The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Babajide Sanwo-Olu

  • Prophet predicts victory for Ekere

    An elder in The Apostolic Church and a newspaper distributor, Mr. Effiong Etukudoh, has predicted the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer governorship election, Obong Nsima Ekere, will win Saturday’s governorship election in Akwa Ibom State “based on the word of God”.

    Etukudoh said in an interview with The Nation in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the Lord revealed to him as far back as 2017 that Ekere will emerge as the governor of the state in 2019, a time the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was not even in contention for the position.

    He said: “What I want to tell you is that when God says this is what is going to happen, nobody can stop it.

    “The PDP in Akwa Ibom plays politics of blindness, because they close their eyes to the realities of the day.

    “I got this revelation in 2017 and I told people here that Nsima Ekere would become governor of Akwa Ibom State on 2019.

    Read Also: Ekere loses council to Atiku, PDP

    “By that time, he had not even mentioned that he was going to contest in 2019.

    “So, when the primary came last year, everybody expected Senator John Udoedehe to win the ticket, because he is somebody that is well known.

    “But, I told them that the person that would emerge as the APC flag bearer is Nsima Ekere.”

    The prophet said the APC candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will carry the day just as his Sokoto State counterpart, Ahmed Aliyu, will triumph in the Northwest state.

    His words: “In Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu will win. This is because Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the godfather of Lagos politics.

    “Tinubu is the only man that has played politics according to the rules of the game, hence he has succeeded so far.

    “In Sokoto, APC will win, but Delta State is a battleground. In Imo State, Governor Rochas Okorocha is insisting that his son in law, Uche Nwosu, will win, but I don’t know about that, because it is not even certain that elections will hold in Imo tomorrow.

    “The problem that will rear its head will be like that of Akwa Ibom State: the election will not be hitch-free like the presidential and National Assembly elections.”

    Etukudoh said when he predicted in 2018 that former President Olusegun Obasanjo would be retired from politics in 2019, because his candidate will not win, people did not believe him, because he is a commoner.

    “Nobody believed me, but it has come to pass,” he added.

  • Tinubu urges Lagos APC to work for victory

    All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday urged members  to work for the victory of the Lagos State governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and 40 House of Assembly flag bearers at the Saturday elections.

    He also advised party followers and supporters to promote peace and harmony on poll day by shunning violence across the state.

    Lamenting the low turnout of voters during the presidential and National Assembly elections, the former Lagos State governor said there was room for improvement on Saturday.

    He admonished youths who are fond of playing football on the road during elections to  cast their ballots before their game.

    Tinubu spoke on the imperative of consistent and effective mobilisation of voters for a successful poll at the APC stakeholders’ meeting held at the party office on Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja.

    He charged the canvassers, mobilisers and party agents to rededicate themselves to the cause of the party, assuring that the party will reward them for a job well-done after the exercise.

    Tinubu urged local party leaders to summon meetings of all members to strategise on how to deliver their units, wards and local governments to the party.

    He said: “Go to your wards and see your leaders at the local government as canvassers and mobilisers. Take the membership list, mobilise and do your best. If you want to be a leader, you try to act like a leader.

    “On Saturday, I want to be able to announce that the in the 20 local governments, according to the INEC, we have won 40 House of Assembly seats. If you lose your polling booth, you are on your own. If you lose the House of Assembly in your constituency, don’t come back home. That means you cannot deliver.”

    The meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule, deputy governorship candidate Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, party chairman Tunde Balogun, secretary Dr. Wale Ahmed, former deputy governor Olufemi Pedro, former Minister of State for Defence Demola Seriki, Governorship Advisory Council (GAC) members — Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Busura Alebiosu, one-time Finance Commissioner Olawale Edun, Rabiu Oluwa, Olumuyiwa Sosanya, Pa M.A. Taiwo, Senator Tony Adefuye, Lanre Rasak, Dr. Yomi Finnih, Mutiu Aare, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, and Prof. Tunde Samuel; Funso Ologunde, Pa Alabi Macfoy, Southwest APC Women Leader Mrs. Kemi Nelson, Sanwo-Olu’s Campaign Manager Tayo Ayinde, Mrs. Fausat Gbadebo, Toun Adediran, Kayode Opeifa, Olujobi Adio Badmus, Oyinlomo Danmole, Abiodun Salami, Bayo Ajisebutu, Chief Chris Ekwilo, Damola Kasumu and Demola Sodiq.

