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Tag: Ambode

  • ‘Vote Ambode, APC candidates’

    ‘Vote Ambode, APC candidates’

    AHEAD of Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections, a Commissioner in the Lagos State Civil Service Commission and one of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Olorunda Local Council Development Area in Badagry, Pastor Israel Olufunso Alagbe has appealed to residents to vote for the party’s governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode and other candidates.

    Alagbe, one of the leaders of the Badagry Divisional Forum and also a contestant for the House of Representatives in the Badagry Federal Constituency seat but lost in the primaries made the appeal in Badagry yesterday.

    Alagbe said: “Voting APC to govern Lagos State at this time with the same party at the federal level will bring great development to the state and its residents. It will be a round table conference of the same family where decisions that would benefit the state will not receive any strict opposition.

    “Our Local Council Development Areas would be confirmed as Local Government Areas. We were cheated because some states with less population have more local governments while Lagos with greater population has been denied approval of more local governments. It is because we are not in the same political family with them.

    “Now if we vote APC in Lagos the way will be smooth to remove every political bottle neck intentionally created. If we actually want better government in Lagos State, vote APC members of House of Assembly, vote Ambode for governor. Enough of sufferings as an opposition state. Let us share from same source for the benefit of all of us”, Alagbe said.

  • April 11: Commissioner urges Lagos residents to vote APC

    April 11: Commissioner urges Lagos residents to vote APC

    A Commissioner in the Lagos State Civil Service Commission and one of the leaders of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Olorunda Local Council Development Area in Badagry, Pastor Israel Olufunso Alagbe has appealed to residents of Lagos state to vote for APC in the Saturday April 11  governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    Alagbe, one of the apex leaders of the Badagry Divisional Forum who also contested for the Badagry federal constituency House of Representatives seat but lost in the primaries made the appeal in a chat with our correspondent at Badagry Tuesday.

    He appealed passionately to Lagosians to vote for the APC governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode and other House of Assembly candidates in the state.

    According to Alagbe, “voting APC to govern Lagos State at this time with the same party at the Federal level will bring great development to the state and its inhabitants. It will be a round table conference of the same family where decisions that benefit the state will not receive any strict opposition.

    “Our Local Council Development Areas shall be confirmed fully as Local Government Areas. We were cheated because some States with less population have more local governments while Lagos with greater population has been denied approval of more local governments. It is because we are not in the same political family with them.

    “Now if we vote APC in Lagos the way will be smooth to remove every political bottle neck intentionally created. If we actually want better government in Lagos State, vote APC members of House of Assembly, vote Ambode for governor. Enough of sufferings as an opposition state. Let us share from same source for the benefit of all of us,” Alagbe said.

    He stressed further that, the state suffered a lot of deprivation and suffered a lot from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led Federal Government all these years of democratic governance because an opposition party, APC, has been in control of the state.

    “The government at the center created various bottle necks in order to make Lagos State non functional because the State is in opposition. The State was denied any form of patronage by the PDP led federal government and was denied all its due as a former federal capital. Now all that will stop if we vote APC in Saturday’s election,” Alagbe said.

  • Oba of Lagos reacts to alleged threat to Igbos

    Oba of Lagos reacts to alleged threat to Igbos

    Following the statement credited to the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, where he was alleged to have threatened the Igbos in Lagos to vote the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Akinwumi Ambode or die in lagoon, the monarch in the statement below made clarification on the alleged threat.

     

    THE PALACE MAKES FURTHER CLARIFICATION ON THE STATEMENT BY THE OBA OF LAGOS.
    My attention has been drawn to a publication in a national newspaper where HRM Oba Riliwanu Akinolu was alleged to have threatened Igbos in Lagos to make them vote for Ambode.

    Last Sunday, all honorary Eze Ndigbos in Lagos paid a courtesy call to HRM Oba Akinolu. At the meeting the visitors praised the Oba for his fatherly support for and cooperation with Igbos in. Lagos. They assured him of their continued good neighborliness with other tribes in Lagos and support everything that’ll further strengthen that harmony.

    Oba Akiolu on his part acknowledged the enviable performance of Governor Fashola and his contribution to the growth of investments in Lagos. He gave the assurance that he is not disturbed or angry with South-East and South- South votes for President Jonathan as perceived by the Eze Ndigbos. The Obas thereafter called on the Igbos chiefs to show appreciation to Lagos State by supporting his candidate Mr. Ambode for continuity of excellence as they have earlier promised.

