Member representing Yagba Federal Constituency Hon. Leke Abejide on the platform of Africa Democratic Party (A.D.C) at the National Assembly is one of the most popular political influence both at the National and State Level presently. Not because of his rated performances back home alone, but because of controversies trailing his political support to ruling party at the centre presently that he was deeply affiliated with before the death of late Prince Abubakar Audu aside his sojourn in PDP that he ported from to clinch the ticket to win the Community-like election in 2019.
Just few weeks ago a staunch supporter of APC came out with a deep critism of his person and styles as regard his reward system to close supporters including myself and some thoughts generated for and against with uproar everywhere.
Few days again, another political “hulahulu” started with critics from different political parties and affiliation particularly from A.P.C after statements allegedly credited to him asking supporters of his party to support the candidacy of “Awalokan Movement”. Where he was said to have pointed out his influence and participation to grow the ruling party at the State Level despite been in opposition and the benevolence he had enjoyed from the “Awalokan Leader” a major reason why he would repay him back by his support to his ambition. This is evidently clear by the top rating and influence he is wielding at the National Assembly with choice Committee he belonged to.
And just yesterday, after presentation of SUV’s to Traditional Leaders from Yagba Federal Constituency, a new wave of criticism went uproar everywhere with some saying he would have empowered Youths and provided jobs with such largesse than waste such huge resources on that spree and the likes.
The most controversial of the criticism was a statements credited to a popular community leader and others who were said to be laying curses on whosoever do not support his re-election bid come 2023.
Personally, I would say our Leader and Member representing Yagba Federal Constituency should advise followers with himself threading carefully with use of words, actions and strategies when dealing with issues of public interest. As wars are not won with resources alone, but on strategies that sometimes includes winning enemies into friends than creating enemies from already won friends.
With the experiences we had in the last election-truth be told was not won because of the efforts of the members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and his credibility alone but a community support of all in Yagba Federal Constituency including thousands of members loaned from All Progressive Congress (A.P.C) like myself, People Democratic Party (P.D.P) and others who all saw a messiah in Leke Abejide the Asiwaju of Yagba Land that can take us to the promise land and jettison their loyalty to their faction which is evidently came clear in his electoral victory.
And this same followers and foot soldiers are still on ground, relevant and would be needed to deliver for his re-election in the 2023 election despite the noised uproar everywhere presently if properly valued and managed as they could also move back to their political bases with the loots on the journey on their side and our support system weakened that can and may result in our political value diminshed.
(JULIUS AKINRINDE writes from Abuja and from Jege in Ward 6 Yagba East LGA)