The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu

  • Lagos country club rocks at 70

    It was a night of glamour as the elitist Lagos Country Club joined the league of septuagenarian recently. Daniel Adeleye reports.

    Glasses were raised last week to mark the 70th Anniversary Grand Ball of Lagos Country Club, Ikeja. It was a high octave event as many movers and shakers of the state graced the occasion.

    The arrival of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the former governor of Ogun State Otunba Gbenga Daniel as well as the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Adewale Sotanbi , electrified the atmosphere of the entire club premises.

    The President of the Club, Tajudeen Akande along with other members were all resplendent with colourful flowing agbada with cap to match, while the female members were also adorned in beautiful dresses with exotic jewelry. It was indeed the gathering of men and women in society.

    Highlife music supplied by Sugar Band, blared from giant speakers that stood tall in the beautifully decorated club’s main hall, while dignitaries and the celebrants networked and beamed with smiles at intervals.

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, congratulated the executive and members of the club for witnessing the unique event. He said his government is poised for positive change in the lives of the citizens of the state.

    He lauded the synergy that exists between Lagos and Ogun State adding that positive synergy confirms what the true governance is all about. He said that until governments compete favourably the real dividend of democracy cannot come to the citizen.

    The event was anchored by the media icon, Bisi Olatilo, and at 6:45 p.m the national anthem was followed by the club’s. It was a special day because the club was marking its 70th anniversary. This, according to the

    President, Tajudeen Akande has undoubtedly made significant impact on socio economic development of the country.

    He said the theme of the anniversary, ‘Something for Everyone’, is to have programmes that appeal to different segments of the club, adding that  the longevity of the club is a clear testimony of the core values and belief as well as quality of the club’s membership.

    Akande saluted the immeasurable contributions of the past presidents, trustees and past officials, saying, “What we are celebrating today is 70 years of distinguished existence. 70 years of contributing to economic growth of Nigeria, as well as 70 years of friendship and 70 years of family togetherness.”

    Congratulating members of the club, Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Sotanbi, remarked that the event marked another unique day in the life of Lagos Country Club.

    The traditional ruler acknowledged that the club means a lot to the state, adding that the club should partner with the state government on infrastructural projects.

    Oba Sotanbi said, “I know what it takes to manage my wife for the past forty years, I know what it takes to manage one woman, and now we are talking about 14,000 members this far and still waxing stronger, I want to congratulate you.”

    Otunba Daniel congratulated members of the club for keeping the flag of the club flying in the last seventy years, while the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, called on all Nigerians to join hands and make the country a safe place to live.

    Ooni who spoke through Oba Ladepo Towobola, stated that it is the duty of leaders and the led to chase out criminalities and terrorism from the shores of the country.

    In his own goodwill message, the club’s chairman board of trustees, Aare Kola Oyefeso, said it is a thing of immense gratitude and utmost delight to be part of the 70th anniversary of the club have served in different capacity for over decades.

  • Breaking: Ambode won’t attend Sanwo-Olu’s inauguration today 

     

    • Says Sanwo-Olu should be star of inauguration

    The outgoing Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has congratulated his successor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, saying the new governor deserves to enjoy his historic day without him sharing the glory with him.

    In a veiled reference to why he will not be attending the formal inauguration of Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, today, Ambode said Sanwo-Olu should be allowed to be the star of his inauguration.

    This was part of a press release by Ambode’s Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr. Habib Aruba this morning.

    READ ALSO: Updated: Ambode hands over to Sanwo-Olu in private ceremony

    The out-going governor in the release said: “I have already formally handed over reins of power in the State to the new Governor in a most cordial and convivial ceremony at the State House yesterday.

    “The formal inauguration should have Mr. Sanwo-Olu as the star of the day. I don’t think that glory should be shared with him by my presence,” Ambode said.

    Ambode said he has had a quality private moment with his successor and he is confident that with the prayers, cooperation and collective support of all Lagosians, the new government will succeed in the excellent tradition of progressive governance which Lagos State is known for.

