Why Toke Benson Is Contesting – Faleke

MICHAEL AKINOLA

Almost on all the roads and major streets around Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State, any observer can easily notice posters and banners of the various political aspirants of different political parties at different points. But common among the posters and banners are that of a female aspirant – Toke Benson Awoyinka.

From the posters, it showed that she is vying to represent the people at the Federal House of Representatives. Political watchers may not have known why relatively unknown Toke Benson Awoyinka threw herself into the ring to contest for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Ikeja Federal Constituency of Lagos State as they felt she should have started probably from a lower political position, build on that and subsequently go higher.

Some people saw nothing wrong with her aspiration for the position being a lawyer while others felt she was only seeking to be recognised within the Lagos political circles. It remained a puzzle and subject of discussion for many within the constituency until some days ago. The current Honourable Member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency gave an insight into the motive behind her ambition.

At the inauguration ceremony of Team Faleke on September 17, 2018, at Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Lagos, Hon. Faleke told the members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from across the wards and Local Government areas making up the Ikeja Federal Constituency why Toke Benson entered the race to contest against him for the party’s ticket.

In his words, “Many are not aware why Toke Benson suddenly joined the race to contest against me for the party ticket. To set the records straight, at the last birthday celebration of the National Leader of our party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Toke approached me outside the hall. She overestimated me by asking me to make her the Deputy Governor of Lagos State. I told her that was a tall order or request. I politely but bluntly explained to her the impediments or factors that would make it impossible for her to emerge as the Deputy Governor. I said first, that the Deputy Governor is not doing badly and there are no issues of disloyalty associated with her person. I took out time to explain areas like party supremacy, political ideology, the religious factor as the governor is a Christian, the zoning factor, issues of loyalty among others vital points. But my explanation did not go down well with her because of her overestimation of my person. After that encounter, she felt I did not want to aid her to become the Deputy Governor and started attacking my person on all fronts. She eventually swore to contest for my seat in National Assembly and that’s why she is contesting; certainly not to serve but just to occupy a position. Since then Toke has employed all manner of propaganda and spewed gibberish to malign my person”.

“It is on record that I was magnanimously instrumental in the emergence of the woman at the center of this political melodrama as the Assistant Legal Adviser to APC in Lagos State. But the truth is that she has loyalty instabilities and has refused to be a team player. In Ikeja, our politics has been refined and equally ideologically but since she swore to be an antagonist and traducer, she brought propaganda and maligning of personalities. Her actions have shown lack of loyalty and respect for our National Leader, Asiwaju Tinubu. I have refused to join issues with her but only advised her to test her popularity during the forthcoming party primaries instead and to shun campaign of calumny” Hon. James Faleke concluded.