How Kafilat Ogbara, Third Force Emergence Force GAC Members To Make "No Group" Tactical Retreat

By Olusegun Apena (Apenaism)

The recent events unfolding within the political firmament of Kosofe have once again brought visibly to light the deep-seated schism, tensions and power struggles within the local chapter of the All Progressives Congress.

 Last week Thursday, the Governor Advisory Council (GAC) members in Kosofe, namely Otunba Busura Alebiosu and Omooba Olumuyiwa Sosanya hurriedly orchestrated what they tagged, a "strategic stakeholders' meeting", at the Funplex event centre, CMD with the ostensible aim of fostering party unity, solidarity and cohesion. 

The gathering was reportedly bankrolled by three council chairmen in the Greater Kosofe, namely Barrister MoyosoreOgunlewe, Kosofe Local Government; Mayor Dele Osinowo, Agboyi-Ketu LCDA and Princess Samiat Bada, Ikosi-Isheri LCDA.

During the meeting which was attended by a commingling of party members, the Lagos East Senatorial Leader, Otunba Busura Alebiosu called for unity of all the party members and also informed the gathering that the ban earlier placed on all group meetings across the state by the leaders of the party was still in force.

However, KosofeReporters can authoritatively report that the true motive behind the gathering was far more insidious than initially anticipated. Contrary to what the GAC members wanted the people to believe, the gathering was a tactical retreat by the GAC members in their frantic bid to maintain their stranglehold on Kosofe political space following their failed attempt at taking over the control of Baba Eto's factional Mandate Movement after the emergence of the "Third Force" and the announcement of Hon. Kafilat Ogbara as the State Secretary of the factional Mandate Movement.

The Third Force is made up of members of the factional Mandate Movement and consists of prominent political figures in Kosofe such as Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, a member House of Representatives, Kosofe Federal Constituency; Alhaji Musiliu Aigoro, a member of Lagos State Audit Service Commission; Mr. Lekan Abubakar, PA to Chief of staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde; Elder Stephen Oyedele, APEX Leader Kosofe and Prince Adebayo Busayo, former commissioner, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission among others.

KosofeReporters, reliably gathered that the fledgling group in its bid to entrench itself in Kosofe had held a series of secret meetings at the residence of Elder Stephen Oyedele on how to control the political kinetics of Kosofe Political space ahead of next year's local government chairmanship and councilorship elections.

We further gathered that the group has also dragged into its fold a member of GAC based in Ikorodu, Alhaji Akanni Seriki Bamu. The idea behind the group's involvement of Bamu, we learned, was to weaken the overbearing influence of Otunba Alebiosu and Omooba Sosanya in Kosofe's political space and also hold forth for them in the decision-making process at the GAC meeting.

While the GAC members have gotten wind of the insidious political maneuvering of the third force against them, it was however the sudden announcement of Ogbara as the state secretary of the factional Mandate Movement a couple of weeks ago that sent jitters down the spines of the established power structures within the party. 

The GAC members, who have long held sway over the political landscape in Kosofe are not comfortable with the soaring influence of Ogbara. They view her newfound position as a direct threat to their leadership and control.

So when the news of Ogbara's appointment as factional Mandate Movement state secretary filtered in, the Justice Forum political bloc was reportedly irked and dismayed.

Sources close to the camp of Omooba Olumuyiwa Sosanya told KosofeReporters that the GAC member had strongly warned his followers to steer clear of Baba Eto's Mandate Movement or face the dire consequences. He added that he was not in support of groups within APC.

While the Ikosi-Isheri LCDA Chairperson, Princess Samiat Bada, who is no longer on friendly terms with the Federal Lawmaker was reported to have passed a similar directive to her followers.

It was, therefore, no coincidence that the GAC members in cahoots with the three local government chairmen decided to frenziedly schedule their stakeholders' meeting a day before Hon. Ogbara was set to stage a town hall meeting at the very same venue. The timing of this gathering was a deliberate ploy to undercut Ogbara's fledgling influence and undermine her growing support base within the party.

By organizing a rival event on the eve of Ogbara's town hall meeting, the GAC members sought to overshadow her and diminish the impact of her message. This calculated move was a clear indication of their palpable fear and unease at the prospect of losing their hold on power to a new group.

It was, therefore, no surprise that none of the leaders who sat at the high table during the strategic stakeholders' meeting the previous day attended the Ogbara's town hall meeting the following day except Alhaji Musiliu Aigoro who is her political ally and a key member of the factional Mandate Movement.

Despite their claims of promoting party unity and solidarity, the actions of the GAC members in Kosofe speak volumes about their true intentions. Instead of working towards a harmonious and inclusive party environment through genuine reconciliation, they have chosen to resort to divisive tactics to maintain their grip on power.

It is pertinent to note that the GAC members on their sides made strenuous efforts to take over control of the factional mandate movement to weaken the influence of Hon. Prince Rotimi Agunsoye (mni), the Principal Coordinator of the Original Mandate Group in Kosofe Federal Constituency who has been a terrible thorn in their flesh.

According to our investigation, the Justice Forum established power had schemed to take over the structure of Baba Eto's Mandate Movement at the local government level by planting in key positions renegade Mandate members who had pledged their allegiance to it before the idea hit the rock.

Some of them, it was further learned, had already positioned themselves in the executive committees of the factional Mandate Movement before the sudden volte-face of the GAC members.

With the recent pronouncement of the GAC members at last week Thursday's "Strategic Stakeholders' Meeting", the political state and identity of this set of people are now in limbo.

In the coming weeks and months, it remains to be seen how the power dynamics within the party in Kosofe will evolve. Will the GAC members succeed in stifling the burgeoning influence of Hon. Kafilat Ogbara and other protagonists of Baba Eto's Mandate Movement, or will she emerge stronger and more determined than ever? 

And will Mandate Group members who have suddenly found themselves in political limbo retrace their steps or remain perpetually in the present state of nothingness?

Only time will tell.