THE TALE OF TWO GAC MEMBERS

  

               

One is like a Rolls-Royce while the other is a veritable Tokunbo car

 

The Lagos Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) is known to be the highest decision-making body in Lagos APC. It is a highly influential but unconstitutional body whose sphere of influence cut across the 20 Local Government and 37 Local Council Development Areas, state ministries, parastatals and agencies. The body influences policies formulation, political appointments and its political party’s activities at all levels in the State. Membership of this body is very exclusive but there is no particular yardstick used in co-opting members into the fold. And to be a member is to wield enormous political power and influence in the area of political jurisdiction.

 

Kosofe Local Government Area boasts of two geriatric politicians as members of this political conclave. One is like a “Rolls-Royce” while the other is a veritable anyhow “Tokunbo car”- a stranger. And the difference in class between a Rolls-Royce and a Tokunbo car, you will agree with me, is astronomically unimaginable. The one which is like a Rolls-Royce is rightly within his political element. He is an old political warhorse, astute and ageless, with outstanding leadership pedigree and political experience spanning over 46 years. While the latter is a total stranger in Kosofe political cosmogony, possessing a modicum of political experience and leadership quality.

 

Nevertheless, the two GAC members wield enormous power and influence in the local government. They are the masters of deliberations and Lord of the manor in the area. While the status is rightly deserved by one, the other does not merit it because his membership of the GAC is by accident and sheer luck.

 

And the consequence of having the emergence of leadership by accident is what we are currently bedevilled with. Having two persons in the GAC has turned out to be an albatross around the political neck of the local government – a potent curse. Things have drastically fallen apart sordidly in great velocity during and after the conclusion of the last Local Government Chairmanship and councillorship elections. Kosofe political space has been brutally balkanised into two political blocs of the two GCA members. And the Balkanisation or division of Kosofe polity beggars what we used to experience during the days of Justice Forum and The Mandate Group rivalry.

 

On paper Justice Forum and Mandate Group have been proscribed by the party leadership but in reality, they still exist. And a new political alignment, KANDAHAR, has now taken over the place of the moribund Mandate Group in Kosofe Local Government Area. It is, however, ironic that a GAC member that used to acerbically condemn the existence of political groups in Lagos APC is the leader of the Khandahar.       

 

At present, there is a festering war of attrition and a battle of supremacy between the two GAC members. And this conflict is lamentably aggravated or fuelled by some smart politicians who have been able to capitalize on the political foible of a naïve leader, using him as cannon fodder to challenge the leadership or dominance of the sapient one. Otherwise, there shouldn’t have been any reason for political schism, conflict or clash of interests if political pedigree, experience and leadership are adequately taken into cognizance.

 

 Kosofe Local Government is not the only local government that is fortunate to have two representatives in GAC. Epe, Ikorodu and Lagos Island equally have two representatives each in the GAC.  And one has never heard reports of political conflicts or clash of interests between them as there is a clear understanding of who supersedes the other.

 

As we move gradually towards the 2023 general elections, the inexperienced one of the two GAC members in Kosofe will no doubt continue to be a cat’s paw in the hands of political smart alecs. But the road to 2023 general elections will be full of political intrigues, shenanigans, re-alignments and selfish interests. The pack of cards will be shuffled and re-shuffled. The hope of some political aspirants who have reposed their faith and confidence in mere mortals will be raised and, before the primary elections, dashed with abandon recklessness. There will be winners and then there will be vanquished.   

 

    

Olusegun Apena (apenaism)

The online Publisher

Kosofe Reporters