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With the virtual endorsement of Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola for a second term by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a fresh battle for the office of deputy governor has kicked off in earnest.
Sources checks revealed that the struggle for the slot has resulted in the emergence of no fewer than four groups scrambling to produce Fashola’s running mate in the 2011 general election.
The battle is predicated on insinuations that the performance of the incumbent deputy governor, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, has not been satisfactory to the leadership of the party.
She was accused of mismanaging the school renovation project under her watch and is currently being probed by the state House of Assembly.
Of the emerging four groups, We learnt that the camp of the governorship candidate of ACN in Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, known as The Mandate Group, is positioning the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire, for the office.
[b]The group is said to be looking beyond 2011 and thus positioning the ex-University of Lagos lecturer to take over the mantle of the leadership of the state come 2015 after Fashola would have served out his tenure.
However, this has prompted the emergence of the second group, a Christian body, which has vowed to vehemently resist the emergence of a Muslim/Muslim ticket.
This group, according to a source, comprises some officials in the current government of Fashola who have begun to reach out to other Christian leaders outside the government to join forces with them in their determination to defeat the agenda for a Muslim/Muslim ticket.
It was learnt that the move has gained much ground outside the state government to the extent that some notable pastors have been dragged into the fray.
The Christian group, it was learnt, has argued that if it has opted to support a Muslim candidate for the office of the governor without reservations, it will only be fair for the leadership of ACN to compensate the Christian circle with the office of the deputy governor.
But Muslim politicians sympathetic to Banire have argued that religion should not be introduced into Lagos politics as it has never been a factor in the history of the state.
In the Second Republic, the governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, and his deputy, Alhaji Rafiu Jafojo, were both Muslims.
The third group is said to be promoting the emergence of the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Ajoke Orelope-Adefulire, as Fashola’s running mate.
The commissioner, who was also a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly during the truncated Third Republic, is claiming to be a Christian though born into a Muslim family. Adefulire is claiming to have been converted to Christianity following her marriage to a Christian.
She is believed to be mobilising chiefs of Awori origin in the state to help her make a strong case for her candidature.[/b]
The last group comprises some traditional rulers from Awori clan where the incumbent deputy governor, Sosan, hails from. An impeccable source told us last night that the monarchs have intensified efforts to ensure the retention of the deputy governor.
The traditional rulers were said to have predicated their agitation on the slogan that “what is good for the goose is also good for the gander,” with argument that if the party has resolved to offer Fashola a return ticket, the only fair thing to do is to equally retain Sosan as his running mate at the next poll.
To show the extent of the monarch’s commitment to the move for Sosan’s retention, they were said to have petitioned their senior colleague and the Oba of Lagos, Akiolu, to prevail on the party’s leadership to retain their subject as Fashola’s deputy.
Source - THISDAY Newspaper
NIGERIA NEWS

None of these charlatans would emerge. Sosan betrayed BRF by getting sucked in by Tinubu so she is a goner.
Joke cant even express herself well enough but if given the chance she would lobby for Hilary Clinton's position.
Banire ke ? Fashola would not even endorse his being a councillor given the chance, he is one ediot that has been hobnobbing with misogynist groups to kick BRF out with inane promises by BAT that he would replace BRF. . .HOW DELUDED!