Oyo APC 33 LG Chairmen Make Solidarity Visit to Bayo Adelabu

The APC Local Government Chairmen yesterday paid a courtesy visit to Bayo Adelabu, the Oyo State APC candidate in the last election. The party leaders made the visit at the Bayo Adelabu Foundation Hall where they shed light on the way forward to foster unity within the party structure. The Chairman of Lagelu LG, Alh. Raimi Zaria, while speaking appreciated the superb efforts of the party as a whole during the electioneering campaign, he also accentuated the popularity of Penkelemesi before and during the election, but thanked God for the life of Bayo Adelabu for seeing through the period unscathed. He likened his wide acceptance to that of the great Chief MKO Abiola but unfortunately was unable to see through the tough times. He then pleaded with Adelabu to continue his good work in uniting the party and take a good grip of the party structure like he has been known to constantly do. He went a step further to solicit on behalf of his colleagues for Bayo Adelabu's appointment as a Minister of Finance in the next dispensation of the APC government. He maintained that Adelabu is most suited for the office of the Minister as he in pole position for the leadership of the party and also as a minister, he will be in the best position to finance the party and build the strongest footsoldiers to win the battle in 2023.

The Ibadan SouthWest LG Chairman, Mr Aderemi Oni also highlighted the need for crises management and proper handling of rancour within the party. He said Adelabu who is now a leader in the party should also surround himself with people who are politically savvy and who are in tunes with the intrigues in politics.

Bayo Adelabu while speaking thanked them graciously for their kind gesture in coming to pay a courtesy visit to him in his office. He said it was in his structured plan to invite the leaders for a meeting but at the best appropriate time. He thanked them also for having stayed with him since the party primaries into the general election and though the results did not go as planned, he appreciates their efforts nonetheless.

He also used the medium to channel to the party leaders that he is for the party, the APC and he has no other plan of going anywhere else. He also berated the comments from some cynics that he and the governor, Abiola Ajimobi are at loggerheads. Adelabu said their relationship as father and son is even healthier than before and their bond got stronger even after the election loss and he will be forever grateful to him for his candidature in the last election and as a political mentor and role model. Adelabu waxed philosophical when he stated that 'the end will justify the means' on Gov. Ajimobi's impact in Oyo State.

In the end, the chairmen agreed that it was a combination of overconfidence on the part of members and leaders, relying on the popularity of the party and its candidate, as well as electoral fraud and multiple votings that caused our loss. Alhaja Tinuade Adigun of Ibadan North then thanked Bayo Adelabu for his unflinching support for the party and his spirit of sportsmanship during and after the election, she prayed for good things to come the way of Adelabu and the party in general.

The meeting did not end without the  sincere appreciation of the donation of two buses per local government which nobody had ever done before and they promised to maintain the buses very well so it can be useful for the next election. They also affirm their support for Bayo Adelabu candidature come 2023, having been tested to be a popular candidate in the last election. And once the mistakes of the last elections are corrected and genuine reconciliations undertaken, victory is sure in 2023.

Ten Leadership Qualities People Don't Know About Senator Teslim Folarin ||The Grassroots Frontiers

1. TKF is a mythical Atlas that bears the weight of attacks with equanimity.

2. When they say "politics is troublesome', he says, 'only softies fly from trouble spot'.

3. Always prepared for consequences by 'guiding' against all odds.

4. Manages things, lead people.

5. He believes the political power is an opportunity to serve, not opportunism.

6. Always providing the missing link, he is never caught slacked, rather, he picks up others slack.

7. Has uncanny ability to keep his opponents guessing of his next move.

8. He is far sighted, doesn't take a short haul flight.

9. He is not just a part of the arrow, he is the vane.

10. Always on the ball, never wait for the ball to be played to his side.

# I am a TGF member, I endorse TKF for DSP.

Bayo Adelabu Sends Solidarity Greetings to the Electorates and People of Oyo State

 
Good day to you my people.
2019 elections have come and gone. I want to thank you profusely for the uncommon support, morally, financially and spiritually that you showed me during the last Gubernatorial election. I'm eternally grateful and indebted to you and I believe it's only the Almighty Allah that can pay you back and in folds too. Once again, God himself knows the sincerity of our intentions and genuineness of our purpose, so our sacrifices are not in vain, but remain an innocent investment in the desired prosperity of our dear state. Whatever happens to a man is either a blessing or a lesson.