     

     

     

  • Sanwo-Olu, ise ya (1)

    The governor-elect has to hit the ground running

    Come May 29, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor-elect of Lagos State will assume duty, after the incumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would have bowed out, upon completion of his four-year term. I do not envy the incoming governor. There is a lot to do. Therefore, he has to hit the ground running. Governance has taken the back seat in the state recently, apparently as a result of the frosty relationship between the outgoing governor and his party, which led to his losing the privilege of running for second term. Yes, privilege because it has now become clear that second term is not automatic; not even in Lagos which has been in the hands of the progressives since the return to civil rule on May 29, 1999, and where second term had until now been taken for granted, so to say. Party dynamics have rewritten the narrative and incumbents can be checkmated right at the party level, even before general elections. That was probably where Ambode missed it. I guessed that was why he said he had learnt his lesson. He thought the votes were on the streets; but he forgot that the party must first push you forward before the votes on the streets can be yours for the asking.

    Anyway, that is now history.

    Even in normal situations, an elected official becomes lame duck a few months to the end of his tenure. With Ambode being the first governor in the state not to have that privilege of second term since 1999, the lame duck era set in pretty earlier. So many things have gone haywire since the party primaries last year. Nothing seems to be working again, with many people, particularly commercial motorcycle riders, plying any route of their choice, in flagrant disregard of the law banning their operations on some roads in the state. What is more? They ride against traffic with impunity these days even as they have appropriated the BRT corridors newly constructed to themselves.

    Street lights are no longer functioning in many places. And where they are, they are only partially so. Let me use the ones on Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos, as example. I make bold to say that those lights worked last about two years ago. As a matter of fact, I ran a campaign on this page for weeks in 2017, trying to draw attention of the state government and officials in charge to the problem. It was like no one in government was reading the newspaper; or that they just could not be bothered that that was enough a problem to lose sleep over. Indeed, I drew the attention of two of the commissioners to the problem, alongside the state of Fatai Atere Road which never knew the kind of neglect it suffered in the last eight to nine years. It was after a long time that the road was only partially and reluctantly fixed. Even then, the quality of the repair was such that several portions were bad again shortly after the so-called repairs, even before the next cycle of rains. As at Friday when this piece was being concluded, only about 10 or so street lights on Fatai Atere Way were on. This is even an improvement as many of them had been bad for months.

    Yet, I remember that the state government launched the Light Up Lagos project with fanfare.  Part of the aim was to make the state unsafe for marauders who take advantage of darkness to perpetrate evil, and there is enough proof that their activities have been significantly curtailed, even in a place like Oshodi which was notorious for all kinds of crimes before the advent of the street lights. The other reason for initiating the project was to beautify the streets. Fatai Atere is only used as metaphor for this problem. There are several other places where the street lights need attention. I remember the state government even gave some helplines for Lagosians to call in case any there is problem with any of the lights. What I am trying to say is that maintenance culture that is lacking generally in the country is also a problem in Lagos. It should not be.

    The Sanwo-Olu government also has to pay particular attention to the several manholes that are death traps on Lagos roads. You cannot drive with your two eyes closed on many Lagos roads as a result of these manholes. Again, let me start with the one on Fatai Atere Way, where this newspaper is situated, after all, “charity”, they say, “begins at home”. This one on Fatai Atere by Ladipo Junction has been there, as they say, ‘since time immemorial’! There is another one at Mulero Bus Stop on the old Ipaja Road, inward Agege that has been partially blocked with garbage by some concerned citizens. There is also another one at one of the major junctions between Atan Cemetery and Herbert Macaulay Way in Yaba, Lagos mainland. I bumped into this particular one in December, last year, and had a burst tyre instantly despite the fact I was not speeding. The hole on the road had some sharp wires that punctured my tyre. It was there right in the middle of the road. There are countless others that I cannot mention, including the ones on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway at the Airport road junction which is sometimes closed and sometimes open. I guess it is because we have not cultivated the habit of dragging government to court for negligence that we have these many manholes all over the place. Some of them are life-threatening. So, the incoming administration has to take care of all these little details that matter in governance.

