*AN OPEN SOS PLEA TO ALL HUMAN RIGHT ACTIVISTS, GENDER BASED VIOLENCE DEFENDERS, POLITICAL LEADERS & COOPERATORS OF REPUTE IN LAGOS STATE*
We will like to bring to the notice of you all, the grave injustice that is about to be perpetrated against the will of the good Cooperators of Lagos State who on Thursday 27th August, 2020 made an historic democratic decision to vote into office the FIRST ever FEMALE PRESIDENT of the Lagos State Cooperative Federation (LASCOFED).
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 not-so-altruistic intentions of the out gone president of LASCOFED – Mr. Ayeola Oriyomi in connivance with some “so called” cooperative elders including the Chairman, LASCOFED Electoral Committee in person of Mr. Adefela Odueyingbo who have all ganged up together to promote a gender-centric position, insisting that a WOMAN CANNOT BE A PRESIDENT IN LASCOFED.
This is naked injustice and a brazen discrimination against WOMEN in this time and age where women are a leading and shining lights in Leadership, Politics, Business, etc.
While we wait upon the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives which is the Supervisory and Regulatory body to make 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.
This candidate has been parading and circulating fake election results around and making unsubstantiated claims of a purported victory to mislead the great Cooperators of Lagos State.
As law abiding citizens of Lagos State, we have pleaded with our committed delegates and loyal supporters not to engage in any act that is capable of breaching order or disturbing the peace of the LASCOFED community. We remain committed to following all conflict resolution mechanisms of the Cooperative Movement as enshrined in the law.
We have petitioned the right quarters at the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives and we believe JUSTICE will be served accordingly and in ernest.
However, we further appeal to all human rights 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 entrenched interests working against the collective progress, prosperity and growth of Cooperative Movement in Lagos State.
We stand resolute against this shameless attempt to deny the great Cooperators of Lagos State the opportunity of selfless, transparent and dedicated stewardship. Our faith in the tenets of truth and justice remains unshaken, and we lay bare the facts as they are to the scrutiny of all people of goodwill, absolutely convinced that the ALMIGHTY GOD will grant us victory and restore the mandate of the great Cooperators of Lagos State.
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.
We believe in the commitment of you all to the ideals of truth, transparency and fair play, and the fervency of our prayer to the people and Government of Lagos State is that the will of the Cooperators of Lagos State as expressed by the mandate freely given and eloquently asserted through the election of MRS. SIKAIYE TEMITOPE be upheld and not tampered with.
Long Live Great Cooperators! Long Live!
Long Live LASCOFED!! Long Live!!
Long Live Lagos State!!! Long Live!!!
Igbega Eko Ti Di Ajumose!
We appreciate you all for your anticipated help to restore our VICTORIOUS MANDATE.
Thank You!
For: Lagos State Cooperative Good Governance Initiative
VICTOR OYEGOKE
Coordinator
