13th July, 2011
The traditional ruler Candoso town in Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, High Chief Abdul’Moroof Aremu Owonla a.k.a. Kaka, has advised the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), to ensure that popular candidates are endorsed to represent the party during the forthcoming local government election.
The monarch, who gave the advice while hosting community leaders, family members, friends and associates recently, said ACN members should be given a free hand to pick candidates of their choice since they live with them.
“I am using this opportunity to advise our political leaders to base the selection of candidates for the forthcoming local government election in the state on merit.
“The era of imposition should be over as it had evidently shown that those foisted on the populace in some local governments in the state have shown their true colours as they milk the councils’ coffers at the expense of those who voted them into power.
“As far as I am concerned as a traditional ruler and father of all, whether indigenes or none indigenes, what is very essential is putting the right person there; somebody who has the fear of God and make the interest of the people his or her paramount goal,†he stated.
He disclosed that his advice was based on the fact that the people in each community know the aspirants very well and what they can do, adding that it will be unfair for any leader to pick somebody from somewhere because of his or her interest or political connection.
He also advised all those aspiring for either chairmanship or councillorship positions in Ayobo-Ipaja to play the game according to the rules and avoid violence and unhealthy bickering.