… cites lawmaker’s grassroots strength

Scores of All-Progressives Congress members in Surulere constituency 1 have protested against an alleged plan to impose a candidate on them, stating their unalloyed support for Hon. Desmond Elliott their incumbent representative at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The teeming APC members wielding placards and banners with boldly written inscriptions to drive home their demand on Tuesday staged a walk from the Teslim Balogun Stadium down through Shitta, calling on the party’s leadership to stall the clandestine move.

Some the placards raised by the protesters read; ” Stop playing with our future”, “We Reject Imposition in Surulere”, “Let the People Decide”, “You can’t Force Leadership on the people”.

Others says, “No to imposition”, “Surulere will resist injustice”, “We are not political slaves”, “Democracy not dictation”, “No Godfather can decide for us”, “It is your future, say not to imposition, all is not well in Surulere, don’t be deceived.” “Loyalty is not stupidity, Surulere for one man one vote, Surulere wants true democracy”.

The leader of the protesters Mrs. Alero Asolo a resident and indigene of Surulere stated why Hon. Desmond Elliott needs to be allowed to continue at the state legislature.
“Hon. Desmond is our son, I speak for the older people who are not here with us, he is our brother I speak for his age-group and he is our representative for Surulere constituency 1, I am from ward F3 where he is domiciled.

“According to the mandate for APC he is the grassroot, he knows everybody, he knows who is sick, who has passed, he knows the Christians, he knows the Muslims, he knows who is in need, he knows the community that he needs to work for, we don’t want an imposition in Surulere.

“He is the very grassroot, everybody gathered here we are not gathered for one naira, we are gathered for the works he has done, we know his works for the electricity problems we have in Surulere, we know what he does, we know what he is doing and we know his plans for the future.

“Everyone of us here wants him back, he is a great representation for Christianity, he is the only one the only Christian public office holder we have in Surulere with all the appointees, the elected and he is touching everybody we need him here.

“We didn’t come to fight we are protesting but quietly we are hoping that you hear from us and you hear us well, this is a gathering of people who lives in his constituency in Surulere.”

Other residence who also aired their views on the matter like Mr.
Oludare Khalid and Sekoni Olaiya, all had lot to say about how well Hon. Desmond Elliott has imparted the entire constituency positively thus far, ranging from encouraging youthful participation in sporting activities, supporting the wellness of the young and old, bringing job opportunities for well over 500 constituents.

These and many more are the reasons for which they are making passionate appeal to the party’s leadership, from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu not to sacrifice a good hand on the altar of imposition.

The protesters concluded their walk at the office of the Renewed Hope Coordinator for Surulere Federal Constituency Hon Kabir Lawal fondly called Ceazer.

Lawal commended their peaceful conduct all through the protest while stating categorically nothing like anointed candidate in Surulere yet as their leader Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila has not informed them of such a development.

“There is nothing wrong with showing your grievances when you are not pleased with the way things are done in a democratic setting, protest is allowed which you are doing now.

“I will not want us to have a misrepresentation of what is happening, particularly regarding what you are saying that our leader in Surulere has anointed somebody, to the best of my own knowledge I am not aware of that.

“Our leader in Surulere the Chief of Staff to the President has not yet call us to state the way forward all I know for sure is that if we have not reach consensus that this is the person we want that will necessitate a primary.

“That is the law signed by our President for all of us and I believe those who are our leaders are under him they will not do any thing that will oppose his instruction.

“So, I will urge us to be patient, the mandate I have is to deliver our party’s candidates and Mr President in the forthcoming elections. That being the case we cannot afford to be divided, we must understand ourselves, because for all of you here we cannot afford to lose your votes.”