ISOLO: Succession politics splits councillors

By Abolaji Adebayo and Damilola Kushimo

Deft schemes for more power in the unfolding struggle for who gets what in the next civilian administration of Isolo Local Council Development Area are triggering splits and switches among contending groups and threatening the unity of the Legislative Arm.

At inception, the seven councillors who made up the legislative arm were loyal to the former chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Henry Ajomale.

The powerful politician who was the party’s chairman for 12 years sought to crown the structure with Olasoju Adebayo as executive chairman.

But the move, which would have sealed the fate of his estranged political son and one term council chairman, Hon. Shammeh Olaleye failed because the party resolved to give 18 one term chairmen the second term.

Olasoju became the vice chairman waiting to try the next time.

Less than four months to the July exit date and two months to the local government elections, fresh ambitions and power calculations are threatening to upset the cart.

Remy Shittu Remy, leader of the House and top notch in the Ajomale camp has set his eyes on the chairmanship.

His ambition is opposed by his mentor who says he would not renege on the agreement to run Olasoju for chairmanship.

The agreement was reached with Olasoju’s immediate boss, a popular musician and party leader, Chief Ayinde Anifowoshe, also known as K1.

K1 earned his recognition when he broke ranks with other musicians during the intense contest for power between then Action Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party for the control of Lagos State by opting to use his music to support the ACN and its leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Also in the deal was Otunba Jide Oni, the financier and grassroots party chieftain.

Foraging for support, Remy moved closer to the council chairman, Hon. Shamsudeen Olaleye Shammeh, one of the most sophisticated political strategists in Oshodi-Isolo LGA.

This shift rankled the Ajomale group and there was agitation among die-hard loyalists to impeach Remy.

Remy’s closeness occurred at a time the chairman had just concluded the annual budget retreat and was getting ready to lay the budget before the House for approval.

Looking for Quorum

In the course of the estranged politics between Chief Ajomale and Shammeh which worsened in the last two years, two councillors had earlier switched camps to Shammeh.

They are Hon. Magnus Chidiebere of Ajao Estate ward and Hon. Idris Agbabiaka of Akinbaye ward popularly known as Katami.

Agbabiaka confirmed this when he told ECHONEWS: “I am with my council chairman, Hon. Shamsudeen Abiodun Olaleye. He is my leader. I am with him and Engineer Ganiyu Johnson. I have never left his side. He brought me into politics, He is my mentor. He is my leader… Ajomale is our leader generally. He is our leader but as for me, I am with Shammeh, Johnson and Jude (Idimogu).

ECHONEWS learnt that Remy’s fear of impeachment and Shammeh’s fear that the Legislative Arm dominated by Ajomale camp may frustrate the budget approval established a mutual interest to tinker with the quorum – the minimum number of councillors required by law to conduct the proceedings of the Legislative Arn – to five and establish majority vote count of three out of five to pass any law.

Councillors loyal to Ajomale fell into this booby trap when they failed to appear at the plenary of the Legislative Arm on February 1, this year.

According to Remy, Deputy Leader, Hon. Akeem Ayoola who represents Ilasamaja Ward and the Chief Whip, Hon. Olanrewaju Kayode who represents Alagbeji Ward were suspended while Hon. Abisodun Odusina-Adeoye who represents Ire-akari/Ishaga Ward F4 and Hon. Kanayo Osondu who represents Okota Ward were fined.

His words: “The four absented themselves from the plenary on Thursday February 25, 2021, without any excuse or permission and we have to punish them. The punishments of the two of them who are the principal officers are suspension for 14 sitting days as enshrined in the standing order while the other two are to pay fine.”

Asked if they were given fair hearing through any query to establish their offence, the council leader said he relied on the standing rules of the House.

According t4o him, Section subsection F on ‘Power to repress disorder’ states that “When the offence committed by a member appears to the leaders to be of serious nature, the leader shall put the question on the motion being made, on which no debate, amendment, or adjournment shall be allowed.

“That such member be suspended from the service of the house and such suspension shall be for a period stated in Motion but shall not exceed 14 Legislative days.”

The motion to sanction the erring councillors was moved by the majority leader, Hon. Idris Agbabiaka (Katami) who represents Akinbaiye Ward and seconded by Hon. Chidiebere Iheasirim representing Ajao Estate.

The Party Intervenes

ECHONEWS interviewed the chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Isolo LCDA, Barrister Gani Bello.

Faulting the House’s decision to act “radically”, he said the House did not put the party in the know of things when the issue was brewing.

Bello, who emphasised that the issue is a family issue that will be resolved soon, said the suspended councillors would be recalled soon.

He said the party was surprised that the suspended members were not recalled on Monday, March 8, during plenary but instead, a committee was set up.

“APC is a family, I see the whole thing as a family affair. We will resolve the issue soon. The crisis is not beyond the party. Though the House hasn’t recalled the suspended councillors, it will be resolved by the party. We met on March 3rd and told the council leader to summon House on March 4th to recall them but he said no because he wanted to travel on Thursday but he didn’t later travel. On Monday, March 8, instead of recalling them, a committee was set up and that has kept us in suspense but, regardless of that the matter is a family affair and it will be resolved soon.”

In response to this, Shittu explained that the committee which was set up on Monday, March 8, was meant to look into the process of recalling the suspended members, promising that all would be settled as soon as the committee gets back to the House this week.

I am still loyal to Ajomale – Shittu

Despite allegations that he left the four other councillors who belong to Ajomale group in the cold, Remy Shittu Remy says he still belongs to the group.

His words: “I’ve always been in Ajomale’s camp, I’m still there and I don’t know who’s trying to go or not. I’ve always been in Ajomale’s camp and I still remain in his camp.”