₦airaland Forum

OJELEABI’S ETI-OSA GAMBIT: HOW ONE MAN’S MISADVENTURE THREATENS APC’S 2027 VICTORY IN LAGOS

The Concerned APC Stakeholders of Eti-Osa Constituency I are sounding the alarm: the conduct of Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, is fast becoming the single greatest threat to party cohesion ahead of 2027. The ongoing fiasco in Eti-Osa I exposes a dangerous pattern of constitutional abuse and personal interference that, if unchecked, will fracture the APC from within.

The facts are not in dispute. Across the three LGAs/LCDAs and 13 Wards of Eti-Osa I, APC leaders and members reached a unanimous consensus to return Hon. Noheem Babatunde Adams, the incumbent Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, as our flag bearer. That consensus was validated at the primaries, where Hon. Adams crushed his rival with 7,638 votes to 1,225 — a resounding endorsement from the grassroots.

Yet in a move that tramples on party supremacy and the APC constitution, Pastor Ojelabi has published the loser of that contest on the House of Assembly nominees’ list. This is not error; it is sabotage. Hon. Adams embodies the leadership, legislative competence, and grassroots mobilization the APC needs to consolidate its hold on Eti-Osa and Lagos in 2027. To substitute him is to gift the opposition an open goal.

Eti-Osa I is not an isolated case. Under Ojelabi’s watch, the Lagos APC primaries have been riddled with protests, accusations of imposition, and open disregard for due process. The message to the base is unmistakable: merit and mandate no longer matter, only backroom deals do.

Let this serve as final warning: any attempt to steal the Eti-Osa I mandate from Hon. Noheem Adams will ignite a revolt at the polls. The people of Eti-Osa built this party, and they will not stand idly by while self-serving operatives impose an untested candidate against their will.

We therefore call on the APC National Working Committee, the party’s leadership, and His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to act swiftly. Correct this anomaly now. Respect the party’s constitution and the verdict of Eti-Osa I, or watch the APC pay the price in 2027.

OLA WESTERN SWEEPS APC PRIMARY IN AMUWO-ODFIN CONSTITUENCY I IN LANDSLIDE VICTORY

Hon. Folorunso Ola Western has emerged victorious in the just concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election to determine the party’s candidate for the 2027 Lagos State House of Assembly race in Amuwo-Odofin Constituency I. The result, as announced by the returning officer at the collation center, recorded a landslide win for Hon. Western with 3, 161 votes, out of a total of 3, 303 votes, overwhelmingly beating all other aspirants.

The resounding outcome further affirms the earlier unanimous endorsement of Hon. Ola Western by APC leaders and stakeholders across Amuwo-Odofin Constituency I. Party faithful described the victory as a direct reflection of his deep grassroots appeal, consistent community engagement, and unwavering loyalty to the APC family.

With this mandate, Hon. Ola Western now flies the APC flag into the 2027 general elections. The overwhelming support from delegates signals strong confidence in his ability to represent Amuwo-Odofin Constituency I with service, experience, and results at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

NATIONWIDE PROTEST: HON OLA WESTERN SUES FOR PEACE

Following the plan to embark on nationwide protest by some civil society groups, grassroots leader and philanthropist in Amuwo-Odofin Local government area of Lagos state, Hon Folorunso Ola Western has joined his voice to the call for peace and dialogue.
In his "peace for national development" message to civil society organizations in Amuwo-Odofin LGA, Hon Ola Western pleaded with organizers of the planned protest to allow reason prevail, stating that it is only in times of peace that we can actually experience the development we so desire. The grassroots leader also listed some of the achievements of both the state and federal governments as reasons why a little more patience should be exercised to drive home the gains of the governments' policies. He noted that "today's Lagos has a functional rail system in addition to its BRT bus scheme which subsidize transport, pays N70, 000 as minimum wage before it was made official by the federal government and owes no salary, operates Lagos Kitchen for the most vulnerable, discount food stuff markets across the states, and Lagos ranks the 19th city in the global liveability index for 2024.

At the federal level, Hon Ola Western noted that the students loan scheme, consumer credit scheme, raising minimum wage by over 100% with a three-year review plan, conditional cash transfer, and local government autonomy to bring development faster to the grassroots, are some of the achievements to consider. It should be recollected that local and international experts have long predicted this day of doom and hardship, it will take a courageous government to take the bold step of turning the tides.

According to him, Tinubu is a listening president and has heard the complaints of the citizens, and he should be the busiest president in the world right now, knowing how dare he holds this country. We need to give peace a chance, and embrace dialogue. Nigeria is our collective heritage, protecting it is our collective responsibility, he said.

WHAT IT MEANS TO CALL FOR A PROTEST TO START A REVOLUTION

Yes, Nigerian government, this and the ones before it, but particularly this one, have failed Nigerians. The conditions of human life in Nigeria have never been as bad as they are right now. The country is on the verge of another civil war, that is if one fails to admit that war is already ongoing on many fronts. We admit that a radical solution is needed for Nigeria to move forward in any positive direction.

However, to believe that you can call for a protest "to start a revolution" is an exercise in naivete or a plain self-deception. Yes, the people have a right to protest and to express grievances against government. And indeed, such mass expressions of grievances may trigger or spin off into a revolution so to speak. But to declare ahead of time that your protest was for the purpose of initiating a revolution is highly unusual and effectively self-defeating.