    He assured them of his continued support? and assistance where needed and the meeting ended with the traditional breaking of kolas, alligator pepper, and bitter kola and pouring of liberation on the ground. It was within this context that that the tradition of Lagos with regard to the lagoon came up. It was noted that whoever works against the throne and the interest and peaceful co-existence of Lagos would end up in the lagoon as per tradition.

    2.Oba Akiolu stated further that the Igbo people have not betrayed the throne. Lagos has also not betrayed the Igbo people. Lagos has done so much to make the Igbos comfortable and to prosper. For this, we expect reciprocal respect and understanding. The Oba of Lagos prays that the Lagoon and the throne will continue to bless and protect all those who reside and visit Lagos.

    3. Oba Akiolu is the father of all irrespective of tribe, religion or political persuasion. In Lagos, we have an old traditional proverb that relates to the Lagoon. The Lagoon is unique to Lagos. The proverb stresses the need for unity and understanding when you do business in an environment and in this case when you live and do business in Lagos.

    Oba Akiolu prays for peace for the land of Lagos and prosperity for all its inhabitants.
    Signed: Chief Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, Opeluwa of Lagos
    April 6, 2015

     

     

  • ‘Vote Ambode for continuity’

    ‘Vote Ambode for continuity’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Alhaji Taofeek Ajadi Lawa, has urged Lagosians to vote for the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Saturday.

    Lawa, who spoke in Surulere, Lagos, at the weekend, said a vote for Ambode is a vote for the continuity of good governance.

    He said: “I implore indigenes and non-indigenes to vote for Ambode and other APC candidates on Saturday.

    “A vote for them will ensure the continuity of good governance started by the party’s National leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and sustained by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN).

    “On no account should Lagosians allow the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) take over Lagos State, as this will be disastrous. The party will derail the good governance put in place by the APC. For instance, the Tinubu and Fashola administrations have provided good roads, health care services, decent accommodation, effective transportation system and others.”

    Answering a question, Alhaji Lawa said Governor Fashola meant well for Lagosians by banning commercial motorcyclists from the highway.

    He also explained that the Fashola administration did not discriminate against the Igbo and other non-indigenes “because an Igbo, Mr. Ben Akabueze, is the commissioner for Economic Planning & Budget.”

    Lawa added: “Another Igbo, Joe Igbokwe heads the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance & Regulatory Authority (LASIMRA).

    ‘’He is also the APC publicity secretary in Lagos State. Governor Fashola is a detribalised Nigerian. APC is a national party.

    ‘’I assure Lagosians that irrespective of their ethnic group or religious belief, Ambode and other APC candidates will cater for their needs and protect their interests, if voted into office.”

  • Pastors drum up support for Ambode, Tejuoso

    Pastors drum up support for Ambode, Tejuoso

    •Igbo to vote for APC
    •ICAN hails candidate

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, will win Saturday’s election, Bishop Kayode Williams has said.

    The national coordinator of Pastors for Change, an independent support group, described Ambode as the right leader for Lagos, urging Christians to vote for all APC candidates on Saturday.

    Bishop Williams spoke at a briefing at Ilupeju Recreational Centre, which had several pastors in attendance. The briefing was held to drum support for Ambode and Mrs. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, who is seeking re-election into the House of Assembly.

    The cleric said Lagos had suffered in the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government, which he accused of denying the state its needed impetus to self-development.

    He said: “We are mobilising our members for Ambode to ensure continuity in Lagos and we are confident that God, who we serve diligently and faithfully, will hear us again.

    “Nigerians have proven to be resilient, but we have been plagued with bad leadership in the last 16 years.

    “Despite frustration by the PDP-led Federal Government, Lagos, under the leadership of Babatunde Fashola, has achieved tremendous development with its meagre resources.

    “Lagos State, under the management of APC, has been gradually transformed to a better place that most of us can be proud of.

    “Gone are the days when they say pastors should not interfere in politics. Today, when you see that a candidate is good and God has convinced you, speak to your congregation to vote for that candidate.

    “It is not a secret, it is a mandate from God. A truthful person must say the truth and that is why we must mobilise our congregation.”

    Bishop Williams congratulated the president-elect, Gen. Muhammad Buhari and his deputy, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, saying he had long prophesised APC’s victory.

    He said: “They have my letters with them (APC). I told them the revelation I got from God on the general elections.

