, Pa Sunmola, Barr. Tunde Braimoh and Hon. Abdul Fatai Oyesanya, was the major reason behind the organization of the get-together.      

   

He pointed out that the issue of party leadership in the local government had already been settled by the ban placed on groups by the party leadership at the state level which consequently put responsibility of the leadership of the party on the doorstep of the LGA Chairman in all the local government in Lagos state.  

 

Okla has he is fondly called stated: “we took solace in the fact that they lived a fulfilled life and left a good legacy behind. It behoves on every one of us to sustain the legacy they left behind. That is why we called this gathering so that the legacy the great leaders left behind would not be destroyed. We must come together as one family, we must love one another. 

  

“The ideal behind our gathering today is just to do what we called bonding; to bring ourselves together, to coexist peacefully and bring about unity. That is the essence. We are not here to play unnecessary politics. 

 

“ All of us know who our leaders are. We have been told that there is no grouping and we have been told that the number one party man in every local government is the party chairman. So we must all defer to him and that does not mean there are no other notable leaders that we must respect. 

 

 

"Hon. Busayo is a notable leader that even the LGA chairman must defer to and our leader Chief Temionu is also a notable leader we must respect and give necessary honuor to” 

 

Hon. Okanlawon spoke further by reiterating his commitment towards bringing about good governance and ensuring that the constituency gets its fair share of infrastructural projects in the scheme if things in the state. 

 

On the issue of next year local council chairmanship election, he urged aspirants to exercise great patience and embarked upon robust electioneering campaign devoid of violence whenever campaign is eventually flagged off. 

 

   

Meanwhile some of the leaders who attended the get-together party on Saturday have spoken in favour of the gathering. Those who spoke with kosofe Reporters commended the lawmaker for taken the bold initiative which they described as laudable.  

 

Hon. Adebayo Busayo said “we actually need things like this because we can not remain divided. In cohesion lies our strength but when we don’t put ourselves together we become very vulnerable. But with this it is a beginning of the old show. We have been one big family in the past we are not used to having many factions in kosofe. But all of a sudden it happened. It is our duty to mend the way and put our acts together. For Hon. Sanni okanlawon so far so good he has taken a good step."

 

 For Hon. Gbemisola Ketiku “ it is a wonderful gathering. It has been a long time since we have a collection of party members and party loyalists. It is a right way and a right channel to follow after the demise of our leader. I believe that going this way, it will foster unity so that we can continue with the good things that Sen. Osinowo started. Hon. Okanlawon is a grassroots person who knows his onions. He is an astute politician and not only that he is a man of the people that knows how to bring people together. He is a kind of Leader that people can look on to for dividends of democracy."

Kosofe LGA CDC Chairman Hon. Segun Babatunde on his own part said "Hon. Okanlawon has done well. He has put the party in mind. He is trying to show to us that he appreciates what we have done for him. This gathering will usher in peace and coexistence among members of the party. Though Sen. Osinowo is no more but his spirit lives on. So those of us who are still alive must continue from where he stopped. Hon. Sanni has performed beyond expectation. When he came people thought he would not be able to perform but you can see what he has done. He has carried the party and everybody along."

Chief Olukayode Onasanya praised Hon. Okanlawon for following the footstep of Late Senator Bayo Osinowo for bonding the leaders together. He described him as a humble man with great ability and a man who loves to fulfill his promises to his Constituents. He added that the this year's gathering is a prelude for bigger ones that are coming.

Hon. Bolaji Kareem also ventilated his view on the gathering. He said" we are here to celebrate with Hon. Okanlawon at the same time we rob minds on the political developments around Kosofe. Before the demise of Sen. Osinowo we have some one that has been paraded as Arole who is Okanlawon. And coming from that background, having understudy the unifier I believe so much he is in the best position to unify everybody into one fold so that we can move together with one strength.

So also at the event Pa Olumuyiwa Sosanya's 77th birthday was celebrated with a cake presented by Hon. Okanlawon as leaders who were present at the gathering drank a toast to the septuagenarians party chieftains.

Pa Sosanya in his response expressed delight at the gathering, saying that the party had been on the path to unity since the time the party's leadership prohibited groups within the party.

He urged leaders not to relent on their activities in the party and to also eschew discrimination along group line.

The event ended with special tributes paid to late Sen. Adebayo Osinowo with some leaders quoting some of his memorable sayings they could remember.