 However in this case, it's both a blessing "in disguise" and a lesson to come out a better and stronger person. Electoral losses, as read in history, have made great leaders come out stronger, better and more successful and never to depress or discourage them. I take solace in the persistence and tenacity of our 357,000 strong genuine voters (which is larger than what ushered in the last three successive governors) and kindness of history and posterity. The devil is in the details like they say,  as a first timer, with 357,000 genuine votes, we remained the single strongest candidate in the 2019 Guber elections claimed to be displaced by the conspiracy or coalition of five other Guber candidates. This also gave out our party as the single strongest and most popular party in the last elections. All these should not go unnoticed and should prepare us better for challenges ahead.

My apology for the delay in reaching out, being close to 40days now after the elections. Like everyone of our supporters, I personally had to struggle for some time to come to terms with the realities of the disappointing results of the election and just returned from a two weeks vacation abroad, where i took some time to rest, spent time with my family and reflected on the way forward. Notwithstanding the shocking and unfavourable outcome of the elections, i still thank the Almighty Allah for seeing us through a well orchestrated electioneering campaign devoid of casualties, which I believe will go down in history as one of the most flamboyant, issue based and all inclusive campaign ever in the history of Oyo state politics. A lot of hitherto politically apathetic and indifferent personalities, showed a lot of active interests and unprecedented supports toward our aspirations to serve our motherland and see to the progress of our dear state, simply for the singular reason of my involvement. Through this, our conscience is clear and our emotions fulfilled for having participated and showed interest in the determination of who runs the affairs of our state. Posterity and history, I believe will be kind to us as having chosen not to ignore the process of choosing those who paddle the canoe of our state to progress. Like they say, the joy of the Olympics is not just in winning medals but in the fulfilment of our participation.

 And I also know that Politics they say is not a 100mtr dash but a marathon which we know always starts with a single step. That heavy and decisive step has been taken through the process of this last election and we wont stop until we reach our desired destination.

While I believe the results came out the way it was destined, the adduced reasons notwithstanding, our party is  collectively convinced that the election was marred by various electoral irregularities and malpractices ranging from front loading of votes to multiple voting cutting across same and multiple polling units, hence the petition submitted at the Tribunal presently being prosecuted and this is left for the Judges to determine.

 Notwithstanding the outcome of the Election petition tribunal, I'm personally of the opinion that we need not be stagnant in our electoral quest and planning for the next election should start in earnest. Our political structures across the state remain intact while our supporters remain undaunted. We intend to keep and maintain these structures and regularly reach out to our fans and supporters who till date are still left gapping wondering why the results came out the way it did. The reflections are all over the state as everywhere seems to be in a state of mourning and no signs of celebrations or jubilations ushering in a popularly elected new government.

 We will be embarking on a "Thank you" visits to all our party members, stakeholders, supporters and fans across the length and breadth of our state to intimate them of our plan going forward. We are still thankful to God that our party still occupies the Federal Govt and the National Exco of our party has assured us of consistent and special support to enable us bounce back being the only state in the South West now in opposition. I also want to let you know that I will soon reach out to you on specific plans, programs and activities in our camp and plead that you should not relent in your support for this cause and very soon, we will reach our destination.

It is worthy of note that one or two lessons have also been learnt and all these will guide our actions and activities going forward.

Thank you and God bless.

Signed

Adebayo A. Adelabu FCA, FCIB

The Meal Mouthed Shittu and the Imaginary "Predators"

Some think differently that they speak differently. The way one speaks is eloquently underscored by the way he feels about the society. Concomitantly, the way you posit your viewpoints, the same manner, the society finds a place for you.

