History is often written by champions, it is said. If this assertion is true, then Lagos State is at the threshold of what could be its sweetest epoch of statesmanship and politics. Following Ambassador Demola Seriki’s emergence as the preferred candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Lagos central senatorial district, by the good and law-abiding people of Lagos Island, the nooks and crannies and political circuits of the state are ecstatic with joy.
A politician of note, Seriki’s emergence has thrown the Lagos state into euphoric fits of pleasure and expectation. A round peg in a round hole with a proven record of excellence in both private sector and public service, many people have cast their lot with him and are openly canvassing for him. Pundits ascribe this to Seriki’s brilliance, humility and earnestness in dealings with the electorate, associates and rivals on the political turf.
Indeed, Seriki has been around for a while. Cut of solid pedigree, he is well connected in the political and business turf. He is certainly not your run of the mill politician; he is astute, modest and ideologically grounded in the kernels of administrative politics and socio-economics. Little wonder he enjoys the confidence of the APC’s top politicians.
Interestingly, however, as the 2023 general elections approach, it is therefore important for the people of Lagos Central Senatorial district to look beyond the immediate gratification and go for a credible replacement that has capacity to sustain the gains already made by Senator Remi Tinubu, and even surpass her achievements, and the only aspirant with the charisma, character, credibility, integrity, experience and the intellectual prowess is to properly articulate the needs of his people is Chief (Ambassador) Demola Seriki.
Chief Seriki’s intimidating credentials speak volumes about his experience and performance in his previous positions as four times minister in different ministries.
In his current assignment as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Chief Seriki has been able to reform the operation of the Mission in line with its mandate as Nigerians in Spain can attest to. He is indeed a trail blazer.
Only recently, Nigerians in Spain passed a vote of confidence on Chief Seriki for reforming the Mission for effective service delivery. Speaking through its President, JohnBosco Okeke, Nigerians in Spain commended Ambassador Seriki for his great sense of patriotism and love for the embassy as an institution and put measures in place to make the mission as efficient as possible.
According to Mr Okeke, “It is important to note that the vast majority of Nigerians are so happy with His Excellency, Ambassador Seriki for the bold step he took to bring sanity in the mission in Madrid.
“I made an official trip to the embassy last week to have a meeting with His Excellency the Ambassador. I could not believe the transformation that had taken place since the reforms he initiated in the mission. For the first time in a very long time, I saw a very efficient local staff discharging their duties with professionalism, courtesy, dedication and respect to Nigerians and other foreign nationals who came there.
“At last we now have a dedicated staff, ready to do the job they are paid to do, that is, to serve those that came to the mission with dignity and respect. This total transformation would not have been possible without the sterling and uncommon courage shown by the Ambassador to put the interest of the mission and that of Nigerians above some few individuals who thought that the status quo of inefficiency and lack of dedication to their work would not change.
“For those who are trying to tarnish the good name of our Ambassador, they should note that this good man is on a mission to leave a lasting legacy in the Nigerian mission in Spain. It would be recalled that he went round some key provinces in Spain immediately he assumed office, in order to meet and interact with Nigerians and to know their problems.
“This is the first time since the time of Her Excellency, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, that the head of the Nigerian mission in Spain is going out of Madrid to have town hall meetings with Nigerians in different cities. This is what leadership is all about. Through these meetings, he was able to have first hand information about what Nigerians want. Since the arrival of the Ambassador to Spain, he has not hidden his passion for the general well-being of Nigerians here.
“We are therefore praying that God will continue to give him the wisdom and courage to achieve everything he has proposed to do in order to bring about a great turn-around in the embassy. I encourage all Nigerians in Spain to continue to support the initiative that is being embarked upon by the Ambassador as they are for the good of the mission and that of all Nigerians.”
From the foregoing, Chief Seriki has shown competence and capacity to deliver on his mandate and will replicate that at the Upper chamber of the National Assembly if given the mandate in 2023. This, no doubt, is a golden opportunity for the people of Lagos Central Senatorial District to give their collective nod to this man who has been tested and trusted.