    Thanking party members for the outcome of the presidential and National Assembly polls, Tinubu, who lamented the inexplicable voters’ apathy, said that despite the low turnout, Lagos was delivered for the APC.

    He specially expressed gratitude to chieftains and members from five local government-Mushin, Agege, Ikorodu, Lagos Mainland and Lagos Island, saying that they voted massively for the ruling party.

    He said: “These five local governments came top and we have to recognise them. Those that did not measure up to expectation, we have to encourage them. On Saturday, be prepared. Call ward meetings tonight. Ask about the problems of party members. Some people have complaints. Try to solve them.”

    Reflecting on the previous polls, he added: “We went to vote, not to buy votes. You should go and work and come back for reward. The party and government have been serving you. We pay WAEC and JAMB fees of your children in schools. We take care of students in schools.

    “You agents, you need to be wise and encouraged. You worked without taking money from the party. Canvassers should double their efforts. Don’t go to sleep. You did not mobilise enough. It is a shame. Out of six million voters, we did not record half. It was a poor performance, unlike the Lagos that I know. Alimosho was disappointing. Oshodi was a struggle. So were Kosofe and Somolu. Voters barely showed up.”

    Tinubu called for peaceful polls, advising members and Lagosians to shun unruly behaviours during the exercise.

    He said: “We don’t want fight. We want peace. We want to win election. We are going to beat our opponents at the polls. Definitely, there is no need for violence. When you are confident of winning, you don’t disrupt voting. When you are provoked, ignore them.”

    Tinubu charged party faithful to exercise patience on the long queue during voting, adding that they should remember to use their index fingers to thumbprint the ballot papers.

    Firing salvos at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the former governor said it is a party of poverty and poison.

    To the party agents, he said: “Agents have tried. Don’t look for money. Look at the dividends of winning. Go and mobilise the elders to vote.”

  • Lagos chief seeks votes for Sanwo-Olu, others

    The Bashorun Musulumi of Lagos, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy has called on Lagosians to vote en mass for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and all the House of Assembly candidates.

    Alabi-Macfoy, who is a chieftain of the APC, said votes for the party will ensure continuity of good governance witnessed in the state.

    Lagos, he said, has always been blessed with credible people as helmsmen.

    Alabi said “Since 1999, Lagos has been blessed with good governance in the form of good governors that have been doing everything to make Nigeria proud of her heritage. Although immediately after the military regime in 1979, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, being the first civilian governor did massively well and others who took off after did the same. The progress in infrastructure, employment, all good things is improving from one governor to another and we pray that the next governor that will come up from APC will continue with what others have done to move Lagos forward and make it more peaceful.”

    He urged the youth to eschew violence during and after Saturday exercise.

    “We have to continue telling the youths that they should not allow themselves to be used as hoodlums. During our youth days, what we do is to participate in preparing voters card and make sure we distribute ballot papers and others things that will make election go smoothly, but the way things are going now, the influx of lots of people has eroded the value system of we Lagosians and we keep on praying that everything will be ok.

    “We have to pray not for Lagos alone but for other states because if other states have the same facilities and the same developmental programmes like Lagos, people from those states will not come to Lagos, they will stay in their state and development will spread to those states,” he said.

  • 30 governorship candidates endorse Sanwo-Olu

    NO fewer than 30 governorship candidates of opposition parties yesterday endorsed the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship flagbearer, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    The candidates, under the aegis of the ‘Forum of Governorship Candidates in Lagos State (FOGCILS), promised to work for his victory at the poll on Saturday.

    The parties include Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA), Peoples redemption Party (PRP), Peoples Progressive Party (PPA), DCP, AGA, AMN, ABP, AGAP and FJP.

    Director of Inter-Party Relations, Sanwo-Olu Independent Campaign Organisation Sesan Olanrewaju hailed the decision of the flagbearers to step down, assuring that the beneficiary would run a government of inclusion, if elected at the poll.

    The convener of the forum, Akinola Obadia, the secretary, Shola Omolola and representative of the candidates, Chief Ishola Aregbesola of MAJA, said the candidates made the sacrifice for the growth, advancement and continuity of good governance in Lagos.

    They hailed former Governors Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and Governor Akinwuni Ambode for laying good foundation for any future governor to build on, adding that they are worthy of pride.