If you cast a glimpse of him, he cuts the image of pietical hypocrisy. You may never imagine his attitude, which to many, is considered nettlesome, can be so hidden under his poker face. WS must have had people like him in mind when he says "appearance can be deceptive". A lawyer he is that should have constitution of the land and all that has to do with it as his guide, but neither cooperative nor constitutive, yet he still needs to be guided by the journalists in the studio on how to interpret the constitution guiding the filing of a case. He alluded to Dapo Abiodun case and he was immediately showed the difference in the merits of the two isolated cases. Shittu claimed to be a graduate with no NYSC certificate to boot, the former only tendered his O level result. The minimum required by law. Ours is a Barrister in a Barista. His approach is not only minimalist but oblique.

He said, he was smarting from the loss of his party in the last governorship elections, but refused to tell us how he could not save his "megida" from receiving same treatment in the last presidential election even in his homestead? Our man "ministering" to us about those people who are not very good to us, to borrow Marcus Aurelius, "never begin to show us example of how to live according to nature".

St Thomas Aquinas reminds us about politics as putting all that is needful for a civilized life, but we have self acclaimed political leaders positing contrary views. They manifest the uncultured aspect of politics. Like a salt calling snow white, the one that interrupted the serenity of the A -rated weekend delight of the listeners in the SW political circuit earlier today stormed the program like an angry northern storm that throws up huge waves to disrupt the stillness of a fine setting. He entered with loads of claptrap which even the gentlemen in the studio found to be unsettling.

He called a leader of the party "ignorant" but failed to show us the divine wisdom, or the shared moral values that separates the wise from the "ignorant".

He spoke on phone with unmistakable air of arrogance. Will he be given another chance as a Minister? Rather than using the opportunity provided to list out some merits of his administration and why he so deserves to be reappointed, he started prating about the "president not being a drunken bull". He unmasked an ignoble instincts that made his communication empire he superintends a clay footed giant that it is. He forgets to know that fortune can be a pretender. She pretends to be nice to those she wants to cheat. Those who she  has given a first opportunity to prove their mettles, she will surely teach how not to search for a second one to create a first impression. Our man is a victim waiting to be had!

He said, somebody held his party on it's jugular and like a wild predator stifled it of much needed air to survive. The wise journalists asked him why he played a proverbial "Nero" when his own Rome was on fire, his rationality fled and couldn't answer right.

The Minister should have learnt by now that when on air, one should be ruled by decorum and be less combative. Some words that are horrible to the hearing are not permissible on air. Calling a sitting governor "predator" is one.

He should get a copy of image concept written by Water Lipman to learn more about image flow and how to control certain stimuli as a lengthened shadow of an organization. He who lives in a glass house should not, in his own case, should stop throwing stones.

We are eagerly waiting for him next Saturday God's willing.

The Road to the Ninth Assembly: What Sets the Agenda? By Isiaka Adeniyi

The political undercurrents that pervades the choice of the leadership to helmsman the Ninth Assembly is getting foggier by the day. It is becoming more difficult to be coded by the uninitiates. Every Herod is trying to outherod other Herods. The game is at it's peak.

Applying a liberal turn of mind, any political observer would have considered the selection of Senator Lawan by the power that be as the final whistle in the field of play where the number one person to lead the next Assembly is to be decided. But it seems to be the reverse as recent events that played out visibly pitch Senator Ndume on the parallel side of Lawan's  consensus arrangements. It was even reported that Ndume called the bluff of the vice president who apparently does not have a vice grip of NASS. Professor Osinbajo had summoned Ndume to a  peace meeting ostensibly to cajole him to accept with equanimity the 'voice of wisdom' to support Lawan's bid. Ndume, reportedly stood his ground. What some observers called nettlesome attitude of the ambitious senator, is   nothing but a common place practice in the field of play to the seasoned political analysts. Afterall, it's a game of interest, alien to common agenda.

