Obasa deserves credit for Tinubu’s victory — Ipoola Omisore

A former Lagos lawmaker, Ipoola Omisore, has stated that the current Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, is among those who deserve credit for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory at the polls in February.

Omisore, who represented Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly from 2007 to 2015, disclosed that Speaker Obasa was among the critical stakeholders who used their resources, influence, and time to pave the way for Tinubu’s victory at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election and at the general election.

The ex-lawmaker, also an advertising guru, revealed this while chatting with journalists about his exploits as a marketing communication practitioner and as a politician.

Omisore, who will be celebrating his 75th birthday at the weekend, eulogized Obasa, who was recently re-elected as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly for the third term.

He said that Obasa’s return as Speaker for the third term was not a surprise to those who knew him well due to his antecedents, loyalty to the APC party, President Tinubu, and his contribution to the development of the state.

“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 me, on how to go about it.

And we were the first to fly the kite of Tinubu’s presidential ambition. BAT Foundation, of which I happen to be the Director General, was solely funded by Obasa before the foundation was merged with other pro-Tinubu campaign groups.

“Before other campaign groups were instituted, BAT Foundation had already done a lot of public relations work across the country, and all these efforts set 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 programs, and youth empowerment, among others.

We did all these in and outside Lagos to ensure 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 learned in politics. A fool cannot mentor a wise man. Only a wise man can mentor a subordinate because they see further 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.

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