    There is also this question that has been agitating my mind and I have had cause to discuss it with some of the state’s officials. And that is the question of inner roads. Without doubt, successive administrations in the state have made it a point of duty to list the inner roads they intend to repair or construct and they have remained relatively faithful in this regard. But then, given the sheer number of such roads in the state, it would appear the number selected for repair or construction is hardly enough in any given year. So, the impression has always been that not much is happening in this regard. I have therefore had cause to ask some of the state government’s officials if it is not possible just to grade some of these roads if there aren’t enough resources to tar all of them, and provide good drainage to allow for free flow of water. This would at least save motorists and even pedestrians some trauma of dancing ‘Palongo’ on these roads. It would also relieve residents of agonising whenever they want to go out or whenever they are returning from outing.

    Moreover, if resources are limited because of the contending forces for them due to the huge population of the state, would it not have been better for the Ambode administration, for instance, to face just two of the three major projects it concentrated in one axis of the state, and spend the money on the third on inner roads? I had asked one of the state government officials as soon as it was announced that the state government was going to create BRT corridor on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway; construct flyover at Pen Cinema as well as expand the Airport Road if they ever had an executive session where the implications of the simultaneous construction works were thrashed out because I knew it would come with a lot of pains that even those that were meant to enjoy the projects would not find amusing.

    I cannot remember what the response of the official was. But my fear soon turned out to be prophetic when Lagosians began to reject the usual answer that Lagos Traffic Radio (I sympathise with my colleagues in the station who were always on the defensive during those moments, trying to defend their employer) was giving to those who were asking if Lagosians must ‘die before they live’ (to paraphrase one caller on a Saturday night that I too would not forget because I spent more than four hours from my place in Agege to the office, a distance of about 15 kilometres). The presenter said tribal marks are incised in pains but they become objects of beauty when they heal. In other words, Lagosians should bear with the government because they would have cause to smile after the pains! That was a palliative many listeners were not happy to hear on this particular night. Anyway, it is hoped that the Sanwo-Olu administration would quickly complete these projects that are yet to be completed before people start wondering what the hell is happening again. Some are even saying the new government may not want to complete them; especially if they are not part of its own agenda for Lagosians. This would be suicidal. But I do not see this happening because it just would not make sense.

    (TO BE CONTINUED).

  • ‘Buhari needs best hands for Next Level agenda’

    The Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr Joe Igbokwe, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari on selection of ministers. In this interview with Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN, he speaks on the performance of the party at the 2019 poll, Igbo presidency, Federal Government presence in the Southeast and other sundry political issues.

    What was responsible for improved performance of the APC in Lagos during the governorship election?

    Lagos remains the stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southwest. It is true that the margin between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the presidential election was narrow, compared to what we had in governorship poll. One major factor responsible for this was that some Yoruba pastors told their congregators not to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari whom they described as a killer and herdsman. Again, the Igbo in Lagos voted for Atiku Abubakar, because of his running mate, Peter Obi, who is an Igbo man. The Igbo told APC governorship candidate, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, that they would vote for him, but will vote Atiku/Obi in the presidential election. The APC believes in free and fair electoral process; we don’t influence results like the PDP used to do when they were in power. We believe that power belongs to the people and that every vote must count for our democracy to grow.

    Are you sure the Igbo in Lagos voted for the APC governorship candidate?

    Yes, they did. I and some Igbo leaders made humungous efforts to ensure they voted for the APC governorship candidate. We visited all markets where there is large concentration of Igbo people to sensitise them. Even, Senator Ifeanyi Uba joined us in the crusade. We told them that they stand to benefit a lot by pitching their tent with the ruling party. We have large population of Igbo in Lagos. They have their major investments in Lagos; they don’t have one-quarter of their investments here in Lagos in the Southeast. I don’t know how Lagos will look like if the Igbo decided to leave. This is why our host community should see Igbo as partners in progress and treat them well. Lagos is second home for Igbo. They spend 11 months in a year in Lagos. They travel home during Christmas and Easter celebrations.

    The Yoruba and Igbo have had good relations in the past. For instance, it was in Lagos that Igbo properties were kept and returned to them during and after the civil war, even with the rents collected on them. It also happened in the North, but not the South-south. Igbo property is said to be abandoned in the South-south. Professor Wole Soyinka, a Yoruba man braved the odds to visit Biafra during the war and came back to tell the Federal Government to stop the carnage being perpetrated by the Nigerian soldiers. He was put in jail for this. The kind of loyalty and service that late Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya offered the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe was unprecedented. When the killers of the late Head of State, Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi, surfaced during his state visit to Ibadan, the capital of the old Western Region, his host, the Military Governor, the late Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, told them if you must kill him in my domain you have to kill both of us. Fajuyi sacrificed his life for national unity.

