LAGOS POLITICS: Why Would Gov., Sanwo-Olu Appoint An Igboman-Joe Igbokwe and A Fulani Man-Kabiru Ahmed Commissioners In Lagos?

Sanwo-Olu. Kaniru Ahmed & Joe Igbokwe.

The announcement by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Lagos State, Gboyega Akosile of the 13 more nominees for the post of Commissioners in the state shock most people, especially with two major names that appeared on the list.

The names are those of Mallam Ahmed Kabiru Abdullahi and Chief Joe Igbokwe, who are none indigenes of the state by birth, but are indigenes by living and are Nigerians by all standard, and as expected, people have started talking. 

The politics of Lagos is such that has come of age and in other to remain the role model state, carrying all tribes along has since become imperative, starting from the time of former Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who saw the need to be all encompassing in his dealings with people from other tribes, and initiated what has gradually become a norm as it were in the polity here. 

Truth is, the two individuals whose names were mentioned in that nomination list are men of reputable character in Lagos politics, whose contributions cannot be over emphasized, and has grown through the ranks, playing the local politics of Lagos and today, they have been rewarded for their loyalty and I support the Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on this and his ability to do what is right before man and God for people who deserve to be so honoured.

Joe Igbokwe for instance is a man whom I respect and regard very highly, though I do not share some of his opinions on issues concerning Nigeria, that is not to say I will stand in his way as an Igboman when his time of rewards come, for he had stood for what he believed in and for several years, paid the prize through criticisms, attacks and so what, but stood his ground and today, he is conquering with rewards for his loyalty coming from the party he worked very hard for and over the years, refused to betray, and now, the ends are sincerely justifying the means.

A consistent believer in the progressives, and a firm supporter of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political structures and initiatives, one who has stayed true to himself and what he stands for.

Kabiru Ahmed is currently the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, LSWRC, while Joe Igbokwe has been the Publicity Secretary the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and now of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos.

Mallam Ahmed Kabiru Abdullahi who is an architect by training was born and bred in Agege, Lagos, but hails from Katsina State in Northern Nigeria. He was appointed the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC) by the former Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.

He attended primary and secondary schools in Lagos before moving to the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where he had his Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees in Architecture. After his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, he returned to Lagos and worked at a property development company, where he rose to the position of property development manager and later developed his interest in grassroots politics and participated actively in the politics of his area in Agege.

In the 1990s, he was appointed into the Agege Local Government Education Committee as a member. It was from there he contested for the post of vice chairman in the Agege Local Government election in the mid 1990s, and he won. He served between 1996 and 1997 before the democratic struggle which he took part in began and later joined the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and supported Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who emerged as the party’s governorship flag-bearer in the state.

In 1999, the party won, Tinubu became governor, and by 2001, he appointed him the Chairman of LASPEMA, which was the position he held throughout the regime of ex-governor Babatunde Fashola.

Joe Igbokwe on the other hand, attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN and was appointed by former Governor, Bola Tinubu and reappointed by Babatunde Fashola as General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency, LASIMRA, later appointed by former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as Chairman, Wharf Landing Fees Collecting Authority, Apapa, the position he still occupies till today.

So, these two individuals are even more Lagosians than most people whose parents are original indigenes of the state and has, on countless times, stood for what they all believed in and are ably qualified, to be commissioner here, which no one can contest.

What Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has done with these two very major appointments is to demystify tribe and has placed Nigeria above board, where who you are, where you come from and the name of your great-grand-father has nothing to do with where you decide to call home and the individual capacities of these two, which has nothing whatsoever to do with where they come from.

The appointment of Joe Igbokwe and Kabiru Ahmed, has also given hope to Nigerians who think that the “ONE NIGERIA” project is unrealizable, and with this, just like the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El’Rufai has done with his appointment of a Yoruba woman, Fausat Adebola Ibikunle as his Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, where you come from would not be any issue anymore, not even the religion you practice.

So, why not Kabiru Ahmed from Katstina State and why not Joe Igbokwe from Anambra State? Why not and why not another person from a different tribe? In unifying Nigeria, we must do away with tribe, religion and creed, for these are what divide and tear us apart.

Congratulations to the both of them and I pray they do well when given their portfolios.