Councilors from 57 Councils Endorse Ikuforiji for Governor

June 18, 2014 – The ambition of the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly,(LAHA) Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, to become next governor come 2015 got a boost on Wednesday when elected councilors from all the 57 local councils: (20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas) in the state threw their weight behind him.

The councilors, including supervisory councilors numbering about 500 and led by Hon. Akeem Sulaimon gave their support at a parley which took place at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium within the Assembly Complex, noting that the speaker has paid his dues and readily fits into the choice needed by the state to continue with the good work being carried out now by the incumbent, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola.

According to the councilors, the enviable height attained by the Lagos Assembly, which has made not a few people to described LAHA as foremost House in the country, has been due to his efforts.

While paying tribute to his legislative and leadership acumen, which has seen him being the longest serving speaker in the country, the councilors noted that the speaker would be a good answer to clamour by Lagosians for continuity in the administration of the state.

The councilors likened him to the River State governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who earlier served two terms of eight year as speaker, saying that Ikuforiji would no doubt bring both his wealth of legislative experience acquired over the years, among other to bear on governance once elected as next governor of Lagos State.

The councilors recalled that years back, they were sadly regarded as mere errand boys, but said they owed it to Ikuforiji the new elevated status they now enjoyed among they peers in the country.

According to them, their status were enhanced through various training and workshops that were facilitated for them by Hon. Ikuforiji both within and outside the country.

The councilors commended the speaker on this among others, saying that such opportunity had enable them make as much reforms and deliver dividends of democracy of their various jurisdictions.

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It was learnt that the councilors had sought the assistance of the House for prompt payment of their severance allowance as they pointed that some of their colleagues in some states of the federation were always paid theirs before they were disengaged.

Responding, the speaker expressed appreciation to the councilors for making their impact felt at the grassroots, pointing out that if it were otherwise, there was no way the efforts of state government would have been appreciated by Lagosians.

Adeyemi, who said that only God crowns his choice for any position, disclosed that he was seeking to take over from Governor Fashola come 2015 not for selfish reason but to genuinely serve the people of Lagos State.

The speaker, who said Lagos was the envy of every well-meaning individual now based on the legacy bequeathed by former Governor Bola Tinubu to Governor Fashola, declared that the state would be more envied.

“Lagos is envied now by all, but they will envy it the more, by the grace of God,” the speaker was quoted to have said, even as he disclosed that he would deplore the training he had acquired over the years combined with the knowledge he acquired from both Tinubu and Fashola to achieve the dreamed height for Lagos State come 2015.