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Tag: Babajide Sanwo-Olu

  • Group,Lagos APC provide free surgeries

    AS part of its effort to offer free medical care to indigent Lagosians, the Professionals for Humanity (PROFOH), an organsation made up of doctors, nurses, microbiologists and volunteers from Houston, Texas, has partnered with the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial aspirants Babajide Sanwo-Olu/ Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat under the BOSKOH medical mission to provide free surgeries to citizens of Lagos State.

    Speaking with the media at the Shomolu General Hospital where the experts are performing free surgeries before moving to another local government area in the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said that this is not a political mission as the welfare of Lagosians is beyond politics, “we are not asking for their PVCs before they can be attended to, anybody who needs help will be attended to. This is all about service to humanity.”

    Also speaking, the wife of Sanwo- Olu, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who is also the former Chief Medical Director, Shomolu Primary Health Centre, assured those with medical surgical challenges that their cases will be attended to.

    APC deputy governorship candidate, Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi  Hamzat,  lauded the medical mission from abroad and her Nigerian counterpart who partnered with BOSKOH, saying that they are giving hope to the hopeless.

    Speaking further, Hamzat said: “A woman came to me in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State and asked me to thank the BOSKOH medical team for taking care of her 20 years’ ailment.

    Head of PFOFOH, Gbimieotor Daniel Kama, affirmed that the team has been carrying out free medical treatment over the years and that they have had thousands of surgical procedures in Nigeria and outside the country over the years.

    “The surgical operations we are currently embarking on include hernia, tumours, different kinds of surgeries, fibroids, among others. We’ve been taking in as many people as possible until the medical team is tired and could not take in any people any longer. Sometimes we do up to 20 types of surgeries in a day. You never know until you get inside the theatre, there may be a lot of complications you’ll find there.”

    The team, Gbemieotor Daniel Kama added, will ensure they perform as many surgeries as they can handle as there are a lot of people who need this help. “The surgeries we can’t handle are heart- and liver-related, we do more of general surgeries including glaucoma, thyroid, hernia, fibroids, tumour, gall bladder, among others.”

    Head of PROFOH in Nigeria, Cliff Jarrell, observed that there were long list of people with different kinds of surgical operation such as cancers, malignant and non malignant types tumours, orthopaedic cases and classes of plastic surgeries and that the team with the aid of their foreign counterpart they have been able to solve such medical challenges.

    Coordinator of the mission and microbiologist on DNA, Nike Osa, stressed that they wanted to see how they could reduce the number of surgeries available hence they are doing their bit to improve the healthcare system.

    Osa mentioned the hospitals where the surgeries are going on to include Onikan General Hospital where hernias, fibroids glaucoma and plastic surgeries are being handled; the Lagos General Hospital for mostly paediatric cases, while the gynaecology and obstetrics cases are done at Shomolu General Hospital. “Our plastic surgeon, who is available, is about the third best on earth and so we have the capacity to handle these cases,” she said.

    “Our focus is to ensure that people who are not able to afford this expense will get these services for free and it is an immediate intervention for them. In a community like this and with the volume of emergencies you find, if they can’t access healthcare and instead of leaving them in a state where they can’t help themselves, we have brought this to them totally free. We have doctors from the UK, Australia, Spain and USA, we have all the capacity because we have brought in the best. We also welcome volunteers to join the team to bring wellness to Lagosians,” Osa concluded.

  • ‘I will make a difference as governor of Lagos’

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Babajide Sanwo-Olu spoke with reporters in Lagos on his plans for the Centre of Excellence and his chances in next week Saturday election. Excerpts:

    The governorship election is a week away. Why do you want to be governor of Lagos?

    I believe at this point in time, Lagos, which is the fifth largest economy in Africa, needs to set a new standard on how the state is managed and get new direction. It needs to do a lot of things quicker, faster and better. It needs to have a path through which we can begin to deal with all of the challenges that come with Mega City States. It needs to rebrand and to position itself for the opportunity that abound. We need to recalibrate the economy of the state and make it competitive for local and international competitiveness. Lagos needs to expand the economic base to create more private sector jobs. We have infrastructural deficits across sectors that we need private capital to fund. All of these I am prepared to deal with and can do better than anyone contesting against me.