The same political chess game repeats itself at the states level where the falcons are refusing to hear the falconers. Discordant tunes now fill the air like pestilence. For example, in Oyo state, a social political group under the aegis of  Itesiwaju Oyo has openly disagreed with the state Governor, Abiola Ajimobi who doubles as the APC leader in the state. The group opined it was morally exceptionabe for the governor to throw his weight behind Hon. Gbajabiamila from Lagos State for the position of speaker, when as the group asserted "Oyo state too can boast of ranking officers who are as well qualified to be the speaker". The fractitous tendency of the group, if care is not taken, may spark another tiff in a party that is just smarting over it's electoral defeats in the last governorship election in the state.

As the gritty tackles continue among the people hunting for juicy positions in the ruling party and other stalwarts, the strategy radically differs in PDP camp which though have comparatively lesser  numerical adantage,  looks more settled and undismayed by the Goebellian antics of the leaders of the ruling party. One thing is however clear, any APC leader playing down the capacity of the PDP senators to rock the boat, is preparing for what Karl Popper called "unwanted consequences".

As things stands, the political beam balance, is apparently tilting in favour of the Senators with strategic planning instinct  and qualitative uniqueness who can muster support from both the PDP and APC camps with relative ease. That's why the name of Senator Teslim Folarin keeps recurring as the most likely candidate to occupy the Deputy Senate President position in the Ninth Assembly. But in politics, as in Ethics, there is no absolutism. Reality itself as philosophers say, is relative to a scheme. What count real in one system may not be in another.

I have once offered perspective on what people should expect in the Ninth Assembly. Obviously, it's not going to be cartwheeled by political godfatherism nor will the influence of their surpine faithfuls make any difference. It's going to be a game of wit. This, to Senator TKF, in his "unencumbered self',  is diving into a familiar  pool.   If the information emanating from the red Chambers is anything to go by ,the position of DSP is  very likely to be zoned to the SW region. The political gladiators gunning for the post of DSP  , except Dr orji Uzor Kalu (Abia)who is recently showing a flicker of interest are all from SW axis . They are , to wit,   Senator ibikunle Amosun,( Ogun) Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos) and Senator Teslim Folarin (Oyo). For some inscrutable but obviously due to his past political experience and strategic reasoning, all eyes swivel in the direction of TKF .

Concerning the Senate and Speakership positions, it will be too  dicey now even for a palmist to predict. As they say here , on the street,  "anything fit happen" Let's wait for the next scene.

9th Assembly, Leadership Tussle and Teslim Folarin as a Panacea By Oluwatobi Adisa

The elections have come and gone, a new season of the National Assembly will be premièred on the 9th of June when the house will be fully inaugurated. The scheming and the calculations have already begun and whoever is, at this point, found slacking probably lacks ambition or is not so ambitious as the case may be. A lot of political shenanigan was employed in the last season's game and as blunt as it sounds, this phase will not be left out of the ploys for the next National Assembly leadership struggle.

It is also pertinent to maintain that zoning will likely be the deciding factor in the arrangement of the commanding seats of the two chambers, however, it will not be the ultimate decider that defines how the seats are won. The zoning factor has set all plays in motion and the actors are already finding their routes to success through consultation, declaration and rallying support from their party leaders, fellow senators and honourables members.

The chips are down: the senate presidents; the deputy senate president; the speaker of the house of representative; deputy speaker of the house; majority and minority leader struggling strenuously to take their positions. We are all apprised with the public declaration of Ahmed Lawan and Gbajabiamila as the party candidates for the Senate President and Speaker of House of Representative, however different individuals are coming up with their own different and preferred candidates for the revered seats.Thats the beauty of democracy.

The Deputy Senate President is also a major concern for its value in keeping top and experienced guns in strategic locations at the same time keeping close tab with everybody in the house and in close conformity with the political intrigues as it unravels. The coveted seat is likely going to be between the southwest candidates of Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and former majority leader of the 6th Assembly, Sen. Teslim Folarin who happens to have gained much momentum in the race for the seat.

Sen. Teslim Folarin I can say without equivocation,  offers something beyond the ordinary eyes as he can be employed to offer his weighty experience from the days of the majority leader of the house and as a former ECOWAS parliamentarian, he has so much, with experience garnered over the years to offer the Ninth Assembly. He can also come to steady the boat and set up a more serene senate with his relationship with the opposition who can often become a pain in the neck of the ruling party members with their volatile and unpredictable gimmicks.

Senator Folarin is a well known strategist who knows his way through the jagged edges, he's a brave politician who can be neglected at one's own peril. His dexterity, techniques and expertise can be engaged in the 9th Assembly to steady the ship of the, yet to sail but cumbersome, National Assembly. This can best be done before the date of elections, June 9 where crucial stakeholders can be engaged and consulted for the best possible interpretation of the whole melodrama and find solutions to the political maelstrom This can also be replicated  in the deputy speakership position of the Federal  House of Representatives.

It compels repeating that  pushing forward TKF, who is already the cynosure of all eyes for DSP position, is not to undermine the meritable conducts, capability and experience of Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, but it is about balancing the tides and the fair spread of leadership of the senate. Bearing in mind that some of the candidates in the executive and legislative arms of government have come from Lagos: vice-president, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo and anointed next speaker of the house of representative, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. Lagos in itself alone cannot lay claim to having in possession to the best brains in the southwest, one of the more reasons to encourage an even spread of the National Assembly leadership in the west.

Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin is a very competent lawmaker who is well accustomed to  all the relative intrigues in the hallowed Chambers and no doubt, his invaluable experience over the years can be imported and deployed  pragmatically to avoid  divisiveness in the Chambers but emplace a peaceful and united National Assembly from it's trenches to the parapet. We must not rush to write our political history in a hurry.

Political Interest and the Burden of Leadership (Pol 102) By Isiaka Kehinde

"What really determines what is in one's interest are considerations of utility to human end" - David Hume.

Leadership, talking in the realm of politics, is not about what a leader must, but what the people want. Democracy is people -centered, and clearly why it's difficult to manage.

When you are a candidate of a big party, you enjoy free services of coteries of courtiers and lackeys who will readily mill around you to wait for the next order. They spritely hiltch inside your car at every slight opportunity you are going out in such a tearing rush. It's always a survival of the fittest as they contest for the seat beside you all in a vain bid to prove how loyal and committed they are to your course which they have embraced as a 'Group interest'. Unfortunately, service may be free, reward like gratitude is a burden.

Like a breach in the wall of a forte, they look for every opportunity to create a hole in your soul and force their way in - sometimes through diabolical means. They are desperate and despair is not in their dictionary so far as your door is not shut out on them. With your cooperation, they thought they already rule your mind. They feel you are happier with them around dancing over you like chocolate all over ice cream. On the contrary, you really don't see them as adding much value, that sounds patronizing but you still neither see them as pesky insects. In your mind, it's a matter of time. You are only appeasing their consciences when it last to flinch their freedom.

Alas, victory knocks and usher you in with those footsoldiers stamping their feet momentarily behind you like a loyal platoon member creeping at the back of a sackless super hero. Conviviality is a just reward for gallantry. You treat them into a lavish dinner, you promise you will offer a good government that they all will be proud of and that you will take cognizance of the public interest - their collective bargaining. But that is the least of what they want.

I repeat, that's not what they want. Let me allude to the work of David Hume again for a clearer perspective on how often people swath personal interest with the cover of public interest. "This problem is further compounded by nature of interest which makes what is in the interest of a person dependent on the particular situation of that person". Mark you they are following you, not for love or lack of something more worthwhile to do, but thinking your interest, once met, is a clear path to the advancement of their own. Here lies the danger! How do we add conflicting and disparate individual interest to form a whole?

The most galling aspect is that they have a dream often bigger than their individual worth. The self-styled social media warlord, doing photo ops with laughable captions, think he is best suited for your PRO position.  The never do well party chairman considers himself tailor made for the position of a chief of staff. They begin to  sing discordant tunes and scramble for position in the like manner they jostled for the front seat during the campaigns. They suddenly became pugnacious and arrogant telling you how  much they suffered for your ambition not to suffer. Even the jobless and wooly headed amongst them would remind you how many times he escaped death following your motorcade in the thick bushes and lonely path as your local body guard. Why couldn't he merit the CSO position?

