By Damilola Kushimo
The lawmaker representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Jude Idimogu, has revealed that his decision to pull out of the Unity Forum and support Hon. Bayo Olasoju contesting for the chairmanship position in Isolo LCDA was influenced by the directive from his political father, the Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.
Unity Forum was formed jointly by Hon. Jude Idimogu; the member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Ganiyu Johnson and the council chairman, Hon. Shamsudeen Olaleye (Shammeh) to rally support for Hon. Akeem Muniru, one of the aspirants seeking an APC ticket to contest for the chairmanship position of the local council.
However, just a few days after forming the Forum, Idimogu announced his withdrawal and switched his full support to Olasoju.
Idimogu’s withdrawal from the group was one of the political activities that shocked the politics of Isolo last week as he also withdrew all his followers and diverted them to join Olasoju’s campaign team.
In an exclusive chat with ECHONEWS, Idimogu said his decision was in the interest of the party for its victory in the forthcoming LG polls, adding that he acted after due consultations with some leaders and elders in the party.
According to him, his alliance with Olasoju has also helped him to mend his relationship with the former state APC party chairman and member of the Governor’s Advisory Committee (GAC), Otunba Henry Ajomale.
He explained that his loyalty to Hon. Obasa majorly influenced his decision as he noted that his respect for the party’s supremacy and the leaders remains 100 per cent.
His words: “I’ve picked my preference and that is Bayo and I want to thank God for that opportunity because it has also helped me to reconcile my relationship with one of my greatest leaders, Otunba Henry Oladele Ajomale. But with due respect to my colleagues, Shammeh is my guy and Hon. Ganiyu Johnson, I respect them and I’ve explained to them that this is my decision. There are no hard feelings and it is just to achieve something because everybody has an ambition and I believe that working with Bayo, I will achieve success.
“Life is about interests and the other people have their interest that they want to achieve. The common definition people like me understand about politics is that there are no permanent enemies, no permanent friends but permanent interest. There’s purpose in everything. Right now, my interest and theirs do not align but at the end of the day, we are all party members with no hard feelings. But let me tell you that between now and 28 other alliances might be formed when information starts tricking out when they start seeing the direction, where it is going.”
The lawmaker emphasised that his plan now is to make sure that Olasoju wins, assuring that the aspirant would emerge as the APC candidate as far as Isolo LCDA is concerned.
Idimogu disclosed that although he would still contest for a yet-to-be known political post in 2023, his priority now is to canvass support for Olasoju and follow the directives from his leader, Speaker Obasa who is also aspiring to become a senator, emphasising that he does whatever Obasa tells him to do.
He maintained that there would be no major crisis in the party, saying: “All this tension is just for primaries. We’re all one big family just that in periods like this there will be temporary tension and beefing will be there and it is allowed. So, politics is not meant for the chicken-hearted, if it turns out good, good and if it turns out bad, good! That’s why at the end of every election there is always a roundtable discussion for reconciliation.”
He also declared his support for the chairman of Ejigbo LCDA, Hon. Monsurudeen Bello (Obe) who is seeking re-election, explaining that Obe deserves a second term based on his impressive scorecard.