    My wanting to be governor also has a whole lot to do with poorest of the poor in the society. A lot must also be done with all the challenges that we see every day- in traffic, transportation, health, education etc. But beyond all that, I have a whole lot of passion for people. I have been a people’s person. I am someone who usually want to give my time to ensure that the next person is better than whoever or whatever he is. Also, given my several years of experience, I believe this is the right time if I want to do it all. I need to do it right now and get it done. On a lighter note, we have the Not Too Young To Run guys who are ready to displace us. So, I need to do it now before they say I am too old (laughing).

    The Not You Young to run, but you think you fall into that bracket…?

    No I don’t fall within that bracket. There are lots of young people in their 30’s and early 40’s who also want to do this. They seem to be saying anyone above 40 is too old to be Governor or President. There is a lot of technological revolution going on out there and the younger people are pushing the boundaries. They have talent and energy which we must convert for the good of the state and the country. As Governor, I will tap into this and work with young people especially those of them the technology, entertainment and sports.

    And you think you’re the right man to do this?

     I believe that I am the right man, not thinking…

    Do you think that the process that threw you up as the candidate of your party in Lagos was fair?

    Absolutely; this is because I earned it. I won an open primary election. Party members freely chose the flag bearer of their choice. The party in Lagos and at the highest level provided an opportunity through direct primaries for states and aspirants in various elective posts to emerge. The party in Lagos followed the guidelines as provided for by the National Working Committee of APC. It was open, free, fair and transparent primary election that brought me out as the candidate. The party members are happy that they had a say in who is their candidate. The good thing now is we have united the party members across all the divides behind a common goal and objective which is to win the election next week Saturday and to also win all our House of Assembly seats in Lagos.

    But traditionally, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode should have been given the first right of refusal. But, he was not…

    Yes, as a sitting governor, he has the right to seek re-election just like any party member cannot be banned from aspiring to same office. The Governor exercised his right. What usually happens is that people say candidates are handpicked. But in this case, the party decided to throw the contest open. The party said that every card carrying member must have a say, so we went through a direct primary. It has not been done since 1992. So, over a million people voted and I got the highest number of votes.

    So, can you say your emergence was fair?

    Very well. Yes, it was fair.

    In that sense, are you saying that you will be a man of your own?

    At 53? Certainly I am and I will be my own man as governor. I appreciate all the support and endorsements of the party structure. I also think that happened because they know me, they know what I have done, my contribution in government, out of government and all the various things that I’ve done, that’s why they’re supporting me. This same question of if I will be my own man is a reference to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is our leader. It is important to say that Asiwaju has never had any negative influence on his two successors. He is always talking about the development of Lagos. If anything else, he pushes us to be better than what we have done in Lagos. He is my leader and a father figure. I will be lying if I say I will not take advice from him. I will seek his wise counsel and guidiance, just like I will take advice from Alhaji Lateef Jakande and anyone who have had the privilege of leading the state from when Lagos was created 52 years ago. They all have rich experiences on the leadership and governance of the state. They say experience is the best teacher.

    Your main rival, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has based his campaign on freedom. Do you think that Lagos is being remotely controlled and it needs to be freed from the stranglehold of a godfather?

    Nobody is in bondage in Lagos. This man you’re talking about comes out every four years to contest as governor, yet he talks about freedom. Let me ask where Mr. Jimi Agbaje was when his party, the People’s Democratic Party, held Lagos state revenue for over two years. So, there was no cry of freedom in Lagos when the PDP led Federal Government failed to grant approvals for developmental projects. There was no cry of freedom when Lagos had issues with securing the right of way for Redline rail project from Agbado to CMS for six years and PDP refused to grant it. There was no cry of freedom when Lagos was agitating for a special status for sixteen years. But Agbaje is suddenly talking about Freedom for a Lagos that has grown from borrowing money to pay salary in 1999 to a fifth largest economy in Africa. That’s unfair on the State and its people.

    Is Lagos working?

    Yes; it is working but it can do better and faster given the dynamics of where it was before now. That is why my running mate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and I are in this race to take the state to a greater level. We both have the credentials and the experience to make the state work better and smarter. We were part of the foundational work that started with Asiwaju Tinubu in 1999 through the Fashola administration that raised the bar in public administration.

    If you become governor, what will be your projection for the state in terms of working relationship with the Federal Government?

