It’s Friday.
Tomorrow, Nigerians – including eligible Ikeja residents – will head to the polls to elect a new President and a new set of federal lawmakers. The tension is high but hope of a peaceful, hitch-free election continues to linger.
The election comes as many residents battle a cash scarcity induced by a Central Bank of Nigeria currency policy. Many ATMs across Ikeja don’t have cash and crowds throng the few ones that do. Banking halls are also crowded as people scramble to lay their hands on cash to purchase essentials like water and food.
The cash scarcity woes has been compounded by poor network service, which has disrupted digital banking operations; many banking apps have also buckled under the weight of the increased use.
But hopefully these problems will not stop many from heading to the polls on Saturday in an election that has been described as existential in certain quarters. Young people, especially, are said to be pivotal to the eventual results. Whether they will turn up at voting centres remains a question no one can answer.
Who will represent Ikeja at the National Assembly?
All eyes are on the presidential elections but at The Record we are also interested in the parliamentary elections which are also holding this weekend.
In Ikeja, the favourite for the House of Representative seat is the incumbent, James Faleke of the All Progressives Congress. He has campaigned the hardest in the area. And with a groundswell of party support, he is likely to emerge the winner for the fourth time.
However, he is being challenged by Adewale Gbenga Oyeniyi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Very little is known about Mr. Oyeniyi, aside from the fact that he is 35-year-old and holds a National Diploma certificate. Efforts by The Record to reach his campaign team did not yield any tangible results.
Other candidates in the running include Fatai Balogun of the Accord Party, Duru Festus Uchechukwu of the African Democratic Congress, Takobi Esther of the New Nigeria Peoples Party and Akinbode Mayowa of the Social Democratic Party.
At the Senate, Ikeja is represented under Lagos West. Here, the APC’s Adebule Idiat Oluranti, a former-deputy governor of Lagos State, is the candidate to beat. She is being strongly challenged by the PDP’s Adewale Segun Sunday, a serial entrepreneur and veteran politician in Lagos State. The candidate of the Labour Party is Moshood Salvador, who defected from the APC in July.
Other candidates include James Charles Kolawole of Accord, Ogidi Muhammed Matairu of the ADC, Olaojo Olufeyikemi of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Ogunlegan Akintomide Olumide of the Boot Party (BP), Dabiri Mustapha Oladapo of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Olokor Anthony Nelson of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Osundotire Tolulope of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Emereole Anthony of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Adenuga’s daughter behind new Opebi super-mall
Bella Disu, the daughter of billionaire businessman Mike Adenuga, is set to deliver a super-mall named Ile-Oja in Opebi by the first quarter of the year. Another Ile Oja is also being built in Victoria Island.
Mrs Disu is the CEO of Cobble-Stone Properties & Estates Limited, the company constructing both malls. The 36-year-old is also the Executive Vice Chairman of the multinational telecommunications company, Globacom.
The Ile-Oja mall will add to the growing number of super-malls in Ikeja, a list which includes the Ikeja City Mall in Alausa.
Super league set for next month
The Ikeja Super League is set for kick-off next month as 20 teams jostle to represent Ikeja at the state level.
Speaking to The Record, secretary of the Ikeja Divisional Football Association, Mr Alaba Olaniyi, said the draws have been made and preparations are in top gear.
The 20 teams will compete in two groups and play home and away matches. At the end, the two top teams will play the Super Four, where the eventual winner will be produced.
“The winner will represent Ikeja at the state league,” Mr Olaniyi said, noting that the league has been existing for the past eight years.
He said there are plans to launch the inaugural female league next month.
What else is happening?
Playing for peace: Last Saturday, the Rotary Club of Ikeja Alausa celebrated Rotary Day of Service with the Nigerian Amputee Football National Team. The celebration was marked by sporting activities at the football playing ground of Olusosun Primary School in Ojota.
Election Justice: The Rosaline Omotoso Courthouse in Ikeja is the election tribunal venue for petitions arising from the governorship and parliamentary elections in Lagos, according to the state’s Chief Judge, Kazeem Alogba.
Centre of excellence: NAFDAC chief, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, believes SKGPharma, a pharmaceutical company based in Ikeja, has the capacity to be a global player.
And that’s it for this week. Join us again next week. Don’t forget to subscribe to get it in your email.