Revolutions are hardly ever planned on any specific date, otherwise any such plan will be treasonable at the outset. Regardless of what normally happens when and if a revolution has succeeded, the focus now is on what happens to a revolution that has not succeeded or which is just at the stage of social media declaration. The regime it seeks to oust will crush it, or at least try to do so.

If we are to be realistic, to plan a revolution against the current regime is to do one of two things - to either invite the Executive and Legislative arms of Government to abdicate, i.e. to pack and go home and for at least a yet to be defined interim revolutionary administration to take over, or to invite the current Government to fight for self-preservation (law and order, as they call it). The Government will fight to crush such revolution. No government in human history has voluntarily succumbed to a threatened revolution.

Some naive minds have adverted with hubris to recent similar 'revolutions' in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Venezuela. But in truth, nobody in his right mind will want the fates of these countries for Nigeria. That will be worse than what we have at the moment.

Protests should be held for the purpose of pressuring the government to change its ways, but not for the purpose of a revolution which brings about a total collapse of government. It is foolish and unwise to live in such unsophisticated illusions and fantasies.

What do you really think will happen if after series of protests (like in Sudan, for instance) the Buhari Administration collapses? That will not install Atiku. That will not remove the Governors. On the contrary, that will result in massive anarchy and uncontrollable violence. In that state, the only organized group with the capacity to impose itself is Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa. They will not disarm. The herdsmen will not disarm. Even if the Nigerian army disintegrates, they will not disarm. All those who have stockpiled weapons in anticipation of a situation like that will deploy their weapons. Then you will have uncontrollable violence on a scale never seen in history.

The fact that Sowore would leverage his social media assets to call for a protest for the purpose of a revolution is an indication that he lacks crucial knowledge of history, social sciences and human nature. Indeed, what is on display is just an unbridled play for attention and publicity.

Having said this much, should the DSS have arrested Sowore? No, they shouldn't. They should have known that was exactly what Sowore wanted to happen. Yes, a case of treason could be made out at least theoretically. But, sometimes, wisdom and power lies more in what you did not do rather than in what you did. Withholding action on Sowore would have been eminently wise. Arresting him for a fictional revolution is to make him popular. Just as the arrest and detention of Nnandi Kanu helped to transform IPOB into a cause celebre, arresting Sowore will create the false impression that there was a revolution that needed to be stopped, and that Sowore was the leader of such revolution. That is: the arrest turns Sowore into a revolutionary over night. The only cause such arrest will end up promoting is Sowore's cause which is an enhanced visibility and better outing for his party come 2023. The irony of it is that what Sowore wants is not the collapse which a revolution could bring about, but the sustaining of the status quo with assured better election outcome in 2023.

We conclude as we started. We want fundamental changes in the Nigerian polity, with emphasis on improving dramatically the quality of life, justice, equity and fairness for the average Nigerians. However, we doubt that the call for revolution in itself will meet our expectations of these ideals. On the contrary, we believe it will exacerbate tensions and chaos and precipitate wars on levels yet to be experienced in this country.

We therefore call for a critical analysis of the situation on ground.

CHELSEA BACK TO PRE-2003 STATUS?

The Abrahamovich revolution which took Chelsea Football Club from the doldrums, lifting it from an average club to an elite Europe super power status, with accompanying countless laurels gracing their gallery, appears to be on the bring of retarding. It may be too early to draw conclusions, but the signs are ominous.

Much of the successes could be adduced to the passion for Chelsea and football that is synonymous with the penultimate half-Jewish Russian owner. To Abrahamovich, Chelsea was not just an investment, it was a passion, and that passion kick-started Chelsea in 2003, after a 50-year quietude. Can we say so of the new owner?

Right or wrong, I see Bhoely as one of those "mere investors" in football. Premier league has a number of them. Those that lack the ambition to hit the top. They are content with merely being in the league (by avoiding relegation), only to be beneficiaries of the largese from FA and endorsement money. No passion for success ( which even brings the highest returns).

Chelsea's new owner has already displayed two conspicuous gaffes in his short reign ---- a lack of passion to equip the club in the various field positions it needs to strengthen, and the sacking of Tuchel. The first point, I have already touched upon. Hastily sacking Tuchel is, to me, not the ideal response to Chelsea's current form. TT is a rated coach. He has to his credit several domestic titles, he is about the only coach who has taken two different clubs to the Champions League final, back-to-back, and winning one of them. He gave Chelsea 2 very important continental trophies and a global trophy, all under 2 seasons. His tactics and philosophy to football are well respected by equally well respected coaches. Why the rush to sack him? What is even the point especially when you are considering the options of lesser coaches (no insult intended) to replace him?

Chelsea started a build up from Frank Lampard's era. It is within this same period that Tuchel marveled the world with that new team. The team is still building, and with the coming of new boys this season, time is needed to blend. How can you sack a coach as Tuchel before half season? For every sack under Abrahamovich, the reasons are very clear, and we see the results of his decisions.

Until Bhoely proofs otherwise with his next few steps, he will be seen as just one of those investors in the game of footbal. If that is so, then we may see Chelsea FC back to the pre-2003 status. An average team. Fans brace up.

Yemi Samuel is a sports enthusiast.