I OWE MY VICTORY TO GOD—Hon. Kasunmu

HON. ADEDAMOLA RICHARD KASUNMU (ARK)

Newly elected member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon (Prince) Adedamola Richard Kasunmu has attributed his historic victory in last Saturday’s election to Divine intervention. Kasunmu, who contested on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ikeja Constituency 02 seat,  won the election by a total of 19,909 votes while his closest rival, Prince Amidu Arubo of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got 14,147 votes. Other political parties who contested in the election include Alliance for Democracy (AD), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party (LP) and National Conscience Party (NCP). Declaring the final results at the end of collation of Sunday morning at the Central Primary School, Ikeja GRA, INEC Returning Officer Dr Dele Ashiru stated, “That Prince Adedamola Richard Kasunmu of the All Progressive Congress having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”

Speaking at his Ikeja campaign office shortly he was declared the winner, Prince Kasunmu said “First and foremost I give all the Glory to God Almighty who made this victory possible. We have been on this electioneering for that last couple of months and just when we thought the D-Day was here, the election was shifted by those who were afraid of change and we had to start all over again, but we remained steady, focused and determined. It was not an easy task. The road to this victory was very rough and the process was rigorous. But today we have achieved total victory” he said. Speaking further, Hon. Kasunmu said “I seize this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to all our Party leaders who gave me the opportunity to contest this election in the first place. I also appreciate all our party members and constituents who supported me and worked day and night to ensure that I won this election. This victory is for all of you and I promise to work hard to justify the confidence you all reposed in me”. A Lawyer by training, Hon (Prince) Adedamola Richard Kasunmu, popularly addressed as ARK, was educated at Kings College, Lagos and University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. A nephew of APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his grandmother, Alhaja (Dr) Abibatu Mogaji of blessed memory was the Iyaloja-General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Kasunmu defeated his PDP counterpart with over 5000 votes. 

9ice and Toni Payne's son, Zion comes of age

ZION, son of singer 9ICE and his estranged wife, Toni Payne looking so cute, he lives with his Grandmum in The United States

ZION, with mum, Toni Payne

Toni Payne's Mum and Zion's Grandmum, Ms Bolanle Coker, looking charming and elegant

JOKE SOGUNRO’S MUM CELEBRATES 70

It was celebration galore in the home of the Sogunro sisters last weekend as the Matriarch of the famous family, Deaconess Adebisi Sarah Sogunro (nee Onitiri) attained the age of 70. The grand birthday celebration of Mama Sogunro began with a Holy Communion service in the morning and later culminated in a well-attended reception later in the day. Some of the children of the celebrant are Mrs Joke Sogunro-Umah, the CEO of Soggys Couture on Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere, Lagos and Abuja. Joke is a hardworking business woman and a front row member of Nigeria’s high society. Of course, she is highly successful in her business and well-connected. Others include Bola Sogunro, CEO, Honey Bee Caterers, Yeye Toyin Sogunro-Adeyeni, CEO, All-in-One Fashion Center, Kafila Sogunro (Yuppie), Anthonia Sogunro and others. Their friends turned up enmasse to honour Mama on her 70^th.

LAGOS SUPER CHIC, BOLAJI FASHOLA LOSES GRANDMUM

Transclean Ltd MD/CEO and cousin of hard working Governor Fashola of Lagos State, Bolaji Fashola-Isimi, is bereaved. Shortly after returning from her trip to the United States where she spent several months, giving birth to her cute son along the line, ever-radiant Bolaji has lost her maternal grand mum to the cold hands of death.

The late woman, popularly known as Alhaja Aminat Abeje Ogundairo (nee Aleshinloye Wiiliams), was a well respected community leader and a successful businesswoman. She passed on at the age of 89 and is survived by 8 children, namely: Abiola Fashola, Atinuke Davies, Tunde Ogundairo, Fatai Ogundairo, Titi Gbenro, Alade Ogundairo, Ayoku Akinlade and Adetutu Areoye. The 8th day Fidau Prayer took place recently and Governor Fashola and other personalities were in attendance. Information reaching me indicates that plans are already afoot for the 40^th Day Fidau prayers for the late matriarch, which comes up on May 24^th, 2014.

LAGOS DEMOCRATS SET TO ELECT EXCO

LAGOS DEMOCRATS SET TO ELECT EXCO

Fast-growing political pressure group, LAGOS DEMOCRATS, has perfected arrangements to elect its Executives any moment from now. This decision was reached at a recent meeting of the group held in the Central Business District (CBD) axis of Ikeja, Lagos. During the meeting, a joyous celebration erupted when the Certificate of Registration of the group, was presented by Barr Oladotun Hassan.  The implication of this historic feat is that the forum is now a legal entity, duly registered under the relevant Nigerian laws. In the course of the meeting also, an electoral committee to handle the coming elections was put in place. The committee, to be headed by the current coordinator of the group, Prince Dayo Asade as BOT/Electoral Committee Chairman, also has Mr. Kunle Kayode and Mr. Soremi Tolulope as members. The electoral committee swung into action immediately by calling for nominations into various EXCO slots available.

