Agbaje visits Bariga, as Oba laments electoral rigging

The Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, took his campaigns to Bariga, whose paramount ruler bemoaned the politician’s past failed attempts and described him as a victim of serial electoral manipulations.

His Royal Majesty, Oba Gbolahan Barudeen Timson, Jagunmolu 3 of Shomolu-Bariga, who received Agbaje in his palace, recalled that in 2015, celebrations and rejoicing had broken out on the streets of Bariga by residents who were confident that results at their disposal recorded victory for the PDP candidate.

In the words of Oba Timson, “Some will win election and the result will be given to another person. In the 2015 election, my people trooped out to dance when they saw the result of the election that it favoured PDP. Suddenly, the results were changed. When election is conducted and another thing is announced, then this country has problems.”

With Agbaje was his Running Mate, Mrs. Haleemat Oluwayemisi Busari, and PDP Trustee, Chief (Mrs.) Aduke Maina.

They would later visit the Adaranijo Central Mosque, at Pedro area of Bariga, and met with Muslim clerics under the Chief Imam, Alhaji Ishaq Olohuniyo.

At the palace, the Monarch urged PDP and the authorities to tackle the matter of rigging and electoral manipulation in Nigeria as it was an albatross on the country’s democracy and economy.

He said: “It is not as if JK did not win victory in an election before. But his victory was diverted. I salute your tenacity. Everybody knows that Agbaje is loved in Lagos State.

“Before he died, Chief Obafemi Awolowo told us that many of us alive then would not see true democracy until we died. Now his words have proved prophetic.”

According to Oba Timson, time had come for Lagos to experience something new in the area of leadership.

Positing that Agbaje represented a new deal for Lagos, the Monarch ordered clerics of the dominant religions present, Traditional, Muslim and Christianity, to say prayers for JK.

Dismissing the anti-corruption stance of the current regime, Oba Gbolahan pointed out the contradictions in “corrupt people in prison suddenly being declared clean upon switching allegiance and membership to the ruling party.”

He said that any government that embarked on a fight against corruption and neglected other areas of the citizens’ welfare could boast of no achievement.

“Any government that makes the sole pillar of its existence on hunting for corrupt people will not achieve much. Is anti-corruption what will provide food and rice on the table?” the Oba wondered.

The PDP candidate said that Oba Timson and his own family had come a long way as close acquaintances.

“No one has spoken from the heart like Kabiyesi has spoken today, and he has not spoken wrong. We need people who will speak truth to power,” Agbaje said. “This comes without any surprise because over the years Kabiyesi has been the conscience of the society and those around him.”

Highlighting his programmes, Agbaje told those who gathered at the palace and later at the Adaranijo Central Mosque that he would restore the glory of public schools, and they would be upgraded to a level that would make them the envy of private ones.

He also spoke on his plans for a health insurance policy that would transfer the burden of hospital bills from the citizens to the government.

Mrs. Busari said she never knew Agbaje until the offer to be his Running Mate was made to her, asking her fellow Muslims to pray for their success.

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