    Hailing Sanwo-Olu’s choice as the APC flagbearer, Obadia said: “Lagos needs somebody in the mould of Sanwo-Olu to continue to steer the ship of leadership of Centre of Excellence. Sanwo-Olu’s family pedigree, background, personality, private sector experience and his foray into politics have prepared him to take Lagos to the next level.

    The convener said Lagos has recorded steady progress in the last 20 years as the fastest growing economy in Africa, adding that its achievements in the areas of security, education, transportation, traffic management and infrastructural growth would be sustained by Sanwo-Olu, if elected.

    Obadia said: “Now that we have all endorsed Sanwo-Olu to mount the saddle, we shall all go out now and start preaching the gospel to our people at the grassroots and across the state that Lagosians should go out and vote en mass for Sanwo-Olu on Saturday.

    “We are sure of victory and we shall sing victory song together, we shall never allow Lagos to slide or allow sycophants and enemies of our people to get power through campaign of calumny or through the backdoor. We remain committed to a progressive and next level Lagos.”

  • Arewa community endorses APC

    The Arewa Community in Lagos State has thrown their weight behind the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    Its Chairman, Alhaji Muhammadu Yabo, said members of the community will vote for Sanwo-Olu on Saturday.

    At a briefing in Ogba, Yabo said the Arewa Community has been supporting the ruling party in Lagos since the days of Alliance for Democracy (AD).

    “After the merger took place in 2013, we stick with the APC. Our consistency has shown that we are with the progressives and nothing is going to change our ideology.

    “We shall deliver block vote to the APC. As we did in the presidential election, we will replicate same on Saturday to indicate that we are not social media electorate, but real voters,” Yabo said.

    He called on other residents of the state to come out on Saturday to exercise their franchise and decide their leader for the next four years.

    “The Arewa people are psychologically ready and are enthusiastic to support Sanwo-Olu. We assure APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that noting will stop us from going out to exercise our constitutional right as enshrined in the constitution. The Arewa Community hereby re-endorsed Babajide Sanwo-Olu and all APC state assembly candidates,” he said.

  • ‘Sanwo-Olu will not disappoint Lagosians’

    As Lagosians prepare for Saturday’s governorship poll, Olufunke Phillips highlights the factors that will tilt the pendulum of victory towards the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    Before Babajide Sanwo-Olu,  the status quo had remained the same in Lagos for 19 years. Win a first term, do some pretty transformative work and win an easy second term. But, for the first time we heard a new name and beheld posters of a new candidate cropping up around Lagos.  Is this a case of the Party of Change changing someone that wasn’t delivering on his promises?

    Is this the new anointed one? Who is he? Why should we look at him? Will he be forced on us? I had my opinions. I mean, if you were in Lagos and you had not been living under a rock over the last few months, you’d probably have your own opinions too. The entire drama had played out in front of us all. The crux of it was when his opponent in the party primary the incumbent governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, had called a press conference to cast aspersions on his mental state and accuse him of past criminal misdeeds.

    That had piqued my interest. This was worth looking into. If the man that wanted to be my next governor had a case of spending fake currency then, I needed to know about it. I didn’t take those alleged accusations lightly. I think a lot of people did not take them lightly. They came from the lips of the governor but at the same time I have never believed an incumbent deserved a second term just because he is an incumbent. If you are doing a good job and the people you are serving can feel the impact, then yes, maybe a second term is in the offing but if the general populace is not happy, then you surely can not expect a second term. This is not “Buy One Get One Free” scheme we are doing here. You have to work really hard to deserve that second term.

    So, with all these in mind, the press conference was watched with a pinch of salt but was my curiosity piqued? It definitely was. I wanted to meet the man and ask him these questions face to face.  ”Ngbo sir, they say you were spending fake dollars in America? How come?” “And while we’re on that, what mental illness is it that they say you suffer from?”. These were the firsts of many questions that I wanted to ask Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    I did a couple of posts to my thousands of followers on social media. I followed the primaries for the two leading parties in the state and when both candidates were announced, I put out a post about my interest in moderating a governorship debate between both candidates.

    Jimi Agbaje, the candidate of the PDP, to me, is like a leap year, he disappears and pops up every 4 years. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to me, though a three-time Commissioner and Special Adviser  in Lagos for more than 10years, still did evoke much statewide recognition, so I set out to find out more about him.