LAGOS DEMOCRATS, a burgeoning forum of young professionals who are doing well in their various fields, is on the mission to activate a positive change that will ultimately lead to greater transformation of Lagos state and the Nigerian nation at large for the benefit of all.

 The group is currently growing exponentially and spreading its tentacles to all nooks and crannies of Lagos state.

Apart from Mr Joseph Zannu who is already functioning as the group’s General Secretary in Interim capacity; others nominated for Executive posts in the coming elections include Barr. Moyo Ogunlewe, Barr Oladotun Hassan, Mr Abiola Salami

, Mr Uzor Chijioke, Mr. Kunle Martins, Miss Oyelami Feyisayo and others. Those present at the recent meeting include,Prince Adedayo Asade,Mr Joseph Zannu, Mr. Soremi Tolulope, Mr. Kunle kayode, Barr Oladotun Hassan and Mr.Sola Folowosele.

The election promises to be interesting, watch out!

WHY GOV. OSHIOMOLE FIRED OMOREDE OSIFO

WHY GOV. OSHIOMOLE FIRED OMOREDE OSIFO

                                  The Patrick Obahiagbon Conspiracy

Hon Omorede Osifo

Until the shocking announcement of her sack as the Edo State Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Mobilisation two weeks ago, most people thought all was well between Hon Omorede Osifo and her boss, Gov Adams Oshiomole. However, to close followers of the dog-eat-dog politics of Edo State, Omorede’s sudden dismissal did not come as a surprise. Her days in office had been numbered by forces arrayed against her shortly after her assumption of office about 10 months ago.

Gov Adams Oshiomole

Hon Patrick Obahiagbon

Though no official reason has been given so far for her exit, her sack however might not be unconnected with the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Floodlights scandal which reared up during the recently-held Youth Summit and Concert. The Concert, which was hosted by Edo State mid January 2014, attracted the major players in the Nigerian entertainment circuit. Prior to the event, the Governor, who attached serious importance to the concert due to its youth-oriented nature, constituted a committee headed by the Chief-of-Staff, Hon Patrick Obahiagbon and mandated them to ensure the success of the concert and use it to further launder the image of his government . Curiously, Obahiagbon refused to include Omorede Osifo, the Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Mobilisation as a member of the committee. Gov. Oshiomole was said to have approved the sum of N75Million for Obahiagbon’s committee but few days to the day of the event, Obahiagbon was said to have disbursed the sum of N200, 000 to Omorede’s office with an instruction that the Governor wanted all the malfunctioning floodlights at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, where the event would hold, fixed before then event. The job was contracted out immediately by Omorede and the lights were fixed and tested before the event. On the night of the concert however, the floodlights refused to work, thereby messing up the whole event. When this happened, the hawks that were after Omorede, allegedly, went to Gov Oshiomole to misinform him that Omorede did not fix the light as instructed by the governor. This naturally infuriated Oshiomole ordered the immediate termination of her appointment via a terse radio announcement.

Sources close to the Edo State Cabinet have however revealed that, Omorede’s firing last week was the climax of several dangerous political manipulations orchestrated against her by Gov Oshiomole’s Chief of Staff, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, who saw her as big threat to his political aspirations in the state.

For those who do not know, both Obahiagbon and Osifo hail from the same Oredo Local Government and contested for the House of Representatives ticket in 2011 but lost. Thus, a tense political rivalry had been existing between the duo for long. Being very close to the Governor as the Chief of Staff therefore, Obahiagbon was said to have formed the habit of systematically misinforming the Governor about Osifo, with the aim of painting her black and ultimately destroying her political career, so that the coast could be clear for him (Obahiagbon) in 2015. Though very famous (or infamous) across the nation as a result of his jaw-breaking English grammar; in Oredo politics however, Omorede Osifo is perceived to be far more popular and acceptable among the people than the grammar-inventing Obahiagbon. Aside this, Obahiagbon wanted to be seen as the defacto APC political leader in Oredo, therefore Omorede’s charisma and popularity is said to be a huge threat to his ambition. Hence, the ‘Operation Destroy Omorede-Osifo-at-all-cost.’ This ‘battle’, according to insiders, had occasioned Hon.Obahiagbon to constantly blackmail Hon, Osifo before Gov Oshiomole severally and had on many occasions blocked her tactically on crucial issues relating to her job as a commissioner, just to incapacitate her politically.

What appears to be most painful to Omorede’s followers was the fact that, the termination of her appointment came on the very day the highly-respected Oba of Benin bestowed on her the much -coveted Royal Bead. A section of these followers viewed the whole saga as an affront on the personality of Benin Monarch by Gov Oshiomole. That is, the Governor calculatedly dis-honoured a woman honoured by the King.

Though another Commissioner has been sworn-in in lieu of Omorede Osifo, it is however certain, that despite the unexpected sack, her reputation as a charismatic woman leader remains intact and might even swell her to greater heights than that of commissionership.