    “I even advised them not to conduct primaries because Buhari would defeat all his rivals. God has anointed him. Today, the revelation has come to pass and I am also telling you another one on Ambode.”

    Bishop Williams accused the PDP of wasting billions of naira to capture Lagos, noting that such huge amount could have been spent on infrastructure or human capacity development.

    He said Lagos could not afford to be in the opposition, if its potentials must be achieved.

    Buhari, represented by Dr Tunde Ayeye, said Lagos would enjoy all its privileges under his government, promising to work with Ambode after his election.

    Ambode, who spoke through Mrs. Tejuoso, thanked Nigerians for voting APC in the presidential election, urging Lagos residents to vote for continuity in the state.

    Mrs. Tejuoso urged members of the group in Mushin 1 Constituency to vote for the APC. She said for religious leaders to openly support the APC, the party was doing well to lift people out of poverty.

    “I am confident that APC would win by a landslide in Lagos State, because people have seen everything that is going on in the country and now would be more ready to vote the party at the state level. We are happy we won the federal elections, but Lagos will achieve more development, if it remains in the same party with the Federal Government.”

    Igbo traditional leaders have promised to deliver their domains to Ambode.

    The leaders who were in the palace of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, promised to vote for the APC on Saturday.

    The Chairman, Eze Ndigbo in Council and title holders, Lagos State, Eze Gordian Dimojiaku, said Igbo had resolved to vote for Ambode, unlike what happened during the presidential election where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Igbo dominated areas.

    He said: “We are very sorry for what happened last Saturday. We came here today to tell the Oba that on Saturday, you will see a change.

    “Contrary to the insinuations that the Igbo did not vote for the APC, we voted for the APC but maybe our efforts were not enough.

    “But I want to assure the Oba that this Saturday there will be a difference. We have started to work in the 37 local council development areas and the 20 local governments.

    “When we leave here, we will go back to our people and tell them what to do. We have agreed with the Oba in the presence of everybody that we will deliver on Saturday,” he said.

    Dimojiaku called on all Igbo resident in Lagos State to vote for experience.

    He noted that continuity in Lagos will protect the Igbo’s huge investments in Lagos.

    Oba Akiolu said Lagos had provided unparallel opportunities for Igbo to grow in their business, public and private lives.

    He said Igbo had never been discriminated against.

    The monarch said the visit was not just for support for Ambode but for the progress of Lagos.

    “They are showing their solidarity for the progress, growth and development of Lagos. Ambode is just an individual, a symbol that will deliver the message which I, the Oba, the number one traditional citizen of Lagos, other obas and stakeholders, will send him.

    “He is going on a mission and by the grace of God, he will consolidate on the gains recorded. He will make Lagos better for everybody. I want to urge the opposition in Lagos to wait for their time.”

    Ambode has been hailed for his extraordinary leadership qualities and professionalism.

    The APC candidate was the special guest at a lecture organised by the Ikeja District of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (IDSICAN) yesterday at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.

    Ambode was the focal point of an academic research titled: “The Effects of Leadership Quality on Public Expenditure Management: Evidence From Lagos State Treasury Under Akinwunmi Ambode As Accountant General”

    According to Prof Kabiru Isa Dandago, who presented the research paper, the APC candidate proved to be a exemplary leader, who has mastered the art of exercising the principles of leadership along the lines of accountability, transparency and prudence.

    “This study aims to explore the potentials of quality leadership on public expenditure management (PEM) towards a better life for the citizenry.

    “It specifically examines the effects of leadership quality on PEM performance, using the six-year tenure of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as the Accountant General (AG) of Lagos State as the focal point.

    “In the comity of states, Lagos has distinguished itself as a state with distinct PEM credentials in the six-year leadership of Akinwunmi Ambode as AG.

    “It is, therefore, important to examine Ambode’s underlying leadership qualities for the period under review (2007-2012) and to highlight the lessons, which can be replicated elsewhere.”

    He, therefore, recommended that “Lagosians should strive to exercise their rights to vote a professional, who has exhibited concern and care for them, long before showing interest in serving as their chief accounting officer and chief security officer.

    “A vote for Mr. Ambode is clearly a vote for improving the lives of the present generation of Lagosians and for laying solid foundation for sustainable well-being.”

    ICAN President Chidi Onyeukwu Ajaegbu praised Ambode and the results presented by the study.

    He said: “With 19 qualities of leadership and 16 signs of professionalism acumen that this study makes us see in Akinwunmi Ambode, it has proven beyond doubt that accountants make the best leaders in the world. Lagos is blessed to have him.”

