Bakare, Tinubu and ‘Omo Eko Pataki’: Letter to the Editor

By YINKZMANN

“If Chief Bode George contests on his street alone, he would lose. Gen Olanrewaju is a respected elder but definitely not a politician…”

I believe The DEFENDER can do a better work than what was published on “Bakare Defanged Tinubu. . .”

First, we are practising a multi-party democracy where the collective decision of the electorate is to be based on which party and candidate receive their mandate. If one party makes itself the preferred choice of the electorate and the other party does not, then that party has dug the pit for its political failure. Lagos PDP has never shown it is better than AD, ACN or APC. The only time it showed it was as good as AD was when Late Funsho Williams contested on it. Then it was the personality of Funsho Williams and his grassroot strength that did the work.

Politics of Lagos should not be solely premised on whether or not you are an indigene.

I well remember how many of us, Youth canvassers, way back in 1998-1999 were pushed out of PDP on Lagos Island because of this ‘Omo Eko issue’ Some of us worked round the clock mobilizing for the party, but when it got to any benefits been passed round, then they started banding the Omo Eko label. Same thing happened in Ebute Metta, Mainland, and other localities then, while AD, as a party, was welcoming all those pushed out by PDP Omo fanatics.

May God repose the soul of late Dr Wahab Dosumu, who welcomed us into AD then. So many grass root politicians had since joined AD, ACN, then and have not left since.To wrestle power from one party by another is simple but you have to be serious. Those labelling themselves Omo Eko are just not serious. They simply need to present a better option in terms of party Programmes or manifesto and candidate credibility as better alternative to what the other group offers.

The NURTW issue should not have been brought into it and all without accessing information from all sides. The NURTW officers are not dunces. We should remember that NURTW has been a factor in Nigerian politics, especially Southwest, from the days of NPN and UPN. Remember Bayo Success was a core NPN in those days. Lateef Jakande UPN still defeated them not using Omo Eko label otherwise, he would have failed. The bottom line in Lagos politics is that many of those who claimed their Omo Eko status are not grass root politicians. Let us ask ourselves Can Chief Bode George win his ward where we have Dr Leke Pitan? The electorate know Mayowa and can point to so many good things he has done even in his private capacity.

If Chief Bode George contests on his street alone, he would lose. Gen Olanrewaju is a respected elder but definitely not a politician. Not all the old generation in Oke popo, Amuto, Adeniji Adele sides relate with him. How then do you get the support of your own base if they don’t know you? Chief Demola Sheriki knew better and eventually joined the APC.

Please note that the real politicians are in APC while the noisemakers stay in PDP. I am stating this with my experience while rooting for my friend then who incidentally is even an Oshodi descendant. I am not a politician in Lagos, if I want to be, I would head to my State where my late dad was a factor in our 2 local governments You are not doing badly but the job of publishing on Lagos politics, in fact, any state politics is always a dicey affair. It may be deeper than what is obvious to the undiscerning eyes.

More power to your elbow Alhaji. You are our pride anytime, any day. Almighty Allah would continue to be your strength.