How Hon. Shakiru Akindele Enimakure Stands Out For Agege Constituency 02
Written By Rashidat O. Okunlade, Lagos
Hon. Shakiru Akindele Enimakure stands out in the race for Lagos State House of Assembly, Agege Constituency 02, primarily because his candidacy represents a powerful convergence of grassroots loyalty, indigenous representation, and party institutional backing.
His unique selling points can be broken down into four key areas:
A Candidate for Indigenous Inclusion
Enimakure’s strongest differentiator is his status as a true son of the soil. The Orile-Agege Descendants and Indigenous Awori community have publicly endorsed him, describing his emergence as a long-overdue recognition of indigenous people who have supported progressive politics for decades. Community leaders noted that he is the only recognised indigene among the APC candidates from Agege, making his candidacy a symbol of fairness and hope for the local Awori population.
Decades of Party Loyalty Rewarded
Unlike candidates who may have joined the party recently, Enimakure’s political journey spans decades. He has been a stalwart since the Alliance for Democracy (AD) era, serving as a Ward Financial Secretary, and remained active through the AC, ACN, and eventually the APC. Despite facing numerous personal political disappointments contesting councillorship twice without success and missing out on supervisory and chairmanship appointments he never left the party. His ticket is widely seen as a reward for this unwavering loyalty and perseverance.
A Strong Political Pedigree
His standing is bolstered by his family’s deep roots in Agege politics. His late father, Chief Sule Adisa Enimakure, was a prominent political figure who served as the AD Chairman in Agege Local Government and later as Vice Chairman of both the AC and ACN until his passing in 2014. This legacy gives him immediate name recognition and respect among older party stakeholders.
Party Backing and Electoral Positioning
The Lagos APC leadership ultimately chose Enimakure as its consensus candidate for Constituency II, while this caused some internal friction leading his primary opponent, Azeez Oladapo Yusuf (Ninolowo), to defect to the APM, it demonstrates that the party establishment views Enimakure as a stable and winnable flagbearer. His campaign has also successfully mobilized high-profile party figures, including Hon. Dr. Kayode Opeifa, for grassroots engagements.
Enimakure’s candidacy represents a change in representation for the APC, positioning him as the party’s new standard-bearer for the 2027 election.
The grassroots expectations surrounding Hon. Shakiru Akindele Enimakure, here is an analysis of what is expected of him as the APC standard-bearer for Agege Constituency 02, alongside his stated determination for the constituency.
What is Expected of Him (The Mandate)
True Indigenous Representation
Because his candidacy is heavily anchored on his identity as a recognized indigene of Orile-Agege, the Awori community expects him to be their authentic voice in the Lagos State House of Assembly. They expect him to advocate for policies and infrastructure that directly impact indigenous families, rather than just focusing on the general populous.
Rewarding Grassroots Loyalty
Having spent decades in the political trenches (from AD to APC), the party structure and his supporters expect him to carry that grassroots mentality into office. He is expected to empower the local party faithful, reward long-standing loyalty, and ensure that the dividends of democracy trickle down to the ward and unit levels.
Bridging the Gap Between Government and the People
His campaign has emphasized that “leadership begins with listening.” Constituents expect him to be accessible, a lawmaker who understands the everyday struggles of traders, artisans, and youths in Agege and works to bring government interventions closer to them.
His Determination and Agenda (What He Plans to Do)
If elected, Enimakure’s stated vision centers on a philosophy he calls “Constituency 02 is on my mind,” which translates into actionable goals across several key areas:
Youth Empowerment and Job Creation
Enimakure has repeatedly stressed that the youth of Agege deserve opportunities to grow. His agenda includes facilitating skills acquisition, digital literacy, and entrepreneurship programs to tackle unemployment and keep young people productively engaged.
Supporting Artisans and Small Businesses
Recognizing that Agege is a hub of commerce, he is determined to champion policies that support small-business owners and artisans. This includes advocating for better access to micro-credit, business development training, and improved infrastructure so local businesses can thrive.
Women’s Economic Inclusion
His platform places a strong emphasis on women, promising greater economic opportunities and support systems for women to ensure they can contribute meaningfully to the economy of the constituency.
Enhanced Community Engagement and Responsive Representation
He has committed to a new chapter of “responsible leadership and stronger community engagement.” He plans to ensure that the voices of his constituents are heard at the state level, focusing on practical solutions to everyday challenges like infrastructure, security, and social welfare.
Upholding Party Unity
Following the internal party friction caused by his consensus candidacy, Enimakure’s immediate determination will also be to unite the APC in Agege Constituency II. He has been actively mobilizing leaders, like Hon. Dr. Kayode Opeifa, to ensure that the party remains a “united family” going into the 2027 elections.
Hon. Enimakure’s candidacy is built on the promise of inclusion and practical representation. The people of Agege Constituency 02 expect him to transform his decades of party loyalty into tangible legislative benefits, while his determination is laser-focused on bringing the people closer to governance and ensuring that the most vulnerable, youths, women, and small business owners have a strong voice in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
