By Semiu Adekambi The recent narrative being pushed by Mark Akande against Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan is nothing short of political mischi...
By Semiu Adekambi
The recent narrative being pushed by Mark Akande against Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan is nothing short of political mischief dressed up as public commentary. It is disappointing, but not surprising, that in the face of clear performance and growing grassroots support, some opponents have resorted to playing the ethnic card as a tool of distraction.
Let it be stated plainly: the claim that Hon. Sesi Whingan has marginalised Awori communities in Badagry Federal Constituency is false, misleading, and does not reflect the reality on the ground.
For anyone who truly understands Badagry, this is a constituency built on coexistence among Awori, Ogu (Egun), Ayonu, and other groups. Attempts to introduce division along ethnic lines are not only dangerous but also a direct insult to the intelligence of the people.
Mark Akande’s write-up tries to create doubt around Whingan’s leadership by suggesting exclusion and imbalance. But the facts tell a completely different story.
In Awori communities, particularly within Olorunda LCDA, which has been falsely portrayed as marginalised, several of Whingan’s most impactful projects are located within Awori-speaking areas. In Mowo, a mixed community, a block of classrooms was facilitated at Mowo Community Secondary School. In Igbanko, a predominantly Awori community, another school project stands as clear evidence of his intervention. In Ibereko, a free National Identification Number registration centre established by him has already served over 50,000 residents, largely from Awori communities.
Beyond infrastructure, his Free School Ride initiative continues to support students across Morogbo, Oko Afo, Mowo, and Ibereko, easing daily transportation challenges for families in these areas. These are not symbolic gestures; they are real interventions affecting real people.
It is also on record that many beneficiaries of his scholarships, employment facilitation, and empowerment programmes cut across all ethnic groups, with a significant number from Awori communities. So the question remains: where exactly is this so-called marginalisation?
Even politically, the narrative does not hold water. During recent engagements with APC leaders in Olorunda LCDA, Hon. Whingan was received with open support and commendation for his work in their communities. There was no sign of the discontent being peddled in Akande’s article.
What is evident is a coordinated attempt to rewrite reality in order to score cheap political points. It is unfortunate that Mark Akande, who once positioned himself as a voice for youth inclusion, now appears willing to trade credibility for relevance.
More telling is the irony in all of this. If there were ever an opportunity to exploit ethnic sentiment, it would have been for Whingan himself—as a prominent voice of the Ogu people, a minority group with limited representation at the National Assembly. Yet, he has consistently refused to campaign on ethnic lines, choosing instead to focus on performance, development, and unity.
That decision is what sets him apart.
Badagry people are not strangers to political propaganda. They can see the difference between facts and fiction, between performance and noise. Resorting to ethnic narratives in a constituency known for its diversity is not just low—it is a sign of political desperation.
Mark Akande and those behind this misinformation should understand that Badagry is bigger than narrow interests. The people deserve honest engagement, not manufactured division.
In the end, no amount of falsehood can erase visible results. And in Badagry today, the evidence of inclusive representation under Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan is there for all to see.
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