By Emeagi Emeka Williams
EVERY politics and leadership observer in Igando/Ikotun Local Council Development Area, Alimosho, must be flummoxed as per the unsavory development in the political landscape of that once peaceful council area.
The reason for this is hinged on the self inflicted controversy presently rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, threatening to lacerate and tear it in pieces.
The genesis of the problem is an ugly aftermath of the primary election held therr, which produced a clear winner who was declared by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission and confirmed by the party, which as a resultant, issued a candidacy form to the winner.
That conspicuous Victor was Comrade Lasisi Ayinde Akinsanya, whose triumph was also chronicled in the dailies.
A sudden APC abracadabra however began to play out, and pronto, the
game changed, generating a war chant which dimmed the loud victory song in the APC camp, particularly as the avalanche of the party’s supporters already took it for granted that the popularity and integrity of Comrade Akinsanya will give the council headship once more to the APC, no matter who the opposition presents.
Just like an ugly bolt from the blues, the news of the creeping unto reckon of Hon.Olajide Oseni from vistas different from declared result began to filter in, until became a threat that lead to massive protests by APC members, leaders and supporters, taken to the Lagos state APC secretariat in ACME, and the home of the party’s national leader, Tinubu in Ikoyi.
What began as a rumour has today created a devastating clash of interest, so much so that many a party enthusiast and / or loyalist have lost vigour and fervour in working or canvassing for the party.
The validation exercise at LASIEC further weakened the electorate and loyalists who later realised that for a surety, some powerful interests are tampering with the process.
It was confirmed at the LASIEC that a red ink was used to shade the printed and published name of Comrade Lasisi Akinsanya shockingly, situation which casts a serious aspersion on the transparency/independence of the LASIEC as election umpire and the integrity of the Chairman, Caretaker Committee, APC, Tunde Balogun who was reported to have allegedly gotten a 25 million naira inducement from the forces pushing for Hon.Oseni.
Whether these weighty allegation against the APC officials is close to reality or not, and whether the suspicion of the complicity of LASIEC in all of these unwholesome unfolding scenarios is truth or falsehood, one thing is sure, and this remains the verity that crises has infiltrated the APC fold and the party is only enjoying a fragile truce which slenderness will break sooner than anyone anticipates, particularly now that the helpless followers or supporters are seen and mocked by other electorate as dumb and helpless folks tossed about by the whims and caprices of their overbearing leaders that merely take them as stooges without minds of their own.
Though the APC wonder is not just transpiring in Igando/Ikotun alone, its preposterous dance of shame is enacting in other stages in Lagos, unmindful of the truth that they are washing dirty linens before the full view of spectators who are clearly torn asunder why a party that emerged to limelight as change agents could be acting ex cathedra as if they are the only political vanguard available for the people.
As the election draws nearer, and other parties are upping campaigns and canvassing support, while the APC home remains overtly and covertly balkanised, would a voice of reason rise from among the top echelons to uphold the doctrine of necessity, by calling a spade a spade, reaffirming the indisputable publicly known victory of Comrade Lasisi Akinsanya, or will the party proceed with the satirical attempt to substitute him with the unpopular and controversial Olajide Oseni who is seen as an insulting imposition judging by the outcry from the electorate who are flabbergasted at the sudden turn of events, even while no contrary official proclamation, declaration or announcement has been pushed forward by LASIEC or APC to alter the established triumphant statusquo of Akinsanya’s victory and candidacy.
Nonetheless, the big question “which way APC?” keeps dangling while the time ticks impatiently.
