Hon. Oluwagbenga Abiola, Executive Vice Chairman of Agege Local Government and a top contender in the forthcoming July 12 Local Government Election, has thrown his full support behind the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership to adopt Abdulganiyu Obasa as the party’s flag bearer.
Abiola, a political protégé of Agege APC leader and Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, made the declaration while speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Lagos.
His endorsement follows a call by Agege stakeholders—comprising community and political leaders—who, at a news conference on Monday, urged the Speaker to support his son Abdulganiyu for the council chairmanship.
They described the move as a way to reward Speaker Obasa’s longstanding humanitarian contributions to the community.
Addressing speculation that he was being pressured to drop his ambition, Abiola dismissed such claims and instead expressed deep gratitude to Speaker Obasa, whom he described as his political benefactor.
“I will remain forever grateful to Rt. Hon. Obasa for the opportunities he has given me. I pledge my total support for the party’s decision and the leadership of our great party,” Abiola said, affirming his loyalty to both the Speaker and the APC hierarchy.
Abiola said: “Let me just make it clear that I will and can never pitch tend against my leader, Rt.-Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.
“This is the man that made me. He appointed me as special assistant on media to the office of the Speaker when he became Speaker in 2015. I won’t be an ingrate.
“After that, in 2016, I became Sole Administrator for Agege LG, being recommended by the Speaker and appointed by the Governor.
“With that appointment, I made history by becoming the youngest local government boss in the state.
“In 2017, when I handed over to the current Executive Chairman, the party and the Speaker also facilitated my appointment as Secretary to the Local Government and in 2021 as the Vice Chairman .
“So, tell me, why would I pitch tent against the decision of such a man that has built me in terms of capacity, political dexterity, and network all over?”.
Abiola said that it was true he had the ambition to succeed the current chairman, but he must submit to the party’s decision “without any reservation”.
“Yes, I aspired as it is he dream of everybody that has passed through the ranks, especially as vice chairman to become the chairman, but the party has spoken and I concur.
“The party leadership has come together, stakeholders have come together, and they have agreed that they want the Speaker to allow his son become the next Chairman.
“So, I stand by everything that they have done. I stand with and by Obasa. I stand with and by APC Agege and the leadership of APC. I agree with stakeholders’ resolution,” he added.
According to him, since his aspiration is all about service to people, there are still many opportunities for him in the future as a young and vibrant politician.
“I know that the leader I have is one that knows what is best politically and can also recommend me for, even better positions in the nearest future.
“I’m still young. I still have the vibrancy. I’ll work for the party. I’ll make sure the party wins,” he said.
Abiola said that he had directed his teeming youth-based followers under the platform of Obasa Youth Alliance (OYA) to redirect all energy towards actualising the party’s decision.
