2027: Why Lagos Island needs a fresh voice like Teslim — A creative mind, dogged fighter

By Pastor Jibola Olarinoye

If you have two friends in your lifetime, you are lucky; if you have one good friend, you are more than lucky. This timeless reflection perfectly captures my relationship with Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim, widely known as Omoatitebi.

But beyond friendship, this is a moment to speak honestly about leadership, capacity, and the future of Lagos Island.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the political space is once again filling with familiar promises and predictable faces.

Yet, every so often, a candidate emerges who compels us to pause—not because of noise, but because of substance. Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim is one of such individuals.
I have known him since our days at Lagos State Polytechnic (now Lagos State University of Technology), Ikorodu.

Even then, he displayed uncommon leadership traits—initiative, courage, and a deep sense of responsibility toward others.

This is not mere sentiment. It is based on lived experience.
As a student, Ajagbe did not wait for authority; he created it. From forming the “Great Islanders Team” to uniting Lagos Island students, to initiating social and welfare-driven platforms like the Augustino Club, he demonstrated early that leadership is about service, not titles.

He built communities, supported colleagues, and created opportunities where none existed. That same mindset is what Lagos Island desperately needs today.

Beyond campus life, Ajagbe’s journey into journalism has further shaped his worldview. As a journalist, he has been on the frontlines—listening to the people, questioning authority, and highlighting the realities many politicians ignore. This experience matters.

It is one thing to make policies; it is another to understand how those policies affect ordinary people. Ajagbe brings that rare advantage.

Lagos Island today stands at a crossroads. The challenges are evident—youth unemployment, infrastructure gaps, and the growing disconnect between elected representatives and the grassroots. What is needed is not just another politician, but a representative who is present, accessible, and accountable.

Ajagbe’s promise of regular engagement, town hall meetings, and open communication is not just campaign rhetoric—it reflects who he has always been.

Equally important is his emphasis on integrity. In a political climate where public trust is often fragile, his commitment to discipline, respect for institutions, and responsible conduct offers a refreshing contrast.

However, beyond credentials and promises lies something even more critical—connection.

Ajagbe is not an outsider trying to understand Lagos Island; he is a product of it. He understands its streets, its people, its culture, and its aspirations. He speaks the language of the community—not just in words, but in lived reality.

This is why his candidacy resonates.
The argument here is not that Ajagbe is perfect—no leader is. Rather, it is that he represents a shift: from politics as usual to politics with purpose.

For too long, representation has been distant and transactional. Elections come and go, but the everyday concerns of the people remain. Ajagbe’s candidacy challenges that pattern by offering something different—a model of leadership rooted in presence, participation, and practical impact.

As voters, the question before the people of Lagos Island Constituency II is simple but profound:
Do we continue with the familiar, or do we embrace a new direction?
Do we settle for occasional representation or do we demand one that is constant and engaged?

In Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim, there is an opportunity to choose the latter.
2027 is more than just another election cycle; it is a chance to redefine what representation should look like.

Lagos Island deserves a fresh voice. A creative mind. A dogged fighter. A leader who not only understands the people but is ready to stand with them.

That is the case for Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim.

Olarinoye writes from Ikorodu, Lagos.