  • For Lagos, For Ambode

    For Lagos, For Ambode

    I remember an incident a few years ago when President Jonathan was asked by Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, to give the state a special status. The governor of example must have been bewildered when the President responded with a chilling parable. He said his uncle made his money in Abuja and spent it in Lagos. That is the hazard when a major state, and the nation’s most important city, is ignored in the centre. Since Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s reign, Lagos has had to survive with imagination. The centre ignored it and even harangued it, a la Obasanjo. As the city with the biggest population, influx and diversity of people from elsewhere and business hive, Lagos is like New York or London or Los Angeles. In spite of the political hue of the city, the centre in those countries acknowledges their places and roles. Under Asiwaju and BRF, it has been a fight against the grain.

    Now, the battle to get the centre started from Lagos, with Asiwaju, the best politician ever in the nation’s history, gaining the centre with adroit work of coalition with the APC. Now that LAGOS has gained the centre, how could it go to the opposition? And lose all it fought for in about two decades? Not to a man who once joined Tompolo and company to call for trouble if Jonathan lost, or who went venal and asked his supporters to compare who was more handsome between Jonathan and Buhari.

    The APC In Lagos has been a serious business with foundation set, and then improved with imagination. And Akinwunmi Ambode, ex-Harvard, Ex-Wharton Business School, Pennsylvania, first-class accountant in school and practice, who worked in all parts of Lagos and lived there, is the natural man for the job. Governing Lagos has always been a serious matter and not a contest of handsomeness. We need a man who will take Lagos with a steady hand to the next platform. We want a man who has experience but not an experimenter.

  • Ambode’s ‘CHELSEA UNITED’

    Why would anyone want to leave a winning path? This is the key question for the electorate ahead of the Lagos State governorship election expected to hold on April 11. The question perhaps requires no answer because there may be none; or more reasonably, because there is unlikely to be any reasonable answer. Guided by reason, the voters ought to continue on the path of reason.

    Five months before the All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State governorship hopeful and frontrunner, Akinwunmi Ambode, 51,  formally expressed his ambition at a well-attended October 24 ceremony at the Onikan Stadium last year, he published a piece in celebration of the state’s 47th anniversary. The May 27 article followed Ambode’s then controversial May 15 public endorsement by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu. The preeminent Lagos monarch had declared at a book launch at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos: “The elders of Lagos have said that Ambode will be governor…The elders have been meeting…We review things regularly…The elders have said that Ambode should be the next governor of Lagos.” It is remarkable that the king’s confident prophecy is on course.

    Interestingly, in his piece titled “Happy Anniversary: “Lagos State”, Ambode wrote: “As Lagos turns fifty in the next three years, therefore, the future beckons on whoever would take over the baton in the relay of enduring people-friendly policies to solidify and build on these worthy legacies.” His reference to legacies was a tribute to the governmental accomplishments of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was the state governor from 1999 to 2007, and Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, whose second-term ends this year after succeeding Tinubu at the helm in 2007.

    It is worth noting that Ambode illuminated his administrative background, and gave an insight into his edge over rivals. He said: “Having been in a vantage position to work with the last two governors for 13 years, I conclude this piece as I share with you all one lesson I learnt from serving under them by using the football anecdote.” According to Ambode, “My two former bosses, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Mr. Bbatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), are both great supporters of Manchester United, while I, their ward, am a Chelsea fan. I have come to regard Asiwaju as the “special one” because, like the famous bearer of that title, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, he laid the solid foundation for the evolution of modern Lagos. Like ‘Mourinho’, he has the vision and the winning formulae. In May 2003, at his inaugural speech for his second term in office, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu declared that “we will build with vigour on foundation laid in the first term until the momentum of positive change becomes forever irreversible in Lagos State.”

    Ambode continued: “But the special one needs a special manager and an ebullient visionary to accomplish the goals. If Lagos State were Manchester United, His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is the quintessential and indefatigable Alex Ferguson. He brought in his Midas touch in all facets of governance to actualise that positive change in the development and growth of Lagos State.”

    Finally, Ambode wrote: “So, where does that leave me, their student? I learnt first that in any club managed by these two managers, there is no room for a David Moyes. And I pledged to myself that if I am ever entrusted with the responsibility of administering a football club, I will name it CHELSEA UNITED, if just to assure my two bosses that I learnt from their different but complementary styles in building and running a formidable team.”