    These are the things that cemented our relations. It didn’t start today. When Zik returned from overseas, he started his political career in the Western Region. The Southeast is small in population, because Igbo don’t stay at home. They move to anywhere they can find fortune. Igbo are mobile businessmen. You will find them in Kaduna, Kano, Jos, Ghana, South Africa, Canada, South America,Asia, Europe, United States, etc.

    The Igbo voted massively for Atiku/Obi during the presidential election.

    Don’t you think that this will affect the quest for Igbo presidency in 2023?

    I told them, if you want to produce President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023, work with Hausa/Fulani/Yoruba alliance. I had expected them to vote the APC, so that they can have a shot at presidency in 2023. After the civil war, no Igbo man has ruled this country. I told them to play politics of inclusion but they voted PDP thinking Atiku will win. What will happen in 2023? It is not yet concluded. There could be a compromise for the sake of national unity.

    The Igbo are not happy with their present status in the country. It is only the Southeast that has five states. With that we have smaller number of representatives in the National Assembly and the federal allocation to the region is small, compared to other zones. In Canada, a small group of people called Quebec with less than 10 per cent of the total population produced the current Prime Minister of Canada. They are French-speaking people. The President of Rwanda is a Tutsi, an ethnic group with less than 10 per cent population of Rwanda.

    It is possible for Nigerians to sit down and say the Southeast is not happy, let’s have a presidential candidate from the zone for the sake of equity, justice and fairness. In addition, create additional state for the zone. If this happens, the agitation for Biafra will vanish.

    But, the Southeast is clamouring for the Deputy Senate President of the 9th assembly. Is it feasible?

    Who among them will be considered for Deputy Senate President? There is no APC ranking senator from the Southeast. You can’t eat your cake and have it. Anyway, we can bend the law for the sake of unity. Our national leaders may say let’s have compromise for the sake of peace, because when there is peace there will be development. Professor Harold Laski of the London School of Economics said politics is superior to economy. Politics should not be left to politicians alone. We are not making progress because of bad politics.

    Can we say there is no more division in Lagos APC?

    There is none. APC has a deep structure in Lagos. It is maintained throughout by hard working people. To the glory of God we have two gentlemen, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat, coming on board that to take Lagos to the next level. They belong to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s school of thought. We shall support them to achieve their goals

    The presidency and the APC national caucus have endorsed Femi Gbajabiamila for House of Representatives Speakership. Was it by accident?

    It was designed. He had been positioned in the House for it. He was supposed to be the Speaker in 2015, but for the rebellious acts of some APC members in the House who connived with the PDP elements to truncate the party’s arrangement. We don’t want to throw the issue of National Assembly leadership open in the House. APC has majority in both chambers to decide the leadership of the 9th National Assembly. In spite of the party endorsement, Gbajabiamila and the APC Senate President candidate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, have been going round the country seeking support from APC legislators-elect and the opposition members as well.

    What would you advise President Muhammadu Buhari in choosing his new cabinet?

    He should go for the best. Only the best is good enough for Nigeria. We told Nigerians during the campaign that the president, if re-elected, would take Nigeria to the next level and they are waiting for it. He is a trusted leader. He can’t do it alone; he needs capable hands to assist him.

    There are a lot of saboteurs in the system; there are PDP moles in government. You find them in INEC, military, civil service and the judiciary sabotaging the government. For President Buhari to continue to fight corruption, build infrastructure and invest in the economy and security, he needs the support of loyal people, otherwise they will constitute an impediment and slow down the process.

    The Buhari administration’s investment in agriculture is paying off in rice production. But the smugglers are trying to undermine the government’s efforts. I am in support of the suggestion that government should set up special courts to handle cases of economic saboteurs and the corrupt elements in the system. Our judiciary is corrupt. That is why people are calling for the establishment of special courts manned by incorruptible judges. We need to protect the interest of local rice farmers. There should be a task force to apprehend the saboteurs. Smuggling is a crime. They should be jailed.

