Odunmbaku Disgraced Out Of APC …His Messy Fight With Aregbesola, Faleke

A leader of the All Progressives Party (APC) in Ikeja area of Lagos, who is also the party’s Deputy Chairman in the state, Cardinal James Odunmbaku aka Baba Eto appears to have lost out in the scheme of things in the nation’s leading opposition party.
Sources within the party alleged that Odunmbaku, who used to hold sway in the party, is losing his grip in the party over issues bothering on greed and betrayal.
According to the grapevine, Cardinal Odunmbaku has fallen out with the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and surprisingly his political godson, who is a member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Abiodun Faleke.
Those close to him said that Odunmbaku used to enjoy close relationship with Governor Aregbesola before things fell apart between the two political gladiators recently, which allegedly caused the Governor to disgrace Odunmbaku out of the Osun State Government House in Osogbo, adding that their friendship got to a climax recently over what is termed greed and open betrayal.
It was gathered that prior to the August 9, 2014 Governorship election, which Governor Aregbesola eventually won, Odunmbaku had several secret meetings with Chief Bode George, who happens to be a leading figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West, as he was convinced that Aregbesola’s main contender and PDP’s Candidate in the election, Senator Iyiola Omisore would win the election.
“If you recall, days to the election, when the APC had practically moved its machinery to Osun, Odunmbaku was conspicuously absent in the state,” said a source.
Those close to the party also divulged that the Celestial Church Pastor made away with N200 Million allegedly contributed by some Lagos council boss to support Governor Aregbesola for the election.
It was learnt that the greed of the popular preacher and politician, who had been a political godfather to many people in the party, has finally ended the once robust relationship between him and Governor Aregbesola.
Sources divulged that Cardinal Odunmbaku had gone to Osun State to see his friend in his usual manner, but it was revealed that Governor Aregbesola, who had been briefed about the elderly man’s secret dealings and greed, called his bluff and made it clear that he was not wanted in the Osun Government House.
This allegedly got to Odunmbaku as a surprise and he was said to have left the state in shame and disgrace as such had never happen to him in the past.
In like manner, Cardinal Odunmbaku, who had been enjoying father-son relationship with a member of the Federal House of Representatives from Ikeja, Lagos, Hon. Abiodun Faleke has reportedly overstepped his bounds causing the latter to disowning him as his political father.
We learnt that Hon. Faleke had been taking care of Cardinal Odunmbaku even before he joined politics and that this continued when Faleke became the Chairman of Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and later a member of the House of Reps.
“Odunmbaku is greedy, Hon. Faleke used to see him as a father, which was why he went straight to his church in Ojodu, when he received his certificate of return from INEC after the 2011 elections that took him to the Federal House of Reps even before he went to see Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Their relationship had been long. But, prior to Hon. Faleke’s second term bid, Cardinal Odunmbaku had been going round to say Faleke did not do anything for him. Meanwhile, four or five of his children got jobs through Faleke apart from the fact that Faleke used to send things to him as his political godfather,” said our source.
The source maintained that Faleke had been resisting calls by people to join issues with Cardinal Odunmbaku as many of them had discovered that the acclaimed man of God was not dealing with him with an open mind.
The matter, however got to a climax when it was allegedly discovered that Odunmbaku was trying to upstage Faleke in the election of party delegates for the forthcoming primaries of the APC from Ojodu LCDA .
“Odunmbaku went to the extent of telling people like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that they had elected delegates for the party primaries and that Hon. Faleke had lost out, but the leaders of the APC insisted that they should do normal primaries and with this, Faleke was able to have an upper hand in the area as his people were chosen as delegated,” the source added.
We were further informed that Cardinal Odunmbaku is now running from pillar to post to seek help as he might be shown the way out of the party the way the whole matter is turning out.
However, another reliable source informed us that the party leaders would eventually settle for Hon. Faleke to seek a second term in office at the party primaries as his major contender, who happens to be a sister to the wife of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Senator Remi, Hon. Lola Akande from Ikeja Constituency 2, who is the Deputy Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has been told to step down from the race and wait for political appointment.
-Oladipupo Awojobi

Lagos Lawmaker, Rotimi Olowo Declares for Third Term
Says;  'Shomolu Will Soon Become Urban Area'

The acceptance and support of the people of Shomolu Constituency 1 for Hon. Rotimi Emmanuel Olowo was obvious as he declared to serve them for a third term in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Making the declaration at the premises of Shomolu Local Government Secretariat recently, Olowo said that he has done well for the people, which, according to him, was the reason they wanted him back in the assembly.

The lawmaker revealed that nobody has done what he did for the people of the area since we started the new democratic dispensation in Nigeria.

"I have brought a lot of development to Shomolu Area, which is why my people want me back in the House. I have done well in the areas of experience, representation and contribution on the floor of the House," he said.

On what he would do differently, when he gets to the Assembly for the third term, Olowo who was serenaded by several residents of the area, stated that he has resolved to carry the people along in all his endeavours.

He added that he hardly goes to hotels or big restaurants to eat, but that he eats at local joints aka 'buka' and that he would work with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), especially Public Works Corporation and the Ministry of the Environment to bring further development to Shomolu Area.

"I have facilitated nothing less than 11 road projects to Shomolu in just about three years and some might still come before the end of this tenure. I have spoken with the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure that Shomolu is lagging behind on development and that we are still a semi-urban area. I have just sent a list of roads that should be rehabilitated in the area to him," he said.

Olowo assured the people that his chances in the primaries elections are bright as he insisted that he is tested and trusted, adding that this does not mean that other contestants are not good, 'but they cannot wear the shoes I am wearing. I go out of my way to use my own money to take care of the constituents. I am sure many of them are interested in the office because they think there is much money in the House because of the way I spend money, but they will be disappointed if they get to the House,' he added.

Hon. Olowo declared that he has not finished what he is doing in the area, adding that his chances are over 95% in the primaries, and that he has the party leaders on his side.

He said further that his popularity transcends the party, APC saying 'I am the symbol of APC in Shomolu.'

Olowo, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, boasted that if the APC polls 23,000 votes in the area in Shomolu area in the 2015 elections, the PDP would poll 1,000 votes all because of him, and that his name is being mentioned in all corners of the area.

According to him, 'I appreciate all those who are coming out to contest against me at the primaries, they want recognition, they would have to work with me for the victory of the party at the polls. Some of them are not even registered with the party, they don't have the identification cards of the party.'

On the much vaunted stomach infrastructure that found its way into our political lexicon during the Governorship elections in Ekiti State, Hon. Olowo said that his own idea of the new political phrase is to empower the people.

"It is not basically, when you give them money, but when you do things that would make them financially independent. Three months ago, we facilitated loans of about N3 Million for 81 people in the area. It is interest free and they would pay only 10% monthly. It would not be difficult for them to pay back. We have also facilitated loans for another set of people now," he said.

The lawmaker stressed that he left his work as a divisional manager with Oando Petroleum in 2006 to join politics, and that he is unbeatable in Shomolu area, adding that what he is doing for the people is a tip of the iceberg, and that he would soon turn it to a foundation that would be available for the people until he dies.