Profile Feature Article
Rt-Hon Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni (WES) is a versatile and outstanding Nigerian politician with a track record of remarkable performance in Legislative and Executive responsibilities. He is currently serving a third term as an Honourable member and a second term as the Deputy Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos Central Senatorial Candidate for the 2023 general Elections. He is an astute committed progressive and democrat with a proven willingness and determination to serve the course of mankind.
WES started his primary education at the famous Holy Trinity Primary School, Lagos, where he passed his first primary school education with distinction before proceeding to Ansar-UdDeen College, Offa, Kwara State for his secondary school education. He obtained his West African School Certificate Examinations (WAEC) certificate with first division. For his tertiary education, Prince Eshilokun attended Ogun State University, where he bagged a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture (Hons) with a Specialization in Agricultural Economics. He subsequently earned a Master’s Degree in International Law and Diplomacy (MILD) at the University of Lagos.
As a student of life, for life: WES never stopped learning as he continues exploring the world of knowledge and acquiring new skills on his choosing adventures. He has obtained several ceritfications and participated in plethora of remedial studies in major prestigious Institutions across the globe, including Lagos Business School and Harvard Law School Certification in Negotiation and Leadership at Harvard University, USA. He also has certificate in Driving Government’s performance from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, USA.
Being a highly experienced parliamentarian of more than a decade, he is a Member of
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Participant, National Council of State Legislature USA. Participant, Study Tour of USA Congress and four States legislature which was sponsored by USA Government through SAID and MCID. Since 2015, he has attended a Conferences of National Council of State Legislatures in the U.S.A severally, as a Member of The 8th and 9th Assembly of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Sojourn to Politics
WES sojourn into politics is divine. All his life, he has been a man of the people who never jokes with the welfare of his people. He believes that the only way to bringing about good governance to his people is through the active progressive and inclusive participation in politics. In 1992, he started his voyage into politics and public service when was elected as Vice Chairman of Social Democratic Party in Ward C1 Isale-Eko.
In the wake of the return of Nigeria to Democracy in 1999, Eshilokun contested for a seat at the Lagos House of Assembly to represent the good people of Lagos Island Constituency 1. He won the election and represented the constituency from 1999-2003. WES is renowned for his amazing and lucid contributions to debates both on the Floor of the Assembly, and including in the committees on which he served.
Between 1999-2003, Eshilokun remarkably served in several committees, such as:
- Rules Committee as Chairman (saddle with the responsibility of scheduling the daily activities of the House in 1999 – 2002);
- Committee on Commerce and Industry as Chairman (2002 – 2003);
- Member, Committee on Environment and Planning (1999 – 2003);
- Member, Committee on Works and Infrastructure (1999 – 2003);
- Member, Committee on Sports and Youth Development (1999-2003);
- Member, Committee on Agriculture (1999 – 2003);
Within these four years, WES made contributions that have not only transformed the state but became enduring trailblazers in the national polity. The now popular Constituency Project which has become a veritable means of touching the lives of the grassroots across the country is one of his brainwork. He introduced the initiative by sponsoring the Constituency Development Project Bill that was duly passed in to law. This ingenuity of progressive, effective and inclusive governance has been copied by all the states and the federal government alike. Likewise, in 2002, WES exhibited the dept of his resourcefulness again by co-sponsoring the bill for the Financial Autonomy for the Lagos State House of Assembly Law which was duly passed and ensure the desired separation of power between the executive and the legislative. This 20 years old brilliance of WES has just been included 1999 Constitutional of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amendment).
With his intimidating cum inspirational profile, it was quite evident that Eshilokun was a lawmaker to beat. His impeccable contribution to the seamless cooperation and legislative support to the executive averred the then Governor of Lagos, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu record massive success in his administration. After his first tenure as a lawmaker, WES was appointed by the then Governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the Senior Special Assistant on Legislative and Political Matters in 2004.
Negotiation and power-sharing being two of the cardinal features of politics, WES possesses the rare attribute of being able to negotiate power fairly and seamlessly in achieving a common position among his political groups. He is also a strong public communicator and conciliator, with a clear ability to easily align government positions with public interests. These attributes must have led His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), in 2008, to appoint him as the Secretary of Lagos State Microfinance Institution (LASMI).
Having gathered enough dynamic experience from serving at various capacities, WES decided to retest his popularity to afford him opportunity to bring into play his experience as a legislator into the executive realm. So, WES contested and served two terms as Executive Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government from 2008 – 2014. Till date, his tenure as Chairman of the LGA is still the reference point as the local government still bask on his peerless contributions in education and infrastructure. As the council chairman, he renovated or reconstructed all the major roads while he demolished and rebuilt many schools as he renovated others.
WES performances is the merit for his consequent election as the Pioneer Lagos State Secretary for All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014, where he worked closely with the chairman of the party to build the party structure in Lagos and across the country.
After the formation of the party in 2014 and having contributed immensely to the budding processes, he then decided to move back to Legislative business where he started from. He re-contested for the second time and won a seat at the Lagos House of Assembly to represent the Lagos Island Constituency 1.
With his resounding success, experience and achievements, he was elected Deputy Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly from 2015-2019. He contested again in 2019 and was reelected Deputy speaker to date.
Premised on all the experience Eshilokun gathered over the years with his loyalty, his people were convinced that it was time for him to move from the State level to the Federal as a lawmaker. This spurred the movement for his bid to represent the good people of Lagos Central Senatorial District replacing the incumbent Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The call for Eshilokun to fill up the lacuna became widely accepted as he obtained the form and won the primary election in a landslide victory.
Eshilokun will hit the ground running when he gets to the senate. His credible legislative and executive experience is adjudged widely to be marked with excellence in initiatives and implementation of developmental programs and projects. His active and articulate nature in debates and contributions on the floor of the House would be needed on the floor of the Senate to sponsor important bills that will affect lives of his people positively. With his affable nature, he will be able to attract developmental projects to his senatorial district.
Areas of concern
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Education reforms
Urban eco management
Alternative energy sources
Sustainable agriculture
Healthcare affordability
Freedom of speech and press
Key political development goals
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