It is time for another round of political permutations, calculation, assertions, alignment and realignment as we move to another election year.
The gale of defection that recently hit the National Assembly is part of the indications that the General Elections are fast approaching.
That may not even be as worrisome as the news from the stable of the lawmaker representing Ikeje Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Abiodun Faleke that he has been endorsed for third term of office by the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), apparently referring to Jagaban Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (JABAT).
The shenanigan from Faleke is not only to be discarded by members of the public, but it should be condemned by followers of events in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Just about a forthnight ago, while addressing a mammoth crowd of the members of the party in its ‘camp ground’ in ACME, Ikeja, Lagos, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu disassociated himself from the ‘babasope’ syndrome, and made it clear that only those the people want would emerge as candidates for the various political offices.
He made it clear that the party would go through direct primaries and warned the aspirants against dropping his names.
So, where did the endorsement claims of Faleke come from, how could he have mentioned names of some leaders of the party in the constituency as those that have endorsed him.
If Faleke’s assertion is true, then those leaders are working at cross purposes with the decisions and policies of the leaders of the party, including the directive of its National Leader, Asiwaju BolaTinubu.
With the revelation at the stakeholders meeting, Asiwaju Tinubu has put paid to the name peddling rumour that he is the needle behind the ambition of some elected officials, where they could hide themselves for fear of facing the rigours of election campaign.
For crying out aloud, the endorsement claim by Hon. Faleke is a figment of his imagination as he has been deceiving residents of Ikeja with the tales of his imagined endorsement.
That Asiwaju has spoken should put paid to such an assertion by someone that ought to know better like Hon. Faleke.
If anything, Faleke should be grateful to the people of Ojodu and Ikeja, who gave him an opportunity to serve, though they have not been able to see the gains in doing so.
Faleke should not expect to be returned to the Federal House of Representatives, at least from Ikeja, after his failed attempt to become the deputy governor and later governor of his home state of Kogi.
Save for the death of Audu Abubakar, Faleke would have long gone to Kogi State and be serving as Deputy Governor.
Moreso, Faleke would have emerged the Governor of the state if the leaders had not insisted that Governor Yahaya Bello would be their candidate.
Where did Faleke leave the people of Ikeja that elected him into the House of Representatives, when he ran to contest in Kogi State.
There are quite a lot of posers for this politician, who fails to read in-between the lines.
Where did he get the money he was spending to empower the people of Kogi State in the build-up to the governorship election in Kogi State, what are his achievements in Ikeja area of the state since he got to the green chamber seven years ago.
People have not forgotten Faleke years as chairman of Ojodu Local Government.
He was opportuned to occupy the office of local government chairman for years and later went ahead to be elected into the House of Reps for two terms.
To say the least, this is enough for a man that has openly made it clear that he wants to go and rule his home state.
The office should be left for the real people of Lagos and not those that would be representing an area in a state, but whose heart is totally in another state.
The wool has finally been removed from our eyes, the people of Lagos State are now ready to do without the Falekes of this world.
Nigerian politics has gone beyond recycling the same person for an upward of 20 years, especially someone that has failed to connect with the grassroots over the years.
That the National Assembly is on vacation is not an opportunity for the likes of Faleke to concoct lies to deceive the people of Ikeja Federal Constituency, who have vowed to free themselves from the shackles of some politicians that have nothing good to offer.
* Taiwo Oni is a member of APC and writes from Lagos…
