Stakeholders in Orile-Agege and Agege Local Government Areas of Lagos State have appealed to High Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi and Azeez Yusuf to reconsider their defection to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and return to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The appeal was made at a peace meeting on Sunday, aimed at addressing concerns arising from recent political developments in Agege. The meeting was attended by traditional rulers, representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Muslim clerics, and members of the Arewa community.
The Alaige of Orile-Agege, Oba Ambaliu Agbeleyi, who has been on the throne for 14 years, stated that his priority remains the peace, stability, and development of the community. He expressed concerns over possible violence arising from the political situation and urged Egunjobi and Yusuf to preserve the peace that had prevailed during their years in office. Agbeleyi emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and progress in the community, especially with the 2027 general elections approaching.
The Olu of Agege, Oba Oyedeji Kamila Ishiba, also urged the politicians and their supporters to shun confrontation and promote peace and stability. He emphasized that promotion is of God and that the community does not pray for commotion. Ishiba's sentiments were echoed by the Baale of Dopemu, High Chief Shuaib Ajayi, who called on stakeholders to uphold truth and support the efforts of religious and community leaders to maintain peace.
Religious leaders, including the chairman of CAN in Orile-Agege, Apostle J.B. Olubode, and the Chief Imam of Dopemu, Alhaji Sulaiman, urged party leaders to intervene in the political disagreement and prevail on their members to avoid actions capable of triggering violence. They emphasized that political positions are temporary and should not result in loss of life. The CAN coordinator in Agege Local Government Area, Pastor Bayo Jesuniyi, expressed the religious community's concern about peace and continued development in Agege.
Egunjobi, who is the APM House of Assembly candidate, responded to the appeal by stating that he was unaware of the meeting until he was invited by one of the clerics. He called on the APC leadership to act fairly and pursue reconciliation, claiming that he won the party's primary election but was subsequently overlooked for another candidate. Egunjobi argued that the party's leadership should have followed up with a reconciliation process.
Egunjobi revealed that he and his supporters had considered going to court over the matter but were prevailed upon by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, not to do so. He also mentioned that the APC leadership had not reached out to him for reconciliation since the disputed primary. Egunjobi defended his decision to leave the APC, citing a similar political development involving the APC chairman, Hon. Ojelabi, in 1999.
Despite the tensions, Egunjobi commended the convener of the peace meeting and assured residents that the political disagreements would not lead to violence in the community. He emphasized that he could only speak for himself and assured that there would be no war in the community. The stakeholders' appeal to Egunjobi and Yusuf to return to the APC remains a significant development in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
Key points
- - Stakeholders in Orile-Agege and Agege Local Government Areas of Lagos State have appealed to High Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi and Azeez Yusuf to reconsider their defection to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and return to the All Progressives Congress (APC). - The appeal was made at a peace meeting attended by traditional rulers, representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Muslim clerics, and members of the Arewa community. - Egunjobi and Yusuf's defection has raised concerns about possible violence in the community, with stakeholders urging them to prioritize peace and stability.
