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Tag: Lagos APC

  • 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 APC disowns Afikuyomi

    The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has disowned Sen. Tokunbo Afikuyomi, saying he is not a member of the party in the state, but a member of the Accord Party.

    The party said the clarification was necessary in view of Afikuyomi’s activities to undermine the APC in Lagos.

    It claimed that his activities were targeted at promoting opposition politicians in the process leading to the governorship election.

    In a statement signed by the APC’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Joe Igbokwe, said it was aware of Afikuyomi’s activities and his pretension of being an APC member.

    “While we believe it is within the rights of Afikuyomi to work for any interest that suits his fancy, we feel obliged to warn faithful and loyal APC members that Afikuyomi is not one of us, contrary to the impression he gives to unsuspecting party members.

    “While we don’t begrudge Afikuyomi his rights to choose and work for any platform or candidate of his choice, we warn him to desist from claiming to be a member of our great party and proudly own up to the interest of whomever he is working for.

    Read Also: ‘I will make a difference as governor of Lagos’

    “We know Afikuyomi as a member of the Accord Party and the Lagos State exco of APC does not know him as one of us, as we are aware he has left our party for Accord Party.

    “We, therefore, alert members of our party and anyone dealing with Afikuyomi to clearly know that he is not a member of the APC,” the statement read in part.

    The Lagos APC saluted Lagosians for their ‘impregnable fidelity’ to the party.

    It urged them to ‘look for impostors and fifth columnists who have promised their masters that they will assist their doomed campaigns and interests by sowing confusion in APC’.

    “This disclaimer on Afikuyomi is an effort to dispel such damned efforts.

    “We urge Lagosians to stick firmly with an APC that has served them so well in Lagos and which had gotten a pan-Nigerian renewal of mandate to give the country continued good, honest and fruitful governance for the next four years,’ the party stated.

  • Niger: Sani Bello wins polling unit

    Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello wins polling unit. Alkali Mustapha polling unit in Kontagora Local Government.
    * Unit A*
    Presidential. APC 209   PDP 12
    Senate APC 133           PDP 41

    House of Reps APC 151 NRM 40 PDP 14
    * Unit B *
    Presidential APC 188 PDP 20
    Senatorial APC 120 PDP 42

    House of Reps. APC 136 NRM 40 PDP 20

  • Breaking: Finally, Ambode presents N852.31b budget to Assembly

    The much -awaited 2019 budget for Lagos State was finally presented and laid before the Assembly by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday.

    The low- key ceremony was devoid of all the fanfare that usually accompanied budget presentation in the state.

    Read Also: Lagos APC elders settle Ambode, House of Assembly rift

    Ambode said a total budget size of N852.31b was meant to consolidate on the economic achievements of the administration in the past three and half years.

    Recurrent Expenditure is N389.56 while Capital Expenditure of the year stands at N462.47.

    Details shortly…

  • Breaking: Tinubu resolves Lagos impeachment crisis

    National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other party chieftains on Sunday resolved the conflict between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Lagos State House of Assembly.

    The resolution was at a Special Governor’s Advisory Committee (GAC) meeting in Marina, Lagos.

    Ambode, his deputy, Dr (Mrs.) Idiat Adebule, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, his deputy, Wasiu Esinlokun and Lagos central Leader, Prince Tajudeen Olusi attended the meeting.

    Emerging from the meeting, Tinubu said: “We held a meeting on behalf of entire Lagosians. In the last one week or so, there has been some talk about a conflict between the Executive and the Legislature in Lagos.

    “This is of great concern to us. We looked at the source of the conflict, which is normal in a democracy and that is why there are also conflict-resolution mechanisms.

    “We examined the grievances on both sides. As leaders, we also looked into areas where there has to be compromise.

    READ ALSO: Breaking: Protesters besiege Lagos Assembly over alleged Ambode’s impeachment plot

    “In order to build institutions and encourage consensus-building, we have to do what is right.”

