Mixed reactions trail LASCOFED election as groups seek Sanwo-Olu’s intervention

Rigging spearheaded by immediate president, group alleges

Poll free and fair, he says

By Tunde Shorunke

Mixed reactions have continued to trail the Lagos State Cooperative Federation (LASCOFED).

Lagos State Youth Cooperative Society and Lagos State Cooperative Good Governance Initiative have called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene in the proceedings and outcome of the state-owned cooperative society’s election.

The president of Lagos State Youth Cooperative Society, Victor Oyegoke, pointed out that Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives, the supervisory body of LASCOFED, is also involved in the election manipulation.

However, the immediate past president of the cooperative stated that the presidential election was one of the best democratic elections ever, adding that the defeated candidate was not comfortable and she has addressed the court.

Although, there were two major presidential candidates, a female candidate, Coordinator of Lagos State Cooperative Good Governance Initiative, Mrs Sikaiye Temitope and a male candidate, Bar. Oladipo Shobule.

In a chat with The Daily Times, the President of Lagos State Youth Cooperative Society, who is also the coordinator of Lagos State Cooperative Good Governance Initiative Victor Oyegoke, pointed out that Mrs Temitope has severally called the ministry’s attention to the plans of rigging the election.

“The election was won fair and square by Mrs Sikaiye Temitope but surprisingly there are ongoing clandestine manoeuvres to undermine this hard-won victory and manipulate this historic outcome based on the notso-altruistic intentions of the outgone president of LASCOFED – Mr. Ayeola Oriyomi in connivance with some “so-called” cooperative elders.

“This including the Chairman, LASCOFED Electoral Committee in the person of Mr Adefela Odueyingbo who have all ganged up together to promote a gendercentric position, insisting that a woman can not be a President in LASCOFED.

This is naked injustice and brazen discrimination against women in this time and age where women are leading and shining lights in Leadership, Politics, Business, etc.

“While awaits Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives who is the Supervisory and Regulatory body to make a statement on Monday, August 31, 2020 on matters related to the LASCOFED election, it came to our notice that the candidate who lost in the first ballot, is bent on having the election manipulated in his favour with the aid of the biased and compromised Chairman, LASCOFED Electoral Committee.

“However, we further appeal to all human right activists and gender-based violence activists to rally together to confront this injustice and discrimination against the female gender by the so-called ancient and entrenches interests working against the collective progress, prosperity and growth of Cooperative Movement in Lagos State.

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We stand resolute against this shameless attempt to deny the great Cooperators of Lagos State the opportunity of selfless, transparent and dedicated stewardship.

“We implore you to wade and help get this appeal to the ear of H.E. Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State to ensure this grave travesty of justice does not stand,” he added In his reaction while speaking with The Daily Times, the immediate past-president of LASCOFED Mr Oriyomi Ayeola pointed out that the election held was democratic in nature, adding that the opposition candidate has petitioned the ministry and LASCOFED to court.

“The election was held and was judged to be one of the best free and fair election in which we assumed it’s a credible election.

But the defeated candidate said she’s not comfortable by the result which I don’t know much on.

“However, it’s not an issue I can talk much on because the aggrieved candidate as taken the ministry and LASCOFED to the court which I believe the court will make its final ruling,” he said.