    First, I googled his public profile. 53 years old Babajide Sanwo-Olu, spent 16 years in the public sector and 11 in the private sector. Educated at University of Lagos, Lagos Business School, Kennedy School of Government, London Business School, his educational qualifications, public and  private sector achievements made him an interesting candidate. He was a three-time commissioner in the state ( Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions), had done a lot of work on improving the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), had led the publication of the Lagos State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (LASEEDS) and set up of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.

    An opportunity for a meeting finally came up. I was prepared for him to come late because you know how these politicians do. Keep people waiting because they have to attend to every issue under the sun. Waiting for a politician can be quite a tedious affair, my experience in the past had left a sour taste in my mouth. So,  I was pleasantly surprised when he was on time.

    He came into the room wearing a simple blue native attire. If you hadn’t seen his picture before and hadn’t met him prior, you might be forgiven for thinking he was one of the many people slated to attend the meeting. There were no airs around him. He came in, introduced himself and took a seat. I kept looking at him. I didn’t know what I was expecting to see but it wasn’t this man that looked simple and unassuming. He looked liked he could be your uncle. He wasn’t brash. He waited for a person to finish speaking before he responded. He didn’t interrupt. He wasn’t condescending with his answers to the questions being asked. All through these, I kept looking at his eyes and I could have sworn I saw the gears in his brain turning while he was answering questions. He looked like one of those people we used to call ‘efiko’ in my high school.

    During a period when everyone seemed relatively relaxed, someone had cracked a joke earlier and while the laughter was still wafting around the room, I asked him why the incumbent governor, his opponent during the election and a member of the same political party he belonged to,  had made those accusations against him.

    For the first time, I saw something other than warmth, intelligence, wit and smarts behind his eyes. I saw hurt. I wasn’t sure. Was the hurt because of the question, or because of the person that had levelled the accusations against him? I didn’t know but I wanted to find out.

    After Fashola, I didn’t know how much I had missed having a well-spoken orator as a governor. I know people will say “Ehen? He can speak English well and so? How does that translate to governance?” I don’t know but I daresay a governor that can express himself confidently and explain issues in a concise and deliberate manner is a delight to listen to any day and yes, Lagos has missed that. Ok, fine, I have missed that if we’re being pedantic.

    Babajide Sanwo-Olu explained these allegations clearly. He doesn’t have a criminal record, home or abroad. He doesn’t have issues with any authority in the United States. He put it on record that he has travelled out to this same America where he supposedly has criminal charges against his person four times this year alone.

    On his records as a patient at Gbagada General Hospital, he has never been admitted as a patient at Gbagada General Hospital. He has never sought treatment for any ailment at Gbagada General Hospital, nor anywhere in the world.  The one and only time he had been to Gbagada General Hospital was on a charity outreach visit where he had gone to donate equipment to the hospital.

  • Polls: Ambode assures of adequate security

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State Wednesday assured voters that security challenges experienced during Presidential and National Assembly elections will not repeat itself on Saturday during gubernatorial and House of Assembly polls,

    He said efforts have been intensified to ensure that everyone registered in the state by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for the exercise participate without any security hindrances.

    The governor, who was accompanied by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule, and other cabinet members, gave the assurance yesterday after the weekly Executive meeting at the State House Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.

    He stressed that the security challenges experienced after the just concluded election have been dealt with and efforts have been made to ensure such does not repeat itself.

    Read Also: Buhari’s victory well deserved, says Ambode

    “We were very much aware of the incidences that occurred after the Presidential and National assembly election in the state. We have taken proper care of that. We understand that everyone in Lagos are same.

    “The peace, harmonious relationship and security that had existed in the state are very paramount to this government. We will ensure that everyone that is eligible to vote perform his civic duties without intimidation,” Ambode added.

    The governor argued that the state government understand that the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos and efforts would be made often to ensure it sustain that status.

    “We will ensure that Saturday election is held without hitches. We want to assure all residents of the state of their safety. Lagos is a cosmopolitan state and it will remain like that even after the election.

    “We encourage every resident that had been registered by INEC to come out and perform their civic duties. The security agencies have assured us that there will be adequate security in the state during and after the poll.”

    The governor however, noted that giant strides recorded in Lagos could only be sustained when every electorate vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other candidates of the party.