    How would you rate the achievements of the Buhari administration in the Southeast?

    The infrastructure development in the Southeast under the Buhari administration is fantastic. What the PDP didn’t achieve in Southeast in 16 years, Buhari has done it in less than four years. Road construction is going on in all the Southeast states, major critical roads like Enugu-Port Harcourt road, Enugu-Onitsha road, Second Niger Bridge and many others are in progress. The Independent Power Project (IPP) in Ariara Market in Abia State financed by the Federal Government is wonderful. Light has improved in that area. Even  in Adelabu Street where I live in Surulere, Lagos, we enjoy 21 hours power supply every day.

    Election results in the South-south have not changed since 1999. What is responsible for this?

    The South-south is known for electoral fraud. It didn’t start today. The zone is known for election rigging since 1999. Votes don’t count in the South-south. Some rogues with the support of security operatives would seize electoral materials and write out results. Anyway, some aggrieved candidates have gone to the election petition tribunal to seek redress. We are waiting for the tribunal’s findings and rulings.

  • NGO urges Sanwo-Olu to revamp civil service

    A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Centre for Science, Engineering and Environment has urged Lagos State Governor-elect, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to revamp the civil service.

    The Director General of the centre, Adeyemi Saliu Abidemi, said such a move was necessary for the success of the incoming administration as the civil service is the engine-room of governance.

    Abidemi, a former Permanent Secretary in the state, said: “I wish to enjoin him (Sanwo-Olu) to quickly embark on immediate healing processes of the civil service which has in recent times suffered from demoralisation, arising from deliberate neglect and the promotion of guile among its principal actors, usually leading into witch-hunting and humiliation of the top echelon of the civil service.”

    To bring back the glory of the state’s civil service, Sanwo-Olu, he said, should take the bull by the horns by immediately reverting to the old structures of the MDAs obtainable in the days of the Babatunde Raji Fashola administration, for maximum productivity and overall development of the state.

    “Lagos is a cosmopolitan state with ever-increasing population and developmental challenges which could hardly afford the luxury of experimentation with already functional structures without causing undesirable distortions in the system,” he said.

    The governor-elect, he said, needs well-motivated civil service to help in delivering projects that have direct benefits to the public.

  • League of Lagos secretaries congratulates Sanwo-Olu

    The League of Secretaries to the 20 LGAs and LCDAs in Lagos State,has congratulated the state governor elect, Mr.  Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy Mr. Kadiri Hamzat and all members elect of the State  House of Assembly.

    The group also commended Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for his purposeful leadership that paved the way for the resounding successes recorded in the just concluded polls in the country.

    It similalrly acknowledged the contributions of  the Director General, Sanwo-Olu Campaign Organization, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, the State Chairman of the APC, Hon Tunde Balogun; the members of the Governor Advisory Council (GAC),  State Executive Council of the party and top government functionaries, royal fathers, whose efforts contributed in no small measure to the overall success of our party at the poll.

    The group therefore called on the supporters of the party  to continue to have faith in the leadership of Sanwo – Olu and the deputy governor elect, Hamzat, which  will bring forth a great and better Lagos as soon as they assumes office.

  • Vote for Sanwo-Olu, others, civil servants told

    The Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr. Olukunle Ojo, has urged civil servants to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and others in tomorrow’s elections.

    According to him, this is necessary for the public to continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    Ojo said the workers should canvass the support of their friends and neighbours for the APC candidates in the governorship and house of assembly polls.

    He said if the APC candiwon, the progress and development enjoyed by Lagosians will not be truncated.

    Ojo spoke yesterday when he met with the workers at the Office of the Chief of Staff, Alausa, Ikeja to solicit support for Sanwo-Olu, his running mate, Obafemi Hamzat and APC house of assembly candidates.

    Read also: Lokoja Port gets N1.6b crane

    Said he: “Lagos, as we all know, has enjoyed good governance since 1999. Right from the time of our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to former governor Babatunde Fashola and our vibrant Governor Akinwummi Ambode, Lagosians have been enjoying good governance. It is now time to vote for continuity, and more importantly to take Lagos to the next level. “You can see how our governor is campaigning vigorously for Sanwo-Olu and other APC candidates. So let all of us contribute our quota, perform our civic responsibilities by campaigning for the APC candidates. Please go out and vote massively for the APC candidates tomorrow.”

