Lagos GAC Chairman, Olusi raises concerns over politicians pushing children into LG contests
The Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council in Lagos State, Tajudeen Olusi, has expressed displeasure over the increasing trend of politicians pushing their children into political contests for local government positions.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Olusi expressed his discomfort with this development, stating that it represents a troubling shift in Nigerian politics, where personal ambitions and financial motivations are becoming dominant.
The GAC Chairman disclosed that at least three prominent politicians are backing their sons to contest the upcoming local government elections in Lagos.
Noting that in the past, politicians did not push their children into politics as a matter of course, the GAC Chairman said “This is part of what is wrong in this country that all of us are not addressing. I love any opportunity to make this known to journalists. I have said it on many forums. My father did not bring me into politics. At the age we were born, your occupation determines your career,” he said.
“As we speak today, three fathers (politicians) have their children aspiring for positions on Lagos Island. You have Fashola, his son is aspiring. You have Yemisi Coker, a former Vice Chairman, his son is aspiring. You also have another one like that. They’re three. In the Fourth republic, it was not this rampant that politicians’ children were contesting. We were the ones who picked (Obafemi) Awolowo’s son, Oluwole, that he had to become a councilor, but the father said no. But now things have changed”.
According to him, people are making the move because they see that there’s money in politics.
“Nowadays, everyone wants their children to be honourable and the likes. That is where we are all at fault. The media also has a role to play in correcting this. Everyone is doing that because they see that politics is where the money is. This is part of the ills that the military intervention in governance brought upon us. The General Ibrahim Babangida regime was handing the government down to those who sought money,” he lamented.
According to him, some people approach him and even bring money and ask to be allowed to contest, even when they don’t have the experience or political trajectory.
Credit: The Punch