    He added: “There is no impeachment. Let there be more communication and consensus-building and understanding. All these are inbuilt in the democratic system.

    “We thank the Speaker and the leadership of the House. We thank the Governor and the Deputy Governor.

    “They have all demonstrated respect for the party leadership in Lagos. You know when Lagos sneezes, other areas catch cold.

    “We are happy that we are able to resolve the conflict and things will start moving well going forward.”

    Olusi said: “The APC leader has spoken. This is just to further confirm the decisions that we reached.

    “Conflict is an institutional part of the governance. The Executive/Legislature must work together.

    “We have reached a decision that they must work together amicably. And very soon the Legislature and the Executive must resolve the grey areas in their relationship.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Photos from APC campaign rally

     

  • Tinubu hails Ambode, others for accepting party supremacy

    National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has commended the courage of Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and others for accepting the outcome of the primaries of the party.

    He stated their act of sportsmanship deserved to be appreciated.

    Tinubu said Ambode, his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule and all the leaders and members of the party had done commendably well in accepting supremacy of the party.

    Addressing a stakeholders meeting on Monday at the Acme, Ikeja secretariat of the party, Tinubu said: “I want to say thank you to all of you and God bless you.

    “I thank all of you for respecting the party, particularly the present Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and his deputy, Idiat Adebule. May God continue to bless you and guide you and you will live long with everlasting progress.

    “Thank you to all our leaders, the Government Advisory Council (GAC) of Lagos State and the membership of the party who had embarked on reconciliation efforts to appeal to all our members who are initially aggrieved.

    “The party supremacy has been demonstrated; the party discipline has been demonstrated. You are our leaders and we respect all of you,” he said.

    While recalling that the direct primary option adopted for the shadow election of the party was taken after a GAC meeting, Tinubu said it was gratifying all members of the party accepted and endorsed the decision.

    He said:  “I want to thank you for maintaining peace, harmony, unity and love.”

    The former Lagos governor said having crossed the hurdle of the primaries, it was now time for all members of the party to unite and maintain a strong outing for APC during the 2019 general elections.

    He declared APC remains committed to Nigeria’s progress, development and economic transformation.

    Other leaders at the meeting are the State’s Deputy Governor, Idiat Adebule; Speaker Mudashiru Obasa; State APC Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun; GAC members led by Prince Tajudeen Olusi; Chief Lanre Razak, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Chief Kemi Nelson, Cardinal James Odumbaku, former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Jokotola Pelumi, among others.

     

  • Lagos APC urges voters to ignore PDP’s falsehood

    •‘Ex-ruling party planned to cripple Lagos councils’

    The Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday urged the residents to reject the promise of freedom by the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    APC noted that a party that rejected the creation of additional local council development areas (LCDAs) in the state cannot defend its interest.

    The party said the PDP had started making fake promises to hoodwink and deceive voters out of the opposition’s desperation for power.

    In a statement in Ikeja, the state capital, Lagos APC Publicity Secretary Joe Igbokwe said the PDP will fail at next year’s polls, reminiscent of its previous failures in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015.

    He said: “Lagos PDP is talking about freedom but they forgot how we fought to create the 37 LCDAs against their PDP’s tyranny led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Lagos local government area (LGA) fund was seized for years to blackmail and punish Lagos. But Lagos progressives stood their ground and the rest is now history.

    “Jimi Agbaje is promising Lagos Fourth Mainland Bridge, but he may not know how a Lagosian, Adeseye Ogunlewe of Lagos PDP, used his position as Minister of Works and Housing under former President Obasanjo to scuttle the laudable project after Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had secured an agreement with a Chinese company to build that very important bridge.”

    Igbokwe said former Governor Tinubu would have built a 24-hour power supply project, if the Federal Government, under Obasanjo, did not use its enormous power to stop the project, hiding under the premise that matters of power generation is in the Exclusive List.

