Although, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the former Governor of Lagos State and national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), may not have officially declare his interest to contest the presidential election come 2023, but various individuals, groups and sections have already been persuading him to throw his hat in the ring for the most number one office in the country.
One of such individual and group are Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and representative of the Ikorodu Constituency l, and his political operational group, Onward Movement, both of whom have declared their support for Tinubu’s 2023 Presidential ambition, stating that they will join others to embark on a sustained campaign to urge the revered politician to declare his intention for the number one seat in the country.
Hon. Agunbiade and his team made this declaration at the 2021 Onward Movement of Nigeria special thanksgiving ceremony held at his constituency office situated along Obafemi Awolowo Way, Grammar School, Oke – Ota Ona, Ikorodu on Saturday, February 27, 2021.
The event, which was attended by hundreds of Onward Movement across the Ikorodu Constituency l as well as chieftains and members of APC, was an annual outing during which Hon. Agunbiade and his group offer heartfelt praise and appreciation to God for His unending love, protection and support over the year.
Indeed, the praise and appreciation offered to God at this year’s edition of the event was special and heartfelt, considering the grace and protection extended to Hon. Agunbiade, his family and members of his team during the #EndSARS protest when a crowd of hoodlums attacked the lawmaker’s houses and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
Like the previous editions, the event featured praise and worship session during which the ranking lawmaker and members of the Onward Movement danced and sang various praise songs to thank God for His grace over the group in 2020.
On ground to lead the Hon. Agunbiade and his team in praising God were several gospel and lslamic singers which included Funmi Black, Adeola Oyefeso, Imam Alli Cisse among other.
It was not all about singing and dancing as there were also more than enough local and foreign delicacies and assorted drinks for those at the event.
Meanwhile, Hon. Agunbiade, in his address, said that his support for Tinubu is based on his ability and capacity to lead and administer the country.
“Part of the reasons we are here today is to openly express our support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to become President come 2023”, Hon. Agunbiade said while addressing members of the APC and guests.
“I told many people that we are supporting Bola Tinubu for President not because he is a Yoruba man and a former Governor of Lagos State, but because he is an outstanding individual who has not signified his intention but we are the ones calling on him to declare for the race.
“All over the country, Tinubu is an outstanding political figure who is capable of running the country. He governed Lagos and placed the state on the path of greatness and the development that we are witnessing today.
“We are calling on him to step into the race and contest for the presidency.
“We will continue to urge and encourage him to declare for the race and we will not rest until Bola Tinubu accepts our calls to contest for the presidency”.
While stating that the campaign is not a political patronage, Agunbiade added that what they are doing is a declaration of support for their political leader who has the capacity to liberate the country and bring prosperity to many.
“It is in Tinubu’s candidature that there is liberation and prosperity for many Nigerians. We have seen what he is capable of doing as the Governor of Lagos State and what he is doing politically as a leader”, the lawmaker said.
“This is not a political patronage. He is our party leader and we appreciate him and urging him to contest because he is capable.
“There will still be more of this campaign to urge Tinubu to contest by the grace of God”, he declared.
More so, Hon. Agunbiade disclosed that the Onward Movement has been restructured for better performance and to serve members and the community better, while also announcing the donation of a separate structure within his constituency office as onward administrative building for effective operation of the movement and separate it from the constituency office’s operations.
“We have sat down to review the onward structure and repositioned it for better performance. About ten of us deliberated on the changes for about two weeks and we have been able to restructure the organization”, Hon. Agunbiade announced.
“Some of those that are in our ladies wing before had to be moved to the women wing because they cannot longer be ladies because of their current status. Also, those that also said that they are still youths have also been moved to the men’s wing.
“We have also fortified our welfare because it is important that we do that. We have ensured that we are capable of managing that office.
“We have created so many Directorates like the Directorate for Empowerment that will look after people having challenges with their businesses.
“All that we have done is not based on any sentiment. The situation demands that we rejig the structure and those that will be there are not going to stay in office forever. After a while, we will look at the performances of those that we have picked and change if necessary”.
The Onward Convener, while announcing officers of the group, said that the Coordinator- General, Hon. Azeez Olosugbo, and his deputy, Mrs Omolara Abayomi, will be retaining their positions because they have proven themselves.
“For the position of the Coordinator – General, there is a consensus that we should retain Hon. Azeez Jimoh Olosugbo because he has been effective and consistent in his duty. The announcement elicited loud shout of approval from members present.
“We are also retaining the Deputy Coordinator – General, Mrs Abayomi Omolara, to continue in that capacity.
“Henceforth, we are no longer going to have a Secretary but Director of Administration and the person who will man the position is Elder Olu Omoniyi from Ikorodu North LCDA.
Other positions announced were Deputy Director of Administration (Ibrahim Akintayo), Director of Media & Publicity (Dare Odufowokan), Director of Finance (Pelumi Olamilekan), Director of Welfare & Social (Bola Shobowale, Director of Education & Sports (Pastor Akeem Bello), Director of Projects & Community Services (Agunbiade Jelili) and Director of Entrepreneur & Empowerment (Samson Soneye).
Others were Women Unit Captain (Comrade Kehinde Okeowo), Deputy Captain Women Unit (Mrs Sanni Nosimot), Captain Utility (Abbey Balogun), Captain Sisters’ Unit (Joy Osesile), Secretary and Sisters’ Unit , Arin Okeowo among others
Also, the trio of Murphy Ajalogun, Wale Olowolagba and Hon. Sikiru were announced as Onward Coordinators for Ikorodu LG, Ikorodu North LCDA and Ikorodu West LCDA respectively.
He said that members of all the Directorates whose officers have been announced will be constituted and released later.
“Your task is to ensure that the Onward Movement is re-organized and repositioned for greatness. We want to see that love and cooperation prevailing among our members.
“Our number should be our strength if we can purposely harness it with love and cooperation. I beg of you to work together.
“We want you to prove your ability that you can work wherever you are assigned to. We are going to do your induction soon during which there is going to be an enlightenment programme to know what is expected of you to move onward forward.
“Onward is not entirely a political organization, we created the platform for people to work together and chart common courses for development”, he said.
Also in attendance at this year’s event were political office holders, political leaders, corporate executives, market leaders, media and others invitees.