  • Ex-council chairmen donate campaign materials to BOSCO

    As the campaign for Saturday Governorship and Assembly elections hots up, political parties are not leaving any stone unturned in canvassing votes for their candidates.

    Members of the League of Former Lagos State Local Government Chairmen (2008-2014) have returned to the grass roots to mobilise the electorate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and all the assembly candidates.

    They told The Nation yesterday when they presented campaign materials to Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Independent Campaign Group (BOSCO).

    According to him, this is to ensure that APC triumphs at the poll.

    The party’s success, they said, is an impetus for the continuation of good governance enjoyed by the residents in the state.

    Chairman of the League, Mr Abiodun Mafe said the group has done a lot to sensitise the people to vote for the APC.

    He said: “We let them know that if they want continuity of infrastructural development such as good roads, potable water, affordable health care and housing, then, APC is the party to vote for.  We have been talking to all the market women, community leaders, artisans and all the good people who are eligible voters within our areas and they are responding positively.”

    Mafe, who is the former Chairman of Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA), added: “We have also held a series of sensitisation and made some radio jingles. Our members have engaged in Door-to-Door campaigns to canvass votes and make the people know that they are important elements in creating a good future for us all. We have also educated them on their responsibility and that they should ignore the opposition party’s propaganda. I intend to deliver more votes for our party that what we had on February 23.”

    APC Lagos Vice Chairman and former Itire-Ikate LCDA Chairman Hakeem Bamgbola decried the import of ethnicity into the electoral system.

    Despite this, he assured that APC will win his area.

    “I delivered those units in my area during the Presidential and National Assembly elections, I am also working with various ethnic groups to ensure more votes are recorded for our party comes Saturday. The people have seen what our party has to offer and I let them know that if it is good governance they desired, APC is the right party,” he said.

    Former Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Kamal Bayewu, said he has been working hard to reach every quarter in his constituency.

    He stated he and other party stalwarts are also working to get the support of the Igbo community as they are major inhabitants of the area.

    Read also: ‘Buhari will support Igbo presidency in 2023’

    He said: “This Saturday election in Ajeromi-Ifelodun is going to be a win-win situation because we have what it takes to appeal to our people. Apart from the projects that we have on the ground, the two council chairmen are working seriously and everybody is actually working together to ensure that the experiences we had in 2015 do not happen again.

    “It would not be too much of a wide margin, but at least we’re going to win by the Grace of God. We have also embarked on House-to-House campaign, showing people what our party has done, letting them know that we can do more,” Bayewu said.

    Former Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, Adeola Jokomba, said: “We have been trying to tell our people that there are more to benefit from APC government. There are ongoing constructions across the state and the need to complete them and start other ones. We are optimistic that Sanwo-Olu and all our assembly candidates will win convincingly,” he said.

  • APC UK donates to campaign

    Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the United Kingdom (UK) have donated items worth millions of naira to support the  governorship bid  Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    Lagos State APC Chairman Babatunde Balogun received the items which include  wheel chairs, notepads, exercise books and other educational materials from the Tayo Sodeinde-led  group in his Acme Road, Ikeja office,  at the weekend.

    Sodeinde said: “APC in the UK has always been playing a vital role in every election held in the state.

    “We were here during the last election and we were warmly received by the former chairman of APC in Lagos, Chief Henry Ajomale.

    “We have brought wheel chairs to enable the physically-challenged members of the party move around. We also brought exercise books for the children for their education, notepads and handkerchiefs.

    “We are using this medium to congratulate you on your brilliant performance within a short period of your being in office,” Sodeinde said.

    The team described APC stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a pillar of support.

    Balogun thanked the group for its gesture, saying : “You have shown great passion and service to this party and each time you are here, you have never come with an empty hand. I thank you for alleviating the suffering of the physically challenged among members of our party’’.

    The group visited the Sanwo-Olu Independent Campaign Group (ICG) in Ikeja, GRA, where some items were handed over to the Director General, Mr. Tayo Ayinde.

  • Sanwo-Olu promises improved welfare for Lagos workers

    It was all excