Benjamin Omoike l Monday, Dec. 17, 2018
EJIGBO, Lagos, Nigeria – Lagos Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul Hakeem Abdul Lateef, has advised Lagosians to vote for Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress, as governor of Lagos state in the forthcoming 2019 election.
According to him, this becomes necessary so that the lofty, progressive and time-tested policies and programmes started in 1999 during the regime of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to Raji Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, can continue unabated and in greater stride.
While speaking to the massive gathering at the rally organised by the Itesiwaju Eko Foundation in Ejigbo Mini-Stadium, Oshodi-Isolo, in Lagos, at the weekend, marking the first year anniversary of the Foundation, the leader and founder of the group, Dr. Abdul Hakeem Abdul Lateef, said the main purpose of the rally was to show that governor Akinwunmi Ambode, along with his entire cabinet members, and millions of APC members, remained resolute in their commitment of ensuring the emergence of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the governor of Lagos in 2019.
The Commissioner said: “Following the achievements of the past administrations and the need for the governing party, APC, to continue the giant stride of development across the state, it has become imperative that we elect Mr. Sanwo- Olu, to continue the implementation of the Master Template that has ensured, since 1999, the unprecedented development and infrastructural growths, that have put Lagos in the driving seat among other states in the federation.”
Abdul Lateef urged Lagosians, to elect Sanwo-Olu and all other APC contestants vying for the State Assembly positions. He said Lagosians could not afford to experiment by electing those that would enslave and bring the state down, while proclaiming, ironically, freedom as their unique selling point.
“Today is a special rally for Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu. We want to tell the whole world that the entire Lagos state cabinet is resolutely behind Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in this objective,” he said.
Dr. Abdul Lateef, who is also the Director of Conflict Resolution of Babajide Sanwo-Olu Independent Campaign Organisation, called on all aggrieved members in the APC to work together and ensure victory at the polls for not only Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu but also all the 40 members who would be representing the good people of the state “as their voices and eyes” in governance.
He advised all members to reconcile differences and show their usual high motivated to further promote the interest of the party. He went on to advise that people should not be distracted by the recent happening in the state political circle where one of the cabinet members of governor Ambode left the party.
He said, “As one member left we are mobilising thousands and millions. The absence of one member will not affect the standing of our great party; nobody should make attempt to destroy the good works of governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Ambode who is fully with Sanwo-olu, and nobody should misrepresent what is happening in government, as sign of weakeness.”
According to him: “Today, the greatest problem of the Nigerian government is the uncooperative attitude of the National Assembly. We need a National Assembly that would be on the same page with the Federal Executive Council to move the country forward, just as we will continue to thrive in Lagos, if we continue to elect all APC aspirants to represent us in the State House.
“If you vote for Sanwo-Olu and you do not vote for APC as members of the House of Assembly, you have not voted for Sanwo-Olu because the legislature is the apex institution and the most important organ of government. In the same vein, at the National level, if anybody says I want to vote for only Buhari and he votes for others not on the platform of the APC, then he has not voted for Buhari.”
He stressed that past governments in the state had succeeded as performing governors and Babajide Sanwo-Olu would not be an exception. APC, he stressed remains more united and formidable than ever before, and assured the people that they were mobilising thousands and millions of Lagosians in favour of Sanwo-Olu.
He promised that his Foundation, as well as millions of other party faithful would continue to mobilise for Mr. Sanwo-Olu and the APC.
In his on contribution, Mr. Jude Emeka Idimogu, the Hon. Member representing Oshodi Isolo, said the APC would always remain strong, as all party members were in agreement that the party’s position should be paramount and individual interests should be secondary.
He promised that all Lagosians, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or status will mobilise and vote for the APC in the coming election. He praised the efforts of the APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He said all members “are fully with the APC national leader and they cherish his wisdom, knowledge, experience and direction. This is a man who has always been there for Lagos and has never failed.”
The rally was carnival-like. As people of from Oshodi – Isolo Constituency and Ejigbo environs trooped out in large numbers, in colorful attires (specific to each ward, such as Ayigbaka, Fadu, Ifosi and Oke Afa, in the constituency), to show solidarity, unity and commitment in the atmosphere of drama, dance, drum and music.