    In an important sense, Ambode is on the threshold of “administering a football club”, if political governance may be seen from such perspective. His experiential empowerment cannot be discounted. To go by the saying, “Experience is the best teacher,” Ambode leads the field by a wide gap in the governorship race. Of course, it is another question whether Ambode has been a teachable student.

    For an answer, it is useful to highlight Fashola’s well-quoted testimonial, which Ambode described as “my gold medal for public service.” It is particularly noteworthy that at the time Fashola wrote the glowing letter of commendation following Ambode’s voluntary 2012 retirement after a 27-year career in the state civil service, it was not a political statement and was not politically relevant. However, with a few days to the governorship poll, Fashola’s tribute to Ambode deserves to be recognised as a political medallion.

    Fashola wrote: “I write on behalf of the people of Lagos to commend your high sense of dedication, selflessness and integrity which you brought to bear on the civil service. I wish to specifically remark that working closely with you has been of tremendous mutual benefit, particularly in the present administration.” He continued: “You have displayed high sense of professionalism and have been a good team player, guided by the philosophy of a true public officer, who must place himself last while rendering service to the public. We are convinced that your brilliance and zeal will make you excel in your future endeavours.”

    It is worth mentioning that the medallist’s background includes stints as the Accountant- General of Lagos State from 2006 and 2012, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, and Auditor-General for Local Government. These features of Ambode’s profile demonstrate that he is probably the most experienced individual in terms of familiarity with the state civil service operations to seek the position of governor since Lagos State was created in 1967.

    What about his impact? Ambode’s critical role in the creation of the State Treasury Office (STO) should be of special significance in rating him as a governorship candidate. The STO has been acknowledged as a ground-breaking development which has fundamentally improved how the state’s funds are raised, budgeted, managed and spent. It goes without saying that Ambode’s confirmed authoritative grasp of treasury issues gives him a superior advantage.

    What about his clear-sightedness? “If we take the concept of resource generation, allocation and distribution into cognisance and apply the principles of good governance, we will achieve economic growth and development,” Ambode said while presenting a paper titled “Public Finance: Probity and Accountability” at a workshop organised in August last year by the Lagos State Government and the Lagos Business School.

    It is quite reassuring to know that Ambode signified his intention to continue on the path of meritorious governance charted by Tinubu and Fashola by speaking of “continuity of excellence”. Ambode’s “CHELSEA UNITED” football metaphor holds a winning promise that the electorate ought to appreciate and endorse.

  • Kunle Afolayan’s new TVC underscores AMBODE dreams for Lagos

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) popular slogan, ‘Change’, it appears, is a revolutionary mantra against bad governance, as multiple award-winning actor and filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has just adjusted his tune to ‘Continuity’, apparently in support of the APC governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to carry on the achievements of the party in the nation’s commercial and entertainment hub.

    With the governorship and states’ House of Assembly election just one week away, Afolayan, not only brings his ingenuity to bear in a new smash-hit commercial that endorses Mr. Ambode, he is taking the Yorubas down memory lane, with a footage from Ija Ominira, the popular movie shot in 1978 by his late father, Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade Love).

    Ija Ominira (Struggle for Independence) in this context is a message of relentlessness on the part of indigenes and residents of Lagos to preserve the achievements of the state and sustains its independence from strange political opponents.

    A 60-second production, the Television Commercial (TVC), which has been described as a blast from the past, is mixed with contemporary reality. Afolayan used the goje musical instrument together with the traditional chant of Ajobiewe, the talented actor and poet, to spice up the creative appearance he made with his father, who passed on in 1992.

    The TVC brings to the fore, the success of Lagos, by attributing same to the solid foundation laid since 1999 and, playing up reasons to continue with that tradition of excellence by having an astute administrator who understands governance to succeed the incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola.

    Afolayan’s production joins the rich list of quality television commercials and artistes who have enlisted to use the creative arts to drum up support for Ambode’s candidacy.

    A world-class television commercial, “I Believe” and the “Ambo” soundtrack featuring the best of Nigeria’s music and film artistes like MI, Flavour, Banky W, Yemi Alade, Ice prince, Desmond Elliot and Ali Nuhu are widely acknowledged to have distinguished Ambode’s campaign in the last four months. Other artistes who have recorded hit songs for the APC candidate include Alhaji Kollington Ayinla, King Wasiu Ayinde (K1), Dede Mabiaku, Dammy Krane, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, Seun Bankole, Sefiu Alao, Fatai Akanbi Valentine and Gbenga Adewusi.