    Adding that, “We believe in continuity in this government and that is why we have decided to back every candidate of the party. So, we urged everyone to support and vote every APC candidates in Lagos.”

  • ‘Sanwo-Olu will not disappoint Lagosians’

    As Lagosians prepare for Saturday’s governorship poll, Olufunke Phillips highlights the factors that will tilt the pendulum of victory towards the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    Before Babajide Sanwo-Olu,  the status quo had remained the same in Lagos for 19 years. Win a first term, do some pretty transformative work and win an easy second term. But, for the first time we heard a new name and beheld posters of a new candidate cropping up around Lagos.  Is this a case of the Party of Change changing someone that wasn’t delivering on his promises?

    Is this the new anointed one? Who is he? Why should we look at him? Will he be forced on us? I had my opinions. I mean, if you were in Lagos and you had not been living under a rock over the last few months, you’d probably have your own opinions too. The entire drama had played out in front of us all. The crux of it was when his opponent in the party primary the incumbent governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, had called a press conference to cast aspersions on his mental state and accuse him of past criminal misdeeds.

    That had piqued my interest. This was worth looking into. If the man that wanted to be my next governor had a case of spending fake currency then, I needed to know about it. I didn’t take those alleged accusations lightly. I think a lot of people did not take them lightly. They came from the lips of the governor but at the same time I have never believed an incumbent deserved a second term just because he is an incumbent. If you are doing a good job and the people you are serving can feel the impact, then yes, maybe a second term is in the offing but if the general populace is not happy, then you surely can not expect a second term. This is not “Buy One Get One Free” scheme we are doing here. You have to work really hard to deserve that second term.

    So, with all these in mind, the press conference was watched with a pinch of salt but was my curiosity piqued? It definitely was. I wanted to meet the man and ask him these questions face to face.  ”Ngbo sir, they say you were spending fake dollars in America? How come?” “And while we’re on that, what mental illness is it that they say you suffer from?”. These were the firsts of many questions that I wanted to ask Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    I did a couple of posts to my thousands of followers on social media. I followed the primaries for the two leading parties in the state and when both candidates were announced, I put out a post about my interest in moderating a governorship debate between both candidates.

    Jimi Agbaje, the candidate of the PDP, to me, is like a leap year, he disappears and pops up every 4 years. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to me, though a three-time Commissioner and Special Adviser  in Lagos for more than 10years, still did evoke much statewide recognition, so I set out to find out more about him.

    First, I googled his public profile. 53 years old Babajide Sanwo-Olu, spent 16 years in the public sector and 11 in the private sector. Educated at University of Lagos, Lagos Business School, Kennedy School of Government, London Business School, his educational qualifications, public and  private sector achievements made him an interesting candidate. He was a three-time commissioner in the state ( Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions), had done a lot of work on improving the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), had led the publication of the Lagos State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (LASEEDS) and set up of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.

    An opportunity for a meeting finally came up. I was prepared for him to come late because you know how these politicians do. Keep people waiting because they have to attend to every issue under the sun. Waiting for a politician can be quite a tedious affair, my experience in the past had left a sour taste in my mouth. So,  I was pleasantly surprised when he was on time.

    He came into the room wearing a simple blue native attire. If you hadn’t seen his picture before and hadn’t met him prior, you might be forgiven for thinking he was one of the many people slated to attend the meeting. There were no airs around him. He came in, introduced himself and took a seat. I kept looking at him. I didn’t know what I was expecting to see but it wasn’t this man that looked simple and unassuming. He looked liked he could be your uncle. He wasn’t brash. He waited for a person to finish speaking before he responded. He didn’t interrupt. He wasn’t condescending with his answers to the questions being asked. All through these, I kept looking at his eyes and I could have sworn I saw the gears in his brain turning while he was answering questions. He looked like one of those people we used to call ‘efiko’ in my high school.

    During a period when everyone seemed relatively relaxed, someone had cracked a joke earlier and while the laughter was still wafting around the room, I asked him why the incumbent governor, his opponent during the election and a member of the same political party he belonged to,  had made those accusations against him.

    For the first time, I saw something other than warmth, intelligence, wit and smarts behind his eyes. I saw hurt. I wasn’t sure. Was the hurt because of the question, or because of the person that had levelled the accusations against him? I didn’t know but I wanted to find out.

