The immediate past Special Assistant on Media to the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, has formally declared his intention to contest for the House of Representatives seat for Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II in Lagos State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tomori said his decision to join active politics in 2010 was shaped by his early exposure to Nigeria’s democratic struggles, particularly the events surrounding the June 12, 1993 presidential election and its annulment, which brought an abrupt end to the Third Republic.
According to him, growing up under military rule and witnessing the hope that accompanied the June 12 election left a lasting impression on him, sparking a deep interest in governance and political engagement.
He said: “Until then, what I knew as a government since birth was military rule. Witnessing the hope and excitement on the faces of my parents and other adults at the time struck a deep chord in me.
“The enthusiasm to follow the struggle for de-annulment of the elections, deepened my affinity with politics, triggering my interest in newspapers and magazines of that era like Concord newspapers, Tell magazine, The News amongst others.
“I recall reading about the exploits and sacrifices of our President, the then Sen. Bola Tinubu, Pa Anthony Enahoro, Dan Suleiman, my boss, Dele Alake and a host of others who fought tooth and nail in galvanizing the pro-democracy movement – the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) which contributed significantly to the restoration of democracy in 1999.
“Hence, when I felt the time was ripe to join active politics, after my national youth service, I made a deliberate decision to join Asiwaju Tinubu’s political family, the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), despite the fact that it was in opposition at the time.
“I was motivated by the progressive bent of the party, coupled with the fact that its leading lights stood to be counted in the June 12 struggle when lily-livered politicians chickened out, while others bowed to the allure of filthy lucre, at the detriment of the nation.
“The party later became one of the legacy parties that formed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). With over a decade of hands-on experience spanning both the National Assembly and the Executive, working with a Member of the House of Representatives and two ministers, alongside a robust network at the Federal level and valuable institutional memory, I believe the time has come to answer the call of my people.
“I hereby formally declare my aspiration to contest for the House of Representatives, to represent the good people of Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II, Lagos, under the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Across my journey in both public and private sectors, three core values have defined me, Service, Excellence, and Trust (SET). These principles form the theme of my campaign, aptly tagged the SET Campaign, derived from the acronym of my name, Segun Tomori.
“Our manifesto is anchored on the Eight (8) Pillars of SET, includes: Community health Outreach ; Support for Women and Vulnerable Families; Generation Next – Youth & Sports Talent Development; Education & Schools Intervention Programme; Light Up Oshodi-Isolo constituency II amongst other people centered initiatives.”
He emphasised the need for purposeful legislation aimed at improving the welfare of constituents and contributing to national development.
He added, “There is much work to be done through purposeful legislation, not only to improve the welfare of our constituents but also the lives of the average Nigerian, even as it contributes meaningfully to national development.
“I bring to this race the dynamism of youth, fresh ideas, and a proven ability to build consensus and deliver results, in complement to the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu. Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II is SET for better representation.”