    You need the Federal Government to do a lot things. Many things we need to quickly get out of the way. We need to work with them in certain areas like right of ways for rail, Waterways, Power, abandoned properties etc.  For example when our government wanted to start a rail project, the PDP led Federal government refused to give us right of way on the Red Line, which would have enabled us lay rail track from Iddo to Alagbado axis of the state for mass transit. And because they refused, we had to do the Blue Line, which is a lot more expensive. If the PDP-led Federal government had allowed us, we would have completed the rail project a long time ago and transportation challenges would have been better for commuters in the State. Also, we’ve had problems securing approvals to build Jetties. The PDP-led FG refused to give us permit to build jetties for our people. Thankfully, the APC-led government of President Buhari has given us approval for the Red Line and we hope to work better with them in some other areas like housing. The Federal Government is also intervening in major road projects in the state already like Sagamu-Ikorodu that have been abandoned for 40 years, the Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonsoki road which has been awarded to AG Dangote, the Agbara to Seme Border end of the Badagry-Seme Border Expressway has also been awarded by the Federal Government. For many years too Lagos wanted to fix the International Airport road up to Oshodi for redevelopment and the PDP Federal Government refused to give approval. Again it is being done now by the state government though a Federal road. The Federal Government has also given the State House in Marina to Lagos State. Already, the State is enjoying the benefits of being in same party with the government at the centre.  Imagine, the Federal Government issuing certificate of occupancy and granting planning approvals on our land from Abuja without any recourse to us? These are some of the areas of collaboration that we need to explore with the Federal government. I believe working together; we will do a lot better for the benefit of every Lagosian, because at the end of the day, it is the people that matter.

    You’ve been talking about your projection for Lagos State. How do you feel that the Presidential candidate of your party, Muhammadu Buhari, won his election?

    I am very happy like every party man. Winning the presidential election is the ultimate prize for any political party. Like the President won his election I am certain we will win our elections in Lagos too.  President Buhari and our party deserved to win. In the last three and half years of his administration, he has lived up to his electoral promises. Recall that he promised to fix insecurity, tackle corruption and revamp the country’s ailing economy. You know that our economy actually went into accession for over a year and we’re coming out of it. We’ve seen the numbers, we are growing, although you may want to argue that we’re not growing as fast as we should. We are beginning to do a whole lot in Agriculture. For example, Nigerian farmers are doing a lot in rice production, which has given rise to partnerships between States such as Lagos and Kebbi States. The figures have shown a major decline in rice importation into Nigeria.  This is how the economy grows and certainly how it becomes sustainable.

    The government did a lot on security and other areas of life and this is why I believe that Nigerians did the right thing by given the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration a chance to continue for a second term so that they can wrap up all of the good initiatives they started in Power, Transportation, Rail, Roads, Job Creation, Housing, Youth Empowerment, Ease of Doing Business and National Competitiveness.

    You think this is the language that the average voter who is going to vote on Saturday in the governorship election in Lagos understands?

    I believe so. I believe that as politicians and even you the journalists should educate the people. We should tell them rightly that all of these are what will revamp the economy and bring back the jobs. We have seen real development in critical infrastructure. We have seen Ajaokuta-Itakpe-Warri rail which had been abandoned since 1987, the Lagos to Kano rail project where the Lagos-Ibadan leg is almost completed. We have seen the airports being completed in Port Harcourt and Abuja, the Abuja Light Rail project among others are massive projects that help the economy to grow. We cannot have a productive economy without critical infrastructure. So the country is moving in the right direction.

    Do you think that Nigerians trust your party?

    I believe they do, because the President has honestly told us that, if anything at all, he will never steal our money. What Nigerians should ask for are quicker and faster interventions where necessary. That President Muhammadu Buhari is a man of integrity is enough for me because that is what all other things are built upon. That’s what I also stand for. So what we need to see from now is for the jobs to go up, the economy revitalized and wrap up a whole lot more. Take a look at Ease of Doing Business, Nigeria has never had it so good. The Buhari administration has removed a whole lot of red tape that hitherto hindered business growth. We’ve gone through a phase where the stock market crashed. Thankfully it is coming back. The power sector reform is yielding dividends and in no time, I believe that Nigerians will be the best for it.

    You believe Nigeria will get better in President Buhari’s second term?

