Like a feudal warlord paving the path for his heir’s succession ahead of time, Lagos big boy Senator Musiliu Olatunde Obanikoro has thrown his son into the deep end of politics. Just like the father is putting machinery in place ahead of the 2019 elections, the son too is being groomed for political office.While the former Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana is eyeing the Lagos West Senatorial seat, his son Babajide is making a play for the position of house of representatives member representing Eti-Osa Federal Constituency. The father and son combo has been unleashed on Lagosians with the aim of building a formidable Obanikoro political dynasty which would stand the test of the Nigerian political landscape. They are poised to follow in the footsteps of other prominent political families where fathers and sons both served the nation in different capacities.Just like the case of the Sarakis. Chief Olusola Saraki, the late godfather of Kwara politics, rose to the rank of senate leader during the second republic. Not only did his son Bukola Saraki inherit his mantle and political structure, he climbed heights even his father could not attain and became the nation’s number three citizen.
Hence, there is a big burden on Babajide to emulate and even surpass the exploits of his illustrious sire. He is not showing the strain though, as he confidently seeks the endorsement of the “powers that be” in a bid to get the APC ticket for his constituency.The duo who recently decamped from PDP to the ruling APC are bidding to emulate the father-and-son pair of Joseph and Simeon Tarka as members of the same family serving concurrently at the National Assembly. Joseph Tarka was a senator in the second republic while his son Simeon held forth in the house of representatives at the same time. In order to actualize their lofty ambitions, however, father and son are getting ready to do battle with entrenched forces in the party who have vowed to sink the Obanikoros’ political ship. It is rumoured that the ex-Lagos State governorship contestant and his Babajide are viewed in some quarters as opportunistic invaders who are trying to reap where others have sown