Paradoxically, the real Eggheads, to whom those juicy positions are naturally made because of their God given talents and native intelligence are far away from your mind. And they don't seek, they are sought.

Another great philosopher of our own time and clime, A.B Ekanola lent his voice, a food for  thought - "when people are considered as individuals with distinct peculiarities, they are likely to have interests that are distinct from and even contrary to those of the public".

The question now is, which comes first, the personal interest of the political hangers on or the public interest?  This - I must say - is the point where political powers entrap those who have it. And of of course when a leader needs to turn on the lights on his mind. Should a political leader adopt the doctrine of equality and just desert or reward his followers based on their contribution to his electoral victory?
Only for thinkers, not wailers please.

Folarin For DSP, Putting The Record Straight By Akintunde Yusuf

THE NINTH Assembly leadership game have started in full throttle. It's already raising a lots of dust that is yet to settle and clear the fog blocking visibility of many political pundits who may be palavered into misreading the game. One thing is however clear and clean as a glass, beyond the sabre rattling and brazen faced arrogance of the leadership and top echelons in APC and PDP,  the game will be determined and dusted by the lawmakers themselves albeit the power blocks would try to head hunt and route for their own favourites, effect will surely be minimal.

AS HARROLD Laswel put, politics is a game of influence , 'Who gets what, when and how'.  What is however befuddling, even to the political analysts is the question on why attention is shifting from who gets the Senate President seat in this Ninth Assembly leadership game to who clinches  the DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT.

WHO CONTROLS the ring? Sen. Teslim Kolawole Folarin of APC and Senator representing  Oyo Central Senatorial District and Sen. Oluremi Tinubu of Lagos Central Senatorial District are the two prominent name that keeps ringing the doorbell of every South Westerners. The duo, according to political analysts, are very much qualified for that exalted position. While Sen. Remi Tinubu will play her game alongside the strength of the highly referred APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and who happens to be her husband, Sen. Folarin will be making use of his hatful political experience as the Senate Leader of the Sixth Assembly and as a former ECOWAS Parliamentarian. It's too obvious for a new emphasis that TKF is  master strategist when it comes to power game and it's appurtenances.

SEN.TESLIM Folarin, a perspicacious and astute politician is known for keeping people guessing what his next political moves will be. He is always on the card. He keeps a poker face in the game and will hide his Trump card until the final whistle is blown. In his weakness, many political watchers, admit, lies strength. Despite odds and obstacles that arrayed against him in the last election, he surprisingly shocked the bookmakers, by winning the game even under a party that not a few people considered as his  "uncharted territory" .

THE PERTINENT question people are asking now is "will TKF deploy the same indomitable spirit and political sagacity to emerge as the next DSP in the Ninth Assembly or keep his strategies on hold to help others hold on to theirs? Time, as they say, will surely tell. But, in the meantime,  many people, including the lawmakers that know him well perceive TKF as a superior fighter who wins not by his heavy fists but by controlling the ring. Let's watch how far he can go this time as the new game beckons.

APC Ona-Ara Youth Wing Gives Ultimatum to APC Leaders to Release Drogba from Prison

The Ona-Ara Youths Wing of the ruling party, APC has given a stern warning to the leaders of the party to find a speedy solution to the condemnation that Mr Olawuyi Dipo aka Drogba from ward 2, Ona-Ara LG has received since his arrest after the elections on March 9, 2019.

The youths wing gathered that the party leaders and particularly the chairmen in Ona-Ara LG and Inukan LCDA have neglected and condemned him to the four walls of the prison. The youths have since come together to make known their grievances and sadness over how the Drogba case has been handled since his unfortunate arrest.

They have reached a resolution to inform Hon. Bayo Esuola, state committee member on Health who is also from ward 2, the LG and LCDA chairmen, Hon. Aderemi Ogundele and Hon. Lanre Saheed Adeshina (Solution) along with other major stakeholders of the party to do the needful to salvage the total collapse of the party and avoid the mob action of the youths in Ona-Ara LG.

They further expressed their sadness over the treatment of the youths by the leaders altogether and they also call for the quick intervention from the party's National Assembly elect duo of Sen. Teslim Folarin and Hon. Akin Alabi as well on the matter.