    After Fashola, I didn’t know how much I had missed having a well-spoken orator as a governor. I know people will say “Ehen? He can speak English well and so? How does that translate to governance?” I don’t know but I daresay a governor that can express himself confidently and explain issues in a concise and deliberate manner is a delight to listen to any day and yes, Lagos has missed that. Ok, fine, I have missed that if we’re being pedantic.

    Babajide Sanwo-Olu explained these allegations clearly. He doesn’t have a criminal record, home or abroad. He doesn’t have issues with any authority in the United States. He put it on record that he has travelled out to this same America where he supposedly has criminal charges against his person four times this year alone.

    On his records as a patient at Gbagada General Hospital, he has never been admitted as a patient at Gbagada General Hospital. He has never sought treatment for any ailment at Gbagada General Hospital, nor anywhere in the world.  The one and only time he had been to Gbagada General Hospital was on a charity outreach visit where he had gone to donate equipment to the hospital.

  • Sanwo-Olu offers free health screening to Ikorodu residents

    Hundreds of residents of Ikorodu area of Lagos on Monday received free health screening sponsored by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the health screening exercise include free medical consultation, free eye test, free drugs and hospital referral, among others.

    Wife of the APC governorship candidate and that of his running mate, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu and Mrs Oluremi Hamzat, respectively, who presided over the medical outreach programme, appealed to residents to vote en-masse for all APC candidates during the March 9 elections.

    Also speaking at the event, Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Sanai Agunbiade, appealed to Lagos residents to ensure victory for all APC candidates in the upcoming polls.

    Agunbiade urged the residents to vote in a correct manner to reduce the number of void votes during the election.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu campaign offers free surgeries

    Also speaking at the venue, the Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, Mr Wasiu Adeshina, commended residents for coming out in their numbers to check their health status.

    Adeshina stressed the importance of health, reminding them that health is wealth and foundation of any meaningful socio-economic development in any society.

    According to the council boss, good health care system in a society gives rise to a formidable labour force which in turn lead to a viable economy.

    “It is wise for anybody above 40-years of age to engage in frequent medical checkup for the purpose of maintaining their health, prevention and treatment of disease.

    Mrs Sherifat Shokunbi, one of the beneficiaries, commended the council boss and the APC governorship candidate for the initiative.

    She urged them not to limit the benefit to only election period, but to make it a continuous exercise for more people to benefit. (NAN)

  • Southwest youths, traders endorse Adelabu, Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun

    A group of youths, traders and artisans under the umbrella of Grand Council of Yoruba Youths (Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba) has endorsed governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo, Lagos and Ogun States Adebayo Adelabu, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dapo Abiodun respectively.

    Representatives in the umbrella body include National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Market Women Association, Non Indigenes Association, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Okada Riders Association, Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Egbe Omo Odua (USA and UK), as well as Civil Society Organisation led by Comrade Mrs. Kehinde Olaoni.

    The endorsement at Western Hall, Oyo State House of Assembly Complex, Secretariat, Ibadan, on Monday was chaired by Senator Ayo Fasanmi, who was represented by Otunba Jumoke Ogunkeyede.

    Noting President Muhammadu Buhari’s performance and intention earned him the second term ticket, Otunba Ogunkeyede explained the administration of President Buhari was slowed down by the leadership of the National Assembly, which he said consists of people with questionable characters.

    Read Also: Why we are supporting Sanwo-Olu – Omisore

    He pointed out the purpose of the gathering was to ensure that Yoruba states are toeing the line of progressives ruling in the country to ensure even development of the region.

    He added that the step will go a long way to guarantee the people of Southwest more dividend of democracy.

    While endorsing the APC gubernatorial candidates, the chairman of the occasion stated it was imperative for South Western states to align with government at the centre by voting governorship candidates of APC in Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections to sustain the progressive’s developmental agenda of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    The convener and Chairman Planning Committee, Comrade Awa Bamiji enjoined people in Oyo, Lagos, and Ogun States to come out on Saturday to vote for the candidates of the APC to ensure sustainable and rapid development of South West region.

    Bamiji commended President Muhammadu Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for creating a level playing ground to ensure that, not only free and fair but also credible election was conducted.

    Mrs. Iswat Ameringun who represented the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, Comrade (Mrs.) Kehinde Olaoni and other representatives from different parts of the region in the separate remarks on why Oyo, Lagos and Ogun States cannot afford to deviate from the government in power at the centre.