    I just explained to you that he has delivered on his electoral promises in his first term that will end in May. He will only consolidate on his achievements in his second term. The things he promised in his first term and the things he has been able to achieve are all evident out there. I have explained what he has done in the area of transportation and agriculture. Those are two major areas that throw up a lot of job opportunities for the teeming youth, not like the PDP and its candidate who were merely giving rhetoric, saying that they were going to create three million jobs; from where and how will they do it? Don’t forget that they were there for sixteen years, yet they couldn’t do it and coming out of recession, they want to do it. We went for a commissioning of Transmission line substation in Ilashe riverine area of Lagos few weeks ago. Do you know that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) revealed that it has commissioned more sub-stations in three years of Buhari administration than in sixteen years of PDP rule in Nigeria? And the regime spent over $16billion in power without anything to show for it. This is a huge revelation as far as I’m concerned.

    What will be the most important thing for you, if you win this election?

    It’s to get a lot of Lagosians out of poverty. I’m going to do that with my project team, by ensuring that we push more fund into education, health and social services. Currently we do about 8% budgetary allocation to education. We will see how we can push it up to about 15% in the next four years. Same with health too. We need to cover a lot of the vulnerable and poorest of the poor Lagosians under our Health Insurance Scheme. I believe that if we do well in Education and Health we will be guaranteeing the future of the children and Lagos State.

    Did you sign any deal to spend four years of one term only?

    I didn’t sign any deal with anyone. It is also important to say that it is only four years that is in INEC form.

    Will you be willing to renew it, if you win?

    It’s Lagosians that will determine that for me. There’s certainly no deal anywhere. The only deal that I will be having will be with Lagosians.

    Are you sure that you’re going to have two terms?

    Again, that will be left for Lagosians to determine. I’m sure that they will do the needful if I earn it.

    Finally, do you think you can win this election?

    I know I will win.

     

  • Tank farms brought us woes, claim Satellite Town residents

    RESIDENTS of Satellite Town in Lagos yesterday, at a town hall meeting, tabled their wishlist before All Progressives Congress  (APC) governorship candidate Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is seeking their vote in the March 9 election.

    Sanwo-Olu promised them a better life, if elected.

    The residents, among others,  called for :  assistance on environmental issues; clearing of drainages blocked by tank farms blocked drainages.

    Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mrs. Ramota Eniola, who represented Sanwo-Olu, at the meeting, said the environmental problems  would soon be addressed.

    “We have been on this environmental issue for some time. We are going to solve the problem. We will present the issue to the next governor. We will work together to ensure things get done. The problems the residents are experiencing will be solved,” she said Satellite Town Forum Chairman Michael Imitini  said the meeting was to let Sanwo-Olu know that the area had been neglected for years.

    “We are Nigerians and we are supposed to be taken care of. We want the local government, the current governor, Akinwumi Ambode and Sanwo-Olu to know that this area has been neglected since 1999.

    “The issue of tank farm is one of our major problems, although it is being addressed gradually. Satellite Town is a residential area, but the government has established tank farms here. They want to bring in container terminal, which will also add to the problem we are facing. Our roads are  flooded whenever it rains  because of the poor drainage. The presence of trucks poses fire outbreak. The trucks also cause traffic jam.

    “We want the government to assist us by putting in place infrastructure such as good roads, drainage and electricity.”

     

     

  • ‘Buhari deserves victory’

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  in Lagos State,  Babajide Sanwo-Olu has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the election.

    In a statement by his media and communication team, Sanwo-Olu described Buhari’s success as “not only well-deserving, but a valid testimony to the fact that Nigerians acknowledge and are appreciative of his reformative initiatives designed to bring forth a better Nigeria”.

    He said: “Your Excellency,  I heartily congratulate you on your success at the recent presidential election. Your landslide victory is a validation and appreciation of your hard work and commitment  to the fight against corruption, revamping the economy and ensuring security of lives and property.

    “With this deserved victory, your selflessness  and dedication to the services  of our motherland have become a new leadership model in Nigeria.

    “Expectedly, the reward for good work is more work. So, your victory in the nationwide free and fair election, which is a validation of how your leadership has rekindled hope in millions of Nigerians at home and abroad, has provided yet another valuable opportunity for better Nigeria  since democracy has found a permanent place in our country.’’ Sanwo-Olu said.

    Sanwo-Olu, who also described President Buhari as the perfect man for the job of taking Nigeria out of the inherited socio-economic quagmire, noted that the evident giant strides of the President in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, security and economic stability should be sustained.

    He added: “I am sure that Your Excellency will use this victory and your second term of four years in office to complete all the great projects you embarked upon. You are the perfect candidate for the job of re-ordering the nation and setting her on the path to greatness. The zeal to do something more sustainable for the masses of the country has made your electoral victory reality. All your hard work to achieve an economically viable and one indivisible Nigeria has paid off.’’