The Grassroots Frontiers, Oyo State, Rallies Support for Teslim Folarin as the 9th Senate DSP

A social political group under the aegis of The Grassroots Frontiers (TGF) have called on the newly elected Senators to go out a whole hog in appointing only leaders of immense credibility who are politically adept and full of experience to steer it's sheep in the Ninth Assembly.

Rising from it's emergency meeting in  Ibadan yesterday, the group, in a release signed by it's Secretary, Comrade Akintunde Yussuf, unanimously endorsed the former Majority leader in the Sixth Assembly, Senator Teslim Folarin, who it describes as the Senate  treasure, as being the tailor made for the position of Deputy Senate President in the Ninth Assembly.

Comrade Akintunde, reading this group communique said, "the new crop of the elected Senators should distinguish themselves by closing doors on the external forces who are already making some clandestine moves to appease the conscience of some senators and take away their freedom". He added "Any attempt by the NASS to kow tow to any influence from outside to impose leaders on it will paint  the Chambers in a bad tar because, it is evolved to pursue public interest and not the interest of any individual or class".

The TGF therefore advised that for the Ninth Assembly to reclaim it's glory as the treasure base of the nation, it needs to put a square peg in a square hole by choosing a tested and truly trusted and sackless leader like Senator Teslim Folarin to be in the vanguard position as DSP, for the red Chambers to realize an endless possibilities.

The TGF also  maintained that "For the  9th Senate to truly once again experience being the Treasure Base of the Nation, it needs a man of granite like Senator Teslim Folarin to take it  to an era of realizing it's  full potentials".

"TKF has been tested and trusted once as a Senate leader and he didn't betray the trust and confidence reposed on him. He is a leader that can be trusted anytime, anyday", the group stressed.

The Deputy Senate President's Position, The Intrigues, The End Game || Isiaka Adeniyi (TGF)

Interestingly, with the political chess game  going on in the Red Chamber, and the number of the cardsharp players trying to outsmart one another in the attempt to corner juicy post, it's sure as shooting that the 9th Assembly is really taking a detour from the past inglorious path in which fortune smiled on some people with 'unmerited gifts".

As the new game beckons, some people  tend to look different and choose to play ostrich, others who look differently than they do are calculating which side of the divides the pendulum will swing.

Those who are playing neutral, want to be on the side of the majority ultimately. It's dirt cheap!

The handwriting on the wall is intelligible and this time, the political pundits are not misreading it. From all indications, the Ninth Assembly will not be a soft touch to any political enfant terrible whose  peremptory calculation is to install a "yes man" against the will of the majority. Senator Bukola Saraki , the ougoing SP was quoted to have cautioned the newly elected senators to remain firm and resolute not to buy a pig in a poke. He adjured them not to be palavered by any external influence into choosing leaders they will live to regret.

History, they say, hate a hyper power. It stands against logic as it is baffling that the present political system has created some rogue elephants who see the country as personal fiefdom that should be run according to their whims and dictate, and later on passed to their political lackeys, scions and minions. But, if the new senators and Reps stand tall in terms of principle and not flow with the inclement tide, the self opinionated category of party leaders who tend to take power as their natural monopoly will be sellshocked as they may end up in the current political power game as a biblical Hamman who is hanged on his own self constructed gallow. The signs are already omnious. Kid you not, they are a victim waiting to be had.

It's however amazing that all eyes seem to be swivelled more on who takes up the position of the Deputy Senate President in the Ninth Assembly. This-i-must-emphasise--is largely due to the palpable interest shown by some external forces outside the hallowed Chamber to influence the choice out of some filial attachment and other self seeking motives that runs analogous to the principles that undergird the assembly. Will the 9th assembly cringe to the goons? This is a million dollars poser that must not be answered in the affirmative, except, we all choose to wait helplessly and see our democracy throttled.

Without gainsaying, covetous position of the DSP is very important to the survival of the Senate and therefore needs to be occupied by a seasoned, cerebral and overtly restless member with special nous and a get up and go mentality that the job demands. Anybody with the interest of the country at heart, in this material time will not rally sentiments to prevail on good reasoning. He who knows the way, for the overall interest of the nation should be allowed to blaze the trail.

