By Femi Ajayi
A bull has the greatest influence on its own dunghill. In the same vein, a covetous politician seeks power where his name and his deeds excite the loudest cheer. Little wonder , Wasiu Eshinlokun, the Deputy Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, carves his path to power aided by the blade of a sturdy benefactress.
Yes, it is a settled matter that Eshinlokun became the Deputy Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly as a matter of compromise of ambition; the former Executive Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government has never hid the fact that his ultimate ambition is to lead the State Assembly as its Speaker. Not the type to make noise about his moves, TheCapital has learnt that Eshinlokun is back on the drawing board, and this time around, ready to open up his armoury to prosecute the war to become the Speaker, leaving no room for failure. Eshinlokun has found a formidable and dependable ally in Senator Remi Tinubu.
Those in the know are saying that the coming back of the incumbent Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, may have been effectively checkmated with Eshinlokun’s newly found favour in the sight of Remi Tinubu. Unfortunately for Obasa, his political godfather, Bayo Oshinowo, popularly known as ‘pepper’ is no longer in the House to throw his weight behind him.
According to a reliable source, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is seriously mooning over the choice of Eshinlokun as it does not seem to augur well for political balance in the state since the governor-elect, Babajide Sanwoolu comes from Lagos East senatorial district and Lagos Island Local Government where Eshinlokun is also from. To Asiwaju, convincing the party structure to support Eshinlokun against Obasa who is from Lagos West and Agege Local Government may be considered as overreaching influence.
In a related development, Speaker Obasa is said to have won the supports of majority of returning members and has been going around lobbying new members-elect to his side. As things stand, if the choice is left for the members to make, Obasa may be coasting home to another victory over his deputy with whom he slugged it out in 2015.
Obasa is said to dread Eshinlokun whose reach is menacing, and he is leaving no stone unturned to return to tame him. As his deputy, Obasa hardly allows Eshinlokun to act for him in his absence; he would rather adjourn the House for the period of his absence. Will Eshinlokun outwit Obasa this time around? Time will definitely tell.
