Key Takeaways
- Traditional rulers and religious leaders in Orile-Agege and Agege have appealed to former APC chieftains Ganiyu Egunjobi and Azeez Yusuf to rejoin the party.
- The appeal was made at a peace meeting prompted by fears of potential pre-election violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
- Egunjobi, who defected to APM after a disputed primary election, cited a lack of reconciliation efforts from APC leadership as his reason for leaving.
- Both Egunjobi and Yusuf are now contesting Lagos Assembly seats under the APM platform.
- Community leaders emphasized the paramount importance of peace, stability, and development over political disputes.
In a significant move to avert political unrest, influential community leaders across Orile-Agege and Agege Local Government Areas of Lagos State have issued a fervent plea to two prominent political figures, Ganiyu Egunjobi and Azeez Yusuf, urging them to reconsider their recent defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and return to the party fold. This appeal, made during a crucial peace meeting held on Sunday in Orile-Agege, underscores growing concerns over political stability and potential discord as the 2027 general elections draw closer.
A Unified Call for Peace and Stability
The Sunday gathering brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including revered traditional rulers, respected religious leaders, and key political figures. Their collective voice emphasized the urgent need for peace and development within the communities. Oba Ambaliu Agbedeyi, the Alaige of Orile-Agege, revealed that reports of possible violence were the catalyst for convening the meeting. “We want peace and progress in our community. When I heard that there will be bloodshed, I cannot fold my arms and watch,” Oba Agbedeyi stated, stressing his commitment to preventing any breakdown of law and order. He added, “If we sit idle and do not intervene, and it comes to pass, we will be blamed for it.”
Echoing this sentiment, Oba Oyedeji Kamila Ishiba, the Olu of Agege, implored politicians and their supporters to shun confrontation and embrace dialogue. “We don’t want fight or rancour in our communities. Promotion is of God. We don’t pray for commotion in our communities,” Oba Ishiba asserted, urging all parties to prioritize peace and stability. Chief Shuaib Ajayi, the Baale of Dopemu, further reinforced the call for truth and sustained efforts towards maintaining harmony.
Religious Leaders Lend Their Voices
The religious community also played a pivotal role in the peace initiative. Apostle Babajide Ajibode, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Orile-Agege Chapter, affirmed the commitment of religious leaders to pray for peace and progress. “The party has spoken and we must align with the position of the party,” he remarked, highlighting the broader responsibility of citizens. Similarly, Alhaji Olawale Sulaiman, Chief Imam of Dopemu, issued a stern warning against actions that could trigger violence, reminding political aspirants that positions are temporary. “Seeking positions only has meaning in this world. It is a thing of this world and only useful as long as we breathe,” he preached, cautioning against the loss of lives over transient political gains.
Egunjobi's Stance: Disputed Primaries and Unanswered Calls
Ganiyu Egunjobi, a former council chairman, who recently defected from APC to the Allied Peoples' Movement (APM), clarified that he was unaware of the peace meeting until a cleric extended an invitation. He articulated his reasons for leaving the APC, primarily citing a disputed primary election and the subsequent lack of reconciliation from the party leadership. Egunjobi maintained that he had won the party’s primary election but alleged that the APC subsequently settled for another candidate without initiating a proper reconciliation process. “When you know that a candidate would be selected, you won’t tell us to go to the field,” he argued, adding, “If I am relieved of my winning, the party should deem it fit to invite us to a meeting.”
Egunjobi further claimed that despite the contentious primary, the APC leadership, including the state chairman Cornelius Ojelabi and even the Lagos Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, had not reached out to him for reconciliation. He recalled a similar incident involving Ojelabi in 1999, where Ojelabi allegedly left the Alliance for Democracy (AD) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after failing to retain his Ojo council chairmanship, suggesting a precedent for his own actions. Despite his grievances, Egunjobi assured the community that he and his supporters would remain calm and law-abiding, commending the meeting's conveners and pledging to prevent any violence.
Both Egunjobi and Azeez Yusuf, popularly known as Ninolowo, have secured tickets to contest the 2027 Lagos Assembly elections for Agege Constituency I and Agege Constituency II, respectively, under the APM platform. Their defection and the subsequent community intervention highlight the intense political dynamics at play in the lead-up to the next electoral cycle.
Why This Matters
The intervention by traditional and religious leaders in Agege underscores the critical role community stakeholders play in mitigating political tensions and safeguarding peace, especially in the volatile pre-election period. This situation reflects broader challenges within Nigeria's political parties regarding internal democracy, primary election disputes, and the imperative for effective reconciliation mechanisms to prevent defections and maintain party cohesion, ultimately impacting the stability and development of local governance.