As things stand, names of two prominent senators from the South West axis keep flashing the minds of political pundits talking of their moves and swift  calculations to clinch the DSP position, they are both eminently qualified and have some leverage above others to transform their dream into a reality. One is Senator Oluremi Tinubu, a senator representing Lagos Central and wife of the APC national leader and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu. The other, who is no less a man of granite and astute political strategist, is Senator Teslim Folarin (OFR), the Senate Majority Leader in the 6th Senate and former member of the ECOWAS parliament.

As Harold Lasswell rightly said "politics is about the influence and the influential". Who influences what in the composition of the principal officers in the Ninth Assembly has continued to fuel the suspicion of the people, particularly the citizens who are keenly interested in who takes the lead.

Senator Teslim Folarin is no doubt not a tyroo in the game. He blends and bends easily and seem to have a hatful of tacts to play the game. More importantly, he have friends and admirers both in the old and yet to be Assemble that cut across political party divides. He also has the stats of the national assembly on his Palm, knows his agenda and always take the right moves. In summary, he is an action taker and a superior figure to watch .

As the Senate Leader in the 6th Assembly, TKF was a stabilising factor. He deffly managed the PDP caucus, the then ruling party and also demonstrated his God given savvy in managing the floor of the Senate without much Ado. He moved several motions to the admiration of his constituents who daily fawn on him and recently return his good representation with another overwhelming votes in 2019 to continue his good work. Reward for hardwork, a sage says, is more work. It bears repeating that Senator Teslim Folarin is not a one-hit-wonder Senator. Feasible in the imprints he left in the Sixth Assembly are his hard nosed political strategies and tactical moves that saved the ship of the nation at that historic period from hurtling  toward the rapids. An example may suffice here - the motion of the doctrine of necessity which paved way for the then Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan to assume the full role of the president. The rest is history. TKF is simply irreplaceable.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu's I mentioned earlier, is also a force to reckon with in the National Assembly, with the tapestry of power on her side due to the influence and the position of her husband in the party at both local and national level. She is also an easy going person and she has also  sponsored motions particularly those that are gender inclined. She is not a wooly-headed nor a passive senator. In her own right, she is an exemplar. She holds a BSC Degree in Education from the famous University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, and NCE in Botany and Zoology from Adeyemi College of Education.

Will her husband muzzle enough influence in her favour to step up the game and emerge as the next DSP?

The question on the lips of many people regarding how much influence Asiwaju can exact in changing the game to favour Senator Remi Tinubu is "how many ground will Asiwaju break to proof his political prowess?" Given that Asiwaju Tinubu was the only magic hand that picked the Vice president, also routing for his 'anointed"  to emerge as speaker of the House of Representatives, knowing full well that both emerged from the same constituency 1 in Surulere, Lagos.

Asiwaju single handedly nominated Sanwoolu, the Lagos State Governor  Elect and needs no consultation to choose the next Minister that will represent the State. With all these heft of political powers and influences, must DSP also come from his bedroom? People are asking at the same time waiting with bated breath for the answer.

Abundance as Wayne Dyer posits is "not something we acquire, it's something we tune into'. Recent sneaky moves of Asiwaju Tinubu to minify and swallow the Ninth Assembly, some analysts argue, can be  likened to the role played by a character named Pakhom in "How much land does a man need" written by Leo Tolstoy.
A story that snugly illustrates the babrous  insatiable human nature.

In the story, Pakhom is blessed with such humongous power to grab every land, having the power to devour everything within his reach, yet, instead of considering what he has and feel happy, still creating more needs to grab more land to gratify his greed.

One thing is however certain, if the Ninth Assembly applies the doctrine of Equality and Desert in choosing it's leadership according to individual's talents, capacity, experience and accomplishments, the post of the DSP should be given to Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin.

Any other opinion is begging the question.

Signed:
Isiaka Adeniyi
Coordinator
The Grassroot Frontiers