As campaigns towards the Lagos state local government elections heat up in Kosofe, led as far as the eye can see by the ruling party, APC, one wonders who will emerge winner eventually. In Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, the APC campaign train is on its way to ward G in Ajegunle, Idera, Irawo and Owode-Onirin while in Kosofe, the Labour Party flag bearer, Abdul Adelekan campaigned at Oworo yesterday. The Agboyi-Ketu LCDA APC candidate, Mayor Dele Oshinowo is doing a daily countdown to the election, while still trying to slug it out with his PDP counterpart, Tambi Oluwagbemiga Peter, who seems to have woken up from his slumber just recently.

While campaigns continue, one wonders why the former Chairman of the council, Engr. Abdulfatai Oyesanya was returned as the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress despite all that transpired while he was Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA between October 28, 2011 and significantly 20thof August 2014, before he handed over in October 2014.
Seven councilors, led by the now Accord Party candidate and Oyesanya’s major contender in the July 22 LG elections, Prince Owolabi Taiwo aka Hartingal, impeached Hon. Oyesanya on a seven count charge which includes gross misconduct, maladministration and financial misappropriation. He was said to have run a family inclusive system of government while in power. He involved his family members in the running of the affairs of government instead of the civil servants who are paid to do the jobs. Engr. Oyesanya was also accused of moving the council’s account from the Skye Bank branch on CMD road to the Fidelity Bank at Mile 12 bus stop, in Agboyi-Ketu LCDA all because his son, Ayodele Oyesanya Jnr had to meet up with the bank’s target or be relieved of his job. Oyesanya Jnr was fired from Fidelity bank in 2015, after an allegation of theft to the sum of N10,000,000 was brought against him. This happened after Engr Oyesanya was impeached from the council and the government of that time reverted the council’s bank account to its status quo.
Despite all the yearnings and petitions of the people of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, the leadership of the APC turned deaf ears to their cry, presenting Oyesanya as the party’s flag-bearer. This hasn’t gone down well with many as the people are set to take the bull by its horn during the elections. So many unanswered questions have been thrown at him during his courtesy visits, and campaigns even as he pleads with them to forgive him, while promising he is on a mission to correct his misdeeds.
Owolabi Taiwo is the grand-son of the first statutory King of Kosofe, an influential and well learned man, His Royal Majesty Oba Gboyega Bamgbade Taiwo, Akeja Oniyanru 1, the Asalu of Ikosi kingdom. Hartingal was a two term councilor of Ward D, Orile-Ikosi between 2008 and 2014. He is one of the disgruntled members of the APC who defected to Accord Party, after the ruling party at the state level failed to conduct primaries for aspiring candidates despite purchasing the form for the post of chairman at the exorbitant amount of N550,000. Hartingal feels the party (APC) is unjust, hence he pitched his tent with Accord Party, which has recently been expanding their reach since their first prominent flag-bearer in Mushin 1 constituency, Hon Dauda Kako Are beat the former Odi-Olowo-Ojuwoye LCDA Chairman, Hon Adeyemi Alli during the 2015 elections for the federal House of Representatives.
Being a heir to the throne and a former councillor, Hartingal feels he is a square peg in a square hole. In his courtesy visits to CDAs, markets, the motor-cycle association, the Hausa community and many others, he is quick to credit himself with a world of experience no other candidate has regarding running the council. In his words, he has always been a man of the people, “I don’t have an office, I only have a junction, where I meet and relate with my people”. Though, he has the support of his people, especially because he is from the Ikosi clan, some core Ikosi indigenes feel Hartingal hasn’t done enough to merit being Chairman. According to one who pleaded anonymity, “No doubt, he is a son of Ikosi land, but despite the fact that Hartingal knows that the main problem Ikosi is facing is lack of water, he never deemed it necessary to put up a common borehole for his people, he is a big boy, he stays in Magodo… he doesn’t know what we feel, he doesn’t know what it takes not to have water”.

July 22 is 3 days away, the elections are almost here, both candidates are hoping to win. Will the APC loyalists, CDAs and other groups working for the success of Oyesco save him? Will the Ikosi kingdom, Accord Party and other loyal supporters of Hartingal take him to the Canaan of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA? All fingers are crossed