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By Lukman Olabiyi
A former Lagos lawmaker, Ipoola Omisore, has said that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, deserves credit for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory at the February 25 poll.
Omisore, who represented Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency II for two terms, disclosed that the Obasa was among the critical stakeholders who used their resources, influence and time to pave the way for Tinubu’s victory at the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential primaries and the general election.
The former lawmaker, who is also an advertising guru, made the revelation while chatting with journalists on his exploits as a marketing communication practitioner and politician.
Omisore, who will be celebrating his 75th birthday this weekend, eulogised Obasa who was recently re-elected as the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly for the third term.
He said Obasa’s election as a Speaker for 10th Assembly did not come as a surprise to some of them who knew him very well. He noted that his antecedents, including loyalty to the party (APC), and to President Tinubu as well as his contributions to the development of the state were enough to have given him the position for the third consecutive time.
“Obasa is a politician I respect so much. He has done well for the development of the state and his constituency. He has also done well to reward his master, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I could still remember how he initiated the idea of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Foundation (BAT Foundation). He sought advice from every stakeholder, including myself on how to go about it. And we are the first to fly the kite of Tinubu’s presidential ambition. The BAT Foundation, which I happen to be the Director-General, was solely funded by Obasa, before the Foundation was merged with other pro Tinubu’s campaign groups. Before other campaign groups were instituted, the BAT Foundation had already done lots of public relations work across the country, and all these efforts wetted the ground for the pro-Tinubu campaign groups.
“So, whoever is crediting people for Tinubu’s victory at the poll should not forget Obasa. He spent his money, and brought a secretariat, and I as the Director General of the campaign went on with all sorts of philanthropic acts, such as donations to the needy, skills acquisition programme, and youth empowerment among others. We did all these in and outside Lagos to ensure that things went well. His loyalty to Tinubu is 100 per cent. I could remember that initially, he wanted to contest for a senate seat, but immediately he read the body language of his master, he quickly adjusted.
“There are lessons to be learnt in politics. A fool cannot mentor a wise man. Only a wise man can mentor a subordinate because they see farther than them. He was precise about Tinubu’s ambition. He said Tinubu’s presidential dream remains his target. So, I’m not surprised he is progressing. If you ask him the secret, he may not know but most of us who see him as an ally, know. Once more, his wisdom has, however, helped him maintain a top post in politics, and I pray he keeps the good work going in the state and his constituency,” he said.