    Meanwhile, Ambode has said that the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as the President-elect portends good omen for the development of arts, entertainment and tourism in Nigeria. Speaking through his Director of Communications, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the APC candidate said Lagos State would benefit from an APC-led government at the federal level.

    “The entertainment and tourism sectors will benefit tremendously from an APC-led government at the centre from May 29. We are not talking about occasional monetary hand-outs to select artistes. We are concerned about building enduring structures and empowering creative artistes and producers who invest their time and resources in these thriving sectors.

    “With an APC-led government at the centre and in Lagos, our aim is to work with the federal government to have the National Theatre at Iganmu rehabilitated once and for all, and turn it into a profitable base for artistes. We can extend similar thoughts to the National Museum and National Gallery of Arts. Those places should not be dead-ends. Yes, they are Federal Government properties but they are in Lagos and an APC-led government at the centre and in Lagos State will work in sync to turn those places around. This is why it is of utmost importance that Lagosians take advantage of this God-given victory of last Saturday to vote to retain APC in Lagos State. We have waited for 16 years for this to happen and we shouldn’t blow it now,” Ambode said.

    He added that one of his proposed flagship programmes, Project T.H.E.S.E, aims at harnessing the hospitality, arts, entertainment and sport sectors to further drive excellence in Lagos State.

  • Entertainers strategise for Ambode’s victory

    AHEAD of the April 11 governorship election in Lagos State, supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially the entertainers in the party, are strategising to ensure victory for their man.

    Under the aegis of League of Entertainers Candidates and Aspirants in APC (LECA), the body, comprising entertainers who participated in the party’s primary elections, aims to record more popular songs that will attract support for the candidate of the party, Akinwunmi Ambode, in the election.

    The members of the group include gospel act, Kenny St-Best (KSB), Dayo Adeneye, Desmond Elliot, Tony Tetuilla, 9ice and Tony One Week.

    According to KSB, LECA is putting together measures to repeat the performance of the party in the Presidential and National Assembly elections, towards ensuring that Ambode wins the election.

    “What we are doing here is to ensure that our candidate wins. The body comprises entertainers who contested in the primary. You are aware that some won, while some lost in the primaries. But we have all come together to join hands and work for our candidate in the election.”

    KSB, who was also part of the team that performed at campaigns for the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, expressed optimism that the APC candidate would win the election.

    “Believe me, we don’t nurse any fear. We have worked very hard to make sure that our candidate wins the election.”

    She expressed delight at the leadership style of the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who she described as a ‘leader of men’.

    “You cannot take anything away from this man. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has proved to all that he is indeed a leader of leaders. His suave and robust leadership style has definitely rubbed off on the performance of the party at all levels.”

  • Igbo urged to vote for Ambode

    Igbo urged to vote for Ambode

    Igbo settlers in Lagos have been urged to vote for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on April 11.

    The Eze Ndigbo of Ikeja, Eze Uche I.C. Dimgba, said Igbo indigenes in Lagos have no reason not to support the ruling party in a state that has allowed their businesses to thrive.

    Explaining what informed the voting pattern in areas with large concentration of Igbo, Eze Dimgba said his kinsmen were deceived by those who whipped up ethno-religious sentiments.

    His words: “The Igbo are working to ensure victory for the APC on April 11. The governorship election will be different from presidential. The Igbo voted on tribal sentiments.

    “They were told that Gen Muhammadu Buhari is a religious fanatic; that President Goodluck Jonathan is their kinsman and that a Buhari presidency will affect the Igbo business.

    “But the election has shown that majority of Nigerians have made their choice. So, there will be no justification for Igbo to vote against a government that has protected their interest for 16 years.”

    According to him, those sentiments disappeared with victory of Gen Buhari, who he said has a better pedigree to turn around the fortunes of Nigerians.

    On what informed the Igbo support for the APC, he said: “We support the APC to win the presidential election not because we see it as a political party.

    “The APC is a movement for change and that change is not only in baton between the ruling party and the opposition but change in the old ways of doing government business.

    “We also live in Lagos and we have seen what the incumbent government has been able to do right from the time of Asiwaju Tinubu. The incumbent has maintained a track record and we want the trend to continue. What is the point in changing a performing party?

    “Every right-thinking Igbo man should come on board and join the moving the train. Nobody should sit on the fence. We must all come out on April 11 and vote for APC.”