    The APC spokesman recalled that when Asiwaju Tinubu’s successor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), wanted to build independent power plants for street lights at Alausa, Akute water project, the old state secretariat at Ikeja, Island General Hospital, the State House at Marina and Lekki, the PDP government wanted to erect roadblocks.

    Igbokwe said Lagosians will continue to vote for APC because successive progressive administrations uplifted the state and built lasting legacies.

    He said: “Attempts were made to get permission from the Federal Government controlled by Jimi Agbaje’s PDP to rebuild Lagos Airport Road and Badagry Expressway. Fashola later got permission from former President Goodluck Jonathan to start the Light Rail Project from Marina to Okokomaiko and got the permit to rebuild Ikorodu Road, Funsho Williams Avenue, Ozumba Mbadiwe Street to Lekki. Today, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is building Lagos Airport Road after securing permission from President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “For 16 years in Lagos, the progressive government, led by Asiwaju Tinubu, Fashola and Ambode have worked so hard to free Lagos from the firm grip of the power that be in the PDP and thank God for the coming of a progressive government in Abuja which has made things easy now. This is the reward of many years of perseverance, courage, hard work and commitment by the successive progressive leaders in Lagos.”

    Read also: No political gang-up can stop Sanwo-Olu – Lagos APC

    He added: “In 2003, Jimi Agbaje’s PDP stole all the states in the Southwest, except Lagos. Chief Bola Ige, Obasanjo’s Attorney General, was murdered in cold blood to pave the way for PDP’s criminal escapades in the Southwest. His wife, the late Justice Atunike Ige, could not survive the shock of her husband’s murder. Chief Abraham Adesanya, the leader of the Yoruba nation then, never recovered from this open day robbery the PDP initiated and executed with clinical process and execution.

    “You can now see why Lagosians do not like the PDP and will never like the PDP. So, when the confused and inexperienced Jimi Agbaje talks about freedom in Lagos, we remind him that ignorance is not an excuse. We remind him that we know what real freedom is all about and how we got to where we are today.

    “Jimi Agbaje has no experience and knowledge of the public sector. He has nothing to bring to the table except the miserable and poor experience of managing one small pharmacy shop in Apapa with no branch anywhere in Lagos or across Nigeria.”

     

  • Lagos APC, PDP warming up for National Assembly elections

    The Lagos State senatorial contest is going to be a battle between some ranking senators and those who want to unseat them. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE examines their chances in next year’s elections.

    CANDIDATES of the various parties seeking to represent Lagos State at the National Assembly are not leaving anything to chance in their bid to receive the endorsement of the electorate in next year’s general elections.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), through its Lagos State Public Relations Officer, Femi Akinbiyi, has indicated that 22 candidates are contesting for the Lagos West senatorial race, 15 candidates for Lagos Central and 13 for Lagos East.

    It is likely to be a straight battle between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the fringe parties merely making up the numbers. This position was underscored when some of the fringe parties threw their weight behind the Lagos State governorship candidate of the APC, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for the 2019 election.

    Some of the fringe parties fielding candidates include: the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Labour Party (LP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Kowa Party, the United Progressive Party (UPP), the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Advance Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA).

    The APC has an edge in the contest, because its candidates for Lagos Central and Lagos West, Senators Oluremi Tinubu and Adeola Solomon Olamilekan respectively are ranking senators, while the candidate for Lagos East, Bayo Oshinowo, is seeking to make his debut at the National Assembly. The electorate would be more comfortable with the candidates of the ruling party, because they are more familiar with the antecedents and performance of the party.

    The PDP, on the other hand, has some points to prove; the main opposition party would try to show that it is no longer the underdog. The party will like to prove that its winning of some seats at the House of Representatives and the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2015 is not a fluke.

    Those who the PDP are looking up to perform wonders at the 2019 polls include Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, Lagos Central Senatorial District; Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, Lagos West; and Princess Abiodun Oyefusi, Lagos East.

    Analysts say the PDP performance will not be impressive beyond its present status, because most of those who won the 2015 election as lawmakers have defected to the APC, particularly at the Lagos assembly.

     

    APC

    Oluremi Tinubu is a ranking senator. Her contributions to her constituency have been remarkable. She has sponsored many bills, initiated various developmental projects. She has also been championing the quest to secure a special status for the state within the federation, through legislation, to further accelerate the development of the Centre of Excellence.

    The lawmaker has gained a lot of mileage through her regular town hall meetings, where she empowers members of her constituents. Today, many jobless youths have their personal businesses, some of them trained in vocations skills which they are equally using in putting smiles on the faces of their dependants.

    Political analysts say the senator will beat any opposition candidate hands down in the Lagos Central because, apart from what she is doing to better lives, she also relates well with party members in a motherly way; paying attention to their complaints and addressing them as they come. Most members call her ‘Yeye’, mother of the people.

    Senator Olamilekan will be contesting for Lagos West for the second time. He has established himself as a lawmaker who knows when to engage the reverse gear. Observers say his chances of winning in the 2019 election are bright.

    At some point, he aspired to become the governor of Ogun State, but dropped the idea when people of his constituency urged him to come back to complete jobs that are pending.

    Olamilekan who is popularly called Yayi is a grassroots politician. He is very close to the people and ensures that their needs are well catered for. Right from when he was at the Lagos State House of Assembly, the lawmaker has been distinguishing himself in parliamentarian duties.

    He was instrumental to the enactment of the law that strengthened the Lagos Internal Revenue Service. That law plugged the loopholes in revenue generation. He also sponsored and successfully pushed the passage of bill that repealed the Colonial Audit Act of 1956 and re-enacted the Audit Act of 2014 which led to the establishment of Federal Audit Service Commission.

    The chubby and flamboyant Lagos West senator is a crowd puller during any political gathering and other events in the state. A loyal party man, he is always attentive to what party leaders are saying. His campaign offices traverse 10 local governments and local council development areas.

    Olamilekan also uses town hall meetings to connect with the people. He believes that power resides with the people and tries to justify this in his dealings with them. During festivals, the lawmaker felicitates with leaders and ordinary members of his constituency.

    Oshinowo is currently a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He contested the APC primary against incumbent Senator Gbenga Ashafa and secured the party’s ticket at the latter’s expense. Observers say the fact that Oshinowo defeated the incumbent senator in the battle for the ticket indicates that he will win at the general election.

    The politician is very popular not only among the party bigwigs, but among the rank and file of the party. On many occasions, the Oshinowo demonstrated that he is a grassroots mobiliser in view of the loud ovation that follows his appearance at events.

    He was recognised as the most supportive lawmaker by the Lagos State Polytechnic Students’ Union in 2013.

    Analysts say Oshinowo has what it takes to win the election, because he has proved that during the APC shadow polls.

     

    PDP

    On the PDP platform, Onitiri would be slugging it out against Senator Tinubu for the Lagos Central seat. Nevertheless, the politician is not giving up. So far, three groups have thrown their weights behind him. These include: Council of Lagos State Indigenes, Eko Foundation and Omo Eko Pataki. They have promised to mobilise the people to ensure he is elected to the National Assembly.

    Onitiri was unanimously selected by the PDP leaders in Lagos Central. Among those who endorsed him was former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Kofo Akerele-Bucknor. In selecting him, among other aspirants, the PDP leadership said it is necessary to field credible candidates like Onitiri, if its desire to win at the general election is to be realized.

    In the Lagos West race, Rhode-Vivour will confront Olamilekan. Addressing residents of the constituency in the build up to the election, he said he has come to liberate the district from the dominance of the APC. He added that the PDP would make life better for residents of the constituency.

    He said: “At the National Assembly, I will fight for infrastructure development bill that will fund the repairing of federal roads in Lagos. We must decongest Lagos and reduce the number of trucks on our roads.

    “Our dream can never be achieved in isolation; only by working as a community can we create a Lagos that we all hope for. I am proud to be the flag bearer for the PDP on the senatorial ticket.”

    Rhode-Vivour has promised deliver, if given a chance by the electorate.

    As for the Lagos East race, it promises to be less turbulent for the PDP, given that Oyefusi would not be confronting an incumbent. She would face Oshinowo who is taking his first shot at the National Assembly election.

    Oyefusi will be counting on the support of women in her constituency. She said women have excelled in many areas of lawmaking and administration. She added: “I am coming to contest in order to help strengthen the laws of our nation, our democratic process and to make direct laws that will actually impact Lagos East people.

    “As women, we know how to impact and relate with our people and that is not a case of gender, but equality. Right now the best economy in the world is being headed by a woman and most of the changes in the world have been driven by women.”

     

  • Lagos APC to PDP: Sanwo-Olu is prepared

    THE Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday objected to the remark by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that its governorship flag bearer, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is “an emergency candidate that is unprepared for the job”.

    The party insisted that Sanwo-Olu is more qualified to rule the state than the PDP candidate, Jimi Agbaje, who it said, lacked a public sector experience.

    Its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Joe Igbokwe, predicted doom for the major opposition, saying that its candidate will suffer a defeat in next year’s election like his predecessors since 1999.

    He said the PDP has resumed its periodic ritual of “rants and tall dream,” which usually heralded its failure in elections every four years.

    Igbokwe, in a statement in Lagos, added that the Lagos PDP has become the “rudderless, confused, motionless and completely dead party” that is destined to contest and fail.

    He said the endorsement of Sanwo-Olu by 45 opposition parties has jolted the PDP and its candidate out of their delusion about a bright electoral future.

    Igbokwe said the APC’s strategies and tactics for building virile and democratic institutions were beyond the comprehension of Lagos PDP leaders.

    He added: “The Lagos PDP claim of ‘hurried and controversial emergence’ of Sanwo-Olu shows lack of clear understanding of the dynamics and inner workings of Lagos APC.

    “What Lagos APC did is to advance the cause of democracy and prove that the party is supreme as we have seen in other climes like South Africa, where former President Mbeki and Zuma were asked to step down in order to advance and strengthen the fortunes of the party.

    “The huge lessons have been sent out there for elected persons not to ignore the platforms they used to get to power, and not to kick away the ladder they used in climbing up to where they are.”

    Rejecting the notion of lack of preparation for the huge task, the party’s publicity secretary said Agbaje’s experience as the owner of an Apapa-based pharmacy store without any branch for 30 years paled into insignificance in the face of Sanwo-Olu’s experience as a former bank executive, special adviser, commissioner and managing director of a parastatal.

    He said: “Babajide Sanwo-Olu has a five-page Resume that is in the public domain and time and space will not permit us to put it here. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is a proud product of the University of Lagos with a degree in Surveying & Informatics and a Master’s degree Holder in Business Administration (MBA).

    “Sanwo-Olu has an enviable banking career, where he rose to the position of DGM at First Atlantic Bank, now First City Monument Bank. He came into the public sector when he was appointed the Acting Commissioner for Economic Planning & Budget in less than a year after he joined the former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration as SA on Corporate Affairs.

    “In 2006, he became the Commissioner for Commerce & Industry and in 2007, he became the Commissioner for Establishment, Training & Pensions under Fashola Administration, which he served diligently from 2007 to 2011.

    “Babajide was appointed the MD/CEO Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC) by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in 2016 and he has made humongous impact and progress in that huge corporation until he joined the race for the governorship of Lagos State. This is the loaded and heavily experienced Sanwo Olu PDP described as ‘an emergency candidate that is unprepared for the job’.”