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As the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) kicks off across the country this month, stakeholders, most especially the youth in the Eti-Osa Constituency II Lagos, have protested against the re-election bid of Hon. Yishawu Olusegun Gbolahan into the State House of Assembly.
The youth, who staged a peaceful protest over the weekend around Obalende-Ikoyi axis, accused Hon. Gbolahan of under-representation and sit-tight syndrome.
Gbolahan, a 4th term member of the Assembly, has spent 16 years in the House and he’s already campaigning to be re-elected for another term.
The youth bearing placards with inscriptions such as “We Say No To Yishawu’s 5th term”, “No To Sit Tight Leaders” and “16 Years Is Enough. Yishawu Must Go!” called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other party leaders at both national and state levels to hearken to their demand for change.
Speaking during the protest, a youth leader in the constituency, Peter Chukwuma Eze shed more lights on why they took to the streets.
“We are here to protest against the sit tight spirit of Hon. Yishawu Gbolahan. He has been in the Lagos State House of Assembly for the past 16 years, and he wants to go back for a 5th term making a total of 20 years. We say no to this and we want our fathers and leaders to hear and listen to our voices. We are sick and tired of Hon. Yishawu’s under-representation and for not speaking adequately on behalf of the youth in the constituency. Therefore, we don’t want him to represent us any longer.
“We need a fresh face with fresh ideas. We need a new person who we can trust. We want a man we can see and relate with, and that person is Dr. Ayodeji Martin Laurent popularly known as Cora.Ayodeji is somebody who has been there for us. Even though, he’s not yet a member of the Assembly, he has been doing a lot for the people in this constituency. We want him to replace Hon. Yishawu Gbolahan because we believe he can do better if he gets to the House,” he stated
Asked why they allowed Hon. Yishawu to stay for so long in the House if he’s not performing, Eze said they have been tolerating him but now his time is up.
“We have tolerated Hon. Yishawu for 16 years and that’s enough. Now, we want change because we are under-represented. Hon. Yishawu only organsises what can be described as ‘kangaroo empowerment’, which does not go around. We only see his impact when elections are around the corner.
“Now, we have a new man – Dr. Ayodeji Martin Laurent who will empower the people to the fullestif he gets to the House. In this constituency, we have widows who need support. We have youth who need jobs. We believe Dr. Laurent is in a better position to alleviate our suffering and change the narrative,” the youth leader stressed.
Another member of the youth forum, Daisi Owomoyela, a musician, also accused Hon. Yishawu of under-performance and called on President Tinubu and APC apex leaders to support their request.
In his words: “Hon. Yishawu has been in the House for 16 years but we’re not feeling his impact enough, yet he wants to go for another term, making it 20 years that he has been there. Is the Assembly position hereditary? Or is it a monarchy? We are in a democracy and we believe 16 years is enough for one person. We need a fresh face to represent us, and that person is Dr. Ayodeji Martin Laurent. We believe greatly in him.”
For Jerry Ebediare, change is the only thing that can bring progress in any society. “We need a change in this constituency if we are to move forward. Sixteen years is enough for one man. We want someone else to represent us. We want change because we can’t keep on doing the same thing the same way and expect a better result,” he said.
Ebediare urged President Tinubu and other party leaders to support their choice, Dr. Ayodeji Laurent, adding that the man is their choice because of his antecedent and records.
“Majority of us believe in Ayodeji because we are convinced he has something better to offer in terms of youth empowerment, scholarships, and care for the aged and widows.”