    The flagbearer, called on Nigerians to live in peace and harmony, saying that there is a lot more to benefit from ‘‘what unites us than what divides us.’’ He advised Nigerians to see elections as a means to an end and not the end itself.

    Sanwo-Olu said: “Elections are a four-year cycle activity, which means that when there is life, we will have another round of elections in the next four years. Therefore, it does not do us any good to fight ourselves over it.

     

     

     

  • TEAM 30 supports Sanwo-Olu

    Team 30, a group of Lagos-based businessmen, artisans and contractors, have endorsed and committed themselves to supporting Lagos State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, ObaFemi Hamzat.

    The group is lending its voice to the Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat ambition because it believes they have the required character and qualities, above all others, to further elevate Lagos to a standard that rivals other notable cities like J’burb, Dubai, New York, and Paris.

    Read also: Motorists, OPS lament return of trucks to Lagos roads

    They team believes that as a former Director of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat have the experience to propel an economy that pays over N20 million to the zenith using the blueprint already laid down by APC National Leader and former governor Bola Tinubu.

    The group urged Lagosians to shun sentiments and grievances to embrace the APC candidate and ensure the state votes them in to continue to enjoy the peace and prosperity that the state is known for.

  • Sanwo-Olu promises Lagos take over of National Stadium

    The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has promised to vigorously follow-up the Lagos State bid to take over the National Stadium complex in Lagos.

    He made the assertion while on a special visit to the secretariat of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Lagos chapter.

    Lagos State had submitted a bid in 2016 for full takeover of the 45-year old complex but it ended as failed proposal despite the fact that the ruling party in the state won the general election at the centre in 2015. He promised to give the sports sector a special boost if elected in the coming elections in Nigeria. Governorship election in the country holds on March 2.

    Sanwo-Olu said his visit was a continuation of sectorial consultation. This time, it is the sports sector. He said sports would be autonomous from the other sectors and separated for entertainment and effort would be made to ensure that the sector is self-driven to bring the best out of potentials that abound in the nooks and crannies of the state.

    “This sector deserves a special attention and we will ensure that the restive youths would be fully engaged in the rediscovery of their talents in the drive to bring back the old glory associated with the state at National Sports Festival.

    “Although I’m aware that other states poach athletes who have been groomed by Lagos state when national events come up, it is on record that Lagos do not need to do same because we have abundant talents who have been lured for monetary gains.

    “Lagos State Sports Commission will continue with its policies such as training grants to athletes and empowering the coaches with up-to-date knowledge of their respective events, while motivation of athletes will not be neglected,” he remarked.

  • 2019: youths urged to embrace peace

    Youths have been enjoined to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the 2019 general elections, to ensure the smooth running and success of the society.

    This was the submission of Bola Olabisi, the director-general of the 2019 Lagos Mega Youth Festival, at the press conference organized in Lagos.

    According to Olabisi, Lagos Mega Youth Festival is part of activities to celebrate the birthday of the national leader of the All Progressive Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

    In his words “We are using this medium to plead with youths across the country to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner before, during and after the 2019 elections. This is to ensure a peaceful elections and a peaceful country for all.”

    Speaking on the festival, Olabisi, who doubles as Lagos West divisional coordinator said “We are making youths in Lagos state proud with this programme. We use this to celebrate Asiwaju for all his effort in bettering Nigeria politics. We also use this platform to show our solidarity for the Lagos State governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    Read Also: Youths seek credible elections

    “The Asiwaju Mega Initiative is a non-governmental organization aimed at eternalizing the African living legend, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu through purposeful, resourceful talent discoveries and competitive programmes meant to imbibe the spirit, culture and ideology of Asiwaju in our generation.”

    The festival will comprise of event such as the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mathematics Competition and Games Competition. Others are the Party Man Quiz Competition and the Miss Mogaji Eko Beauty Pageant.

    Organizers disclosed that forms for the competition are free and available in all 57 Local government areas in the state. They will hold between 23rd February and 16th March, in Lagos, with prizes such as one day council chairman and  a one-day speaker is at state.

  • Trade Fair traders back Buhari, Sanwo-Olu

    Traders and artisans at the International Trade Fair in Lagos on Thursday declared support for the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) presidential and governorship candidates President Muhammadu Buhari and Babajide Sanwo-Olu respectively at a mega rally.

    The traders, who staged a walk round the market and engaged in voter education exercises, said their support for the APC was as a result of the improvement the market had witnessed under the current government.

    According to them, they were particularly impressed by the leadership style of the Executive Director of the International Trade Fair Mrs. Lucy Ajayi, an appointee of Buhari, who had ensured peace, transparency and accountability in the market.

    Among those who partook in the rally were former executive members of the market- Chief Paschal Udeh, Chief Alex Odunukwe, Chief Oscar Odogwu and Comrade Uba Amechi.

    Speaking at the rally, Udeh said he was supporting the APC because of Mrs. Ajayi’s strides in the market, adding that they have been able to conduct their businesses without fear of violence since she took over.

    He said: “I have been in this market for many years and I know how violent it used to be. People used to be scared. There was hardly a day that there wasn’t a fight and bloodshed. But all that has changed since this regime came in.

    “I do not know Buhari but because of the good things Mama Lucy Ajayi has done in this market, I am supporting APC.

    “We have never had it so good. We have had several executive directors in trade fair in the past, they were not accessible. She has been able to achieve this much because she listens and has vision.

    “They have promised to do more especially provision of road and I belief they will do it. So, we are calling on out people to vote for Buhari during presidential and Sanwo-Olu at the governorship elections.

    “We do not want another party to come in and scuttle the good plans already on ground.”

    During an aside interview with reporters, Mrs. Ajayi said the people’s support for the APC was a testament of the party’s good governance, assuring that government would commence construction of bad roads in the market soon.

    She said the traders had also regained trust in the system and were paying their taxes and levies, which they stopped under the previous administration.

    “When I came in, I met N44 million but right now we have been able to generate over one billion naira into the federation account. Not just the Treasury Single Accounts (TSA) but also the consolidated account.

    “Before now we usually have N34 or N44 million as budget but right now over a billion was approved because at the budget presentation, I told the lawmakers that I have studied the market and we can generate more money,” said Ajayi.

    Read Also: High, low points of Lagos trade fair

    Mrs. Ajayi said she got the President’s approval to effect positive changes in the market, claiming that most of the youths causing trouble have been gainfully employed.

    “We had to work to bring back the glory of this trade fair. We had someone who ran the affairs of this place under the past administration and for nine years, no dime was remitted to the federation purse.

    “It was supposed to be a developmental contract or concessioning and it was obvious he did the opposite.

    “But since I came which is barely two years, I have been able to make a difference because my principal, President Muhammed Buhari gave me all the freedom to do all I need to do.

    “What I heard from the past Executive directors was that madam if you say anything against what that person was saying, you will lose your job.

    “He gives you a mandate and he gives you the freedom to execute that mandate. By February ending we will commence construction work on the five kilometer road that has been hanging on. That is a land mark victory because when I came in here the first thing the traders said was that they were in bondage and that they were made to pay unnecessary levies whereas, the roads are bad.

    “They complained about their trucks are falling and so, I did some palliative measures on the road to reduce incidences of falling trucks. I did not seek permission from anyone to do so and no one has penalised me because it was the right thing.”

  • Oshodi market women seek affordable healthcare

    Market women in Oshodi have called on government at all levels to ensure access to affordable healthcare services for the masses.

    They spoke at the ongoing free medical service provided by the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    The market women urged Sanwo-Olu to ensure continuity of the free medical programme if elected into office.

    They lamented most market women cannot afford the huge costs of treatment in the hospitals in the state.

    One of them, Mrs. Iyabo Akinpelu, said continuity of the programme will to a large extent help the market women to maintain healthy lifestyle.

    Read Also: Driver ‘beats up’ neighbour in Oshodi

    The free medical programme is sponsored by the Prime Group, LMC for BOS and others.

    The programme included general consultation, breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, dental services, optometry services and others.

    The programme, which took place at the Resettlement market in Oshodi, witnessed provision of free eye glasses to hundreds of the women.

    There was also provision of free drugs for ailments such as high blood pressure, malaria and others.

  • Polls: Those spending too much will lose – Salvador

    Moshood Adegoke Salvador, is a former member of House of Representatives and former Lagos State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is now the Assistant Director General of Babajide Sanwo-olu Campaign Organisation. In this interview with Azubuike Chima, the politician, who is also the State Coordinator of Presidential Support Committee, gave reasons why PDP lost the 2015 presidential election. He also spoke about his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Excerpts

    You are a member of the Presidential Support Committee. What exactly is the work of this body?

    Our is just an assignment to support the campaign organizations. They know my experience in electioneering activities. They can tell of my sincerity and honesty in the way I do politics. Once you are given an assignment, you strategise on how to make impact. It is not that challenging. The only assignment is to mobilise votes for President Buhari and Babajide Sanwo-olu.

    Don’t you think some people may be angry about your joining the APC,  especially those now relegated to pave way for you?

    Provided some people reported to you that they were benched for me to occupy positions when I joined my new party. Otherwise, that is your assumption. Look, from this part of the world, we must stop thinking the way you are thinking. You always think in such a way that you see only problem, agitation, and the likes in all developments. You should think of dialogue.

    If you start thinking that some people were benched because of me, how are you sure that they are not happy that Salvador has come to help them win election? You must change the way you think and see developments. That is the only way to be positive about issues. Of course my experience was brought to bear upon arriving in the party and the leadership of the party moved to tap from it.

    What are the chance of APC in the upcoming elections in Lagos state?

    Do you know the strength of any political party? It is the structure. The structure of Lagos PDP has being distorted. And once the structure of any political party is removed, forget it. That is why it will be difficult for them to score half of what they scored in 2015. PDP membership was just 20,000 when I became chairman. I succeeded in growing it membership to 300,000.

    Having said that, it will be difficult for the PDP to remain the same with the exit of the chairman. I have practicalised the essence of structure. On two occasions, I have had to mobilise Conscience Mandate Group within a short notice. Conscience Mandate Group had the highest membership in PDP. When you talk about political party, it is only APC that has members more than my group. So, here in Lagos, Buhari will defeat Atiku hands down.

    How was it running PDP Lagos as its chairman?

    I don’t believe in money politics. I spent nothing less than 4million on a monthly basis from my personal purse in maintaining  the party as chairman. I have my personal business concerns that fetches me money. I am not in politics for money. I had threatened to disqualify candidates over inducement as chairman.

    So, why did the PDP, knowing your worth and sacrifices to it growth, let you go?

    Well, what the National Chairman ought to have done, he failed to do. No state chairman ever called the National chairman Uche Secondus and he picked their call. Even the chairman of state chairmen from Akwa Ibom , even claimed he sent 1000 messages to Secondus without a single reply from the national chairman. I told him to either remove Chief Olabode George, or I go, but he failed to do anything about it.

    With due respect to some of the leaders like Sule Lamido, Ahmed Makarfi and others who loved and showed me equal respect, the PDP is a very disrespectful party. And now in the APC, we have a different political life.

    As an insider at the time, can you really say what exactly did PDP did wrong in 2015?

    The money was too much. PDP spent too much money in 2015. If you spend too much money, you will lose election.There is a way of spending money. When you spend money that cannot get to the grassroots, you are just wasting the money. The basic thing a politician wants is recognition. But when those you deal with are without structures or you give them the feeling that you have the whole world, then they will be more interested in milking you than working for your victory.

    Instead of looking for those with structures, recognizing and supporting them with want they require to deliver, they were busy throwing money all over the place and the result was that they lost the election at the end of the day. The case of APC is different. It has the structures and experts that can achieve its aim. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not have to give me money before I ask my followers to do his biddings.

    You’ve been around in the politics of Lagos state for a while. Where did you have your political tutelage?

    I started politics in Mushin here in Lagos. I contested for the House of rRepresentatives. I was under the tutelage of Baba J. O Solomon. He was our political Professor. He taught us how best to be  grassroots politicians and how to live a life of contentment even as politicians and public office holders. We learnt a lot from him. That is why I will not keep quiet. I will keep educating the younger ones that they don’t need to steal money to become rich.

    In your various offices, do fantastic work and watch yourself rewarded. I try as much as possible to educate the youths.

    In your opinion, what essentially is restructuring?

    Restructuring is  dialogue. It is simply reorganisation for better effectiveness. But the manner in which some of its current campaigners are going about it is a deceitful. Obasanjo was there as President, he never talked about restructuring. Jonathan too never raised the issue as President. There are different re-organisations needed in Nigeria today.

    We need social, political, economic and numerous other reorganizations. But I wonder why the interest of the campaigners lie soley on political reorganisation instead of economic reorganisation first and allowing it dovetail into political restructuring. PDP has been going about with restructuring promises, but I have told the whole world that it is a deceit. It is not possible for Atiku to restructure Nigeria. If it was so, their former presidents could have done that before now.