APC Nat’l Youth Leader, Dayo Israel under fire for claiming to deliver polling units

The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Dayo Israel has been criticised for his controversial tweet where he claimed to have solely delivered 7 out of the 10 polling units in the largely Igbo community of Otumara, Lagos Mainland Local Government of Lagos state in the March 18 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

Israel via his Twitter handle on Sunday claimed to have delivered 7 out of the 10 polling units in the community to the APC.

In the controversial tweet, Dayo Israel wrote, “Today, I rejoice not (just) for delivering my polling unit, but for winning 7 out the 10 polling units in my nearby Igbo dominated community where APC have never won.

They always vote opposition, but this time, I sat with the youth of the community and forged a partnership. Today, we won 7 out of 10 polling units; first time in history. Never happened before, Never! Glory be to God.”

Reacting to the tweet, APC Southeast Coordinator in Lagos Mainland, Pastor Eze King said it is out of place for the national youth leader to attribute the victory to his sole effort.

Eze stressed that in terms of efforts that yielded APC electoral success, the traditional ruler of the community, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, Hon. Ajani Owolabi and the revered monarch, the Oloto of Otto kingdom, Oba Bashiru Oloto must be commended.

He said, “Ethnicity plays a major role in determining electoral success in Otumara community because the community is 75 per cent Igbos.

During the campaign, the APC National Youth leader, Hon. Dayo Israel came to the community once throughout the period of the campaign. The House of Assembly candidate, Hon. Owolabi Ajani came twice to the community.

In fact, Hon Ajani spent more hours with residents throughout the night campaigning. He sat down with community leaders. The new Oba also put in a lot of efforts.

But the Baale of the community, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye had a lot of tremendous impacts and efforts. He held several meetings both day and night. Apart from calling meetings in his office, he met with leaders of various ethnic groups in their respective locations. He must be commended.

So this not about the effort of an individual, it is collective but when we talk of those that put in maximum efforts we should talk of Baale Kehinde Kalejaiye, Hon. Ajani Owolabi and our revered monarch, the Oloto of Otto kingdom, Oba Bashiru Oloto.”

A resident and voter in the election, Jeffery Anyansi expressed displeasure at the claim by the APC national youth leader, saying he is an opportunist.

He said, “From the presidential election, the ruling party was able to win. And now the governorship election, it was very easy for the APC to win the election but it didn’t come easy because Baale Kalejaiye was able to rally the people extensively.

He had to meet with some of the residents at night while he met some of them during the day. He made them see reasons why they should vote for the APC for rapid development of the community.

Over the years, residents in the community have come to trust Baale Kalejaiye. They didn’t vote for the ruling party because the community has not been developed by the APC. They voted because Kalejaiye begged them to vote for the party.

The APC has always come to the community with empty promises. This is why they decided not to vote for the APC but this changed with the plea from the Baale.

It is however surprising when Israel tweeted that he delivered 7 out of the 10 polling units in Otumara. He never did. To be honest with you, I don’t like people dulling another person’s shine. Hon Dayo Israel disappointed me for tweeting to deliver Otumara community to the APC.

If I send you some of video clips of when he came to the community, you will hear sounds of the jingle sponsored by the Baale being played during the campaign and Israel joined them later.

Another time I saw Israel was when he had a political meeting inside one of the schools. At the meeting, many of them said they won’t vote the ruling party.

They said they would rather stay at home than vote the ruling party. But Kalejaiye intervened and the narration changed.

I see Hon. Dayo Israel as an opportunist in this situation. He is a wonderful person but for him to come all out saying he was responsible for the victory of the party in Otumara, I am not happy about it. He should just be truthful. He should not because he is the National youth leader claim the glory he did not labour.”

The APC Ward B leader, Hon Semiu Akibu vehemently disagreed with the tweet, saying, “I vehemently disagree with his assertion attributing another person’s effort towards the development of the community. It is the effort of the Baale, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye complemented by some ward executives that translated to the electoral victory we recorded in Otumara during the governorship election.

He was never at the community to meet with political leaders or to sensitise residents. Baale Kalejaiye has been working assiduously since the beginning of the campaign.

He met with heads of various ethnic groups for the betterment of the community and positive results at the end of the elections.

He did that also in the presidential election. He took the heads of the ethnic groups to the Oloto of Otto, Oba Bashiru Abisoye Oloto. I have never seen where the National Youth leader campaigned or met with leaders in the community but he went ahead on his Twitter handle attributing our electoral success to himself. He said it was due to his sweat and stress.

Some politicians are full of lies. If he wanted victory, he could have done his own campaign or joined forces with those on group. There was a time we heard that he was at the Mechanic workshop under Bridge. He didn’t pass through the community but when Baale heard he was there, he sent delegates to him campaigning for the re-election of Governor Sanwo-Olu and the House of Assembly candidate, Hon Owolabi Ajani.

He sponsored souvenirs to be distributed to the electorate for the people Israel came to visit at the Mechanic workshop. All the efforts are that of the Baale, High Chief Kalejaiye, the CDAs and as well as the stakeholders and not that of the national youth leader of the APC.”

While reacting to the claim, the traditional ruler of Otumara community, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye cautioned politicians to be truthful and desist from vainglory.

He said, “Our political leader should desist from claiming success where he did not sow. Dayo Israel claimed to be the driver of the success recorded in Otumara. His claim that the APC has never won any election in Otumara is false.

We won the last Local Government for the APC and we also recorded victory in 2011 when the current monarch of Otto vied for the House of Assembly contest and now the governorship election.

As the traditional ruler, I stood my ground, sponsored souvenirs and met with leaders of various ethnic groups and the result is the success we recorded at the polls.

The APC youth leader has no impact or electoral value in Otumara in every the election therefore he should not take the glory of others.

This is not about antagonising others but the truth is, he didn’t have any impact on elections in Otumara.

Israel is good at taking pictures and videos, so I charge him to make public the pictures and videos of his campaign in Otumara community. Since 1999, I have never lost my polling unit. I have been consistent and supportive of the cause of my constituents.

The people of Otumara would have gone to the market and places of work in the morning, they came back in the night and this is when I and my team go all out campaigning and convincing them to vote for the APC. I have been a politician even before I became the traditional ruler.

I want to use this opportunity to acknowledge the support of His Royal Majesty, Oba Bashiru Oloto, the Oloto of Otto kingdom, Opeluwa of Lagos, Chief Aderibigbe Ajose, Aro of Otto kingdom, Chief Jubi Oloto, member of GAC, Chief Dr. Abayomi Finnih, S.A to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Bolaji kayode Robert (aka bibiire), GM LASURA, Mrs Ajibike Ajibade, and GM, LNSC, Prince Ifalade Oyekan.

Others are the Chairperson of Lagos Mainland Local Government, Mrs Omolola Essien and one of the aides of wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Scholastica Abass Oyeniyi.

They provided souvenirs which we distributed on Thursday when we held the final rally.

Aside this, all our campaigns were self-sponsored. We got no funds or mobilisation from any politicians but apart from the political meeting, Dayo Israel accidentally held with some people in Otumara, I urge him to come out with pictures and videos of the political rally he held in Otumara.

This is no time to start deceiving the people. Credit should be giving to whom it is due. They should stop claiming our victory because they have the opportunity of being at the helms of affairs.”

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