- The race for the 2019 general elections has begun in earnest in most states
- Political alignments and realignment have started in Lagos state as politicians jostle for positions
- A former minister of state for defence and governorship aspirant, Musiliu Obanikoro, is on the move again
A report by The Nation indicates that former minister of state for defence and Lagos state governorship aspirant, Musiliu Obanikoro, is warming up for the 2019 senatorial race in Lagos West District.
According to the report, the former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana has started consultation and mobilisation in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the senatorial race.
Interestingly, Obanikoro represented Lagos Central in the Senate on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) between 2003 and 2007, after resigning as Lagos state commissioner for home affairs.
Senator Obanikoro is keen on returning to the upper chambers in 2019. Source: Twitter
READ ALSO: 2019: 10 jostle for Kano deputy governor as incumbent withdraws
He later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contested for the governorship twice and served as the minister of defence (state) in the Jonathan administration.
He was also the chairman of the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). Before the advent of the Fourth Republic, he had served as Chairman of Lagos Town Council.
Obanikoro, who defected to the APC last month, has traced his roots to the Iba/Ojo sub-division and he may likely adopt as his new political base.
An APC leader quoted in the report, disclosed that Obanikoro’s ambition is legitimate, but added that it may polarize the party in Lagos West at the initial stage.
His words: “Obanikoro is a strong politician. But, he cannot get the ticket in Lagos Central because the impressive record of Senator Oluremi Tinubu may make the party elders, led by Prince Oluyole Olusi, to extend her tenure in the Senate. She is a fantastic senator who has done the Lagos Central proud. She is the best senator Lagos Central ever had.
“I am aware that Obanikoro wants to be senator. If he has the opportunity, he will like to be governor. But, the coast is not clear. I learnt that he has started consulting and tracing his roots to Lagos West. The understanding is that, if Senator Olamilekan Adeola is bent on becoming the governor of Ogun state, the senatorial seat of Lagos West will be vacant in 2019.”
Other contenders for the seanatorial seat are former deputy governor; Joke Orelope-Adefulire, former minister of state for defence; Chief Demola Seriki and Senator Ganiyu Solomon.
There are also rumours that Osun state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, might contest the position, since tenure expires next year.
“We are still trying to confirm whether Osun state governor Rauf Aregbesola is also going to contest. He is from Alimoso sub-zone. He is their leader there. But, we heard that his camp is divided over the issue,” the party chieftain said.
Meanwhile, recent media reports indicates that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, national leader of the ruling APC and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state are currently engaged in a supremacy battle over the control of the southwest region ahead of the 2019 elections.
According to the reports, there have been recent allegations and counter-allegations between the loyalists of the duo over recent developments in the party, especially in respect of the party’s preparations for the 2019 presidential election.
READ ALSO: Tinubu is the greatest Nigerian politician of our time - Obanikoro
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu speaks about the local government election in Lagos - on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng