By Peter Dansu A strong wave of political agitation swept through Badagry Constituency II on Thursday as supporters of former Olorunda LCDA...
By Peter Dansu
A strong wave of political agitation swept through Badagry Constituency II on Thursday as supporters of former Olorunda LCDA Chairman, Hon. Abudu Amida, raised concerns over what they described as two decades of political exclusion of Olorunda from the Lagos State House of Assembly seat.
The grievances were voiced during a well-attended pro-Tinubu gathering held at Vajane Hotels and Suites, where political stakeholders and loyalists converged to mobilise support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Addressing the crowd, Amida urged constituents to remain steadfast in their support for the president, praising his administration’s economic reforms. He maintained that bold decisions such as the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira had prevented Nigeria from sliding into economic collapse.
According to him, “If those tough decisions were not taken, the country would have been in a worse situation. Today, we are already seeing the impact of reforms and intervention programmes like student loans, cash transfers and improvements in the education sector that have reduced strikes.”
However, beyond national politics, the gathering took a decisive turn as Amida and his supporters spotlighted what they termed a long-standing injustice against Olorunda LCDA.
Amida lamented that since the exit of Hon. Oluranti Ajose in 2007, Olorunda has been consistently sidelined in the representation of Badagry Constituency II at the Lagos Assembly, with the seat largely retained by candidates from Badagry Local Government.
He criticised the continued tenure of the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Dr. Setonji David, who is reportedly eyeing another term, arguing that fairness demands a shift in representation.
“It is only just and fair that Olorunda is given the opportunity to represent the constituency after 20 years. If someone has held the office for about 12 years, the honourable thing is to step aside and allow others to serve,” he said.
The former council boss further argued that Olorunda currently holds no elective position across the Badagry Federal Constituency, making its case for inclusion even more compelling.
Amida also used the platform to reel out achievements recorded during his six-year tenure as chairman of Olorunda LCDA, highlighting strides in job creation, road construction, education, healthcare, and social welfare initiatives.
“I have the experience, the track record and the capacity to represent our people effectively. I believe I am the most qualified candidate from Olorunda for this position,” he added.
The call for equity was echoed by several supporters who took turns to speak at the event.
Mr. Yahaya Taiwo from Iragon praised Amida’s performance in office, describing his tenure as impactful and people-oriented. He recalled personal instances of assistance he received from the former chairman, noting that such gestures set him apart from other leaders.
Similarly, former Leader of the Olorunda Legislative Arm, Hon. Alice Viutu, commended Amida’s leadership style, attributing part of her political growth to his support. She stressed that the time had come to correct what she described as a prolonged imbalance in political representation.
“We have waited for too long. Olorunda deserves a fair chance, and Hon. Amida has the experience to deliver,” she said.
Another stakeholder, Mr. Falola from Ibereko, also decried the marginalisation, urging party leaders in Badagry and Lagos State to ensure justice and inclusiveness in the selection process ahead of 2027.
The gathering, which doubled as a show of strength for both Amida’s ambition and President Tinubu’s re-election campaign, ended with a unified call on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to prioritise fairness, equity and rotation in determining the party’s candidate for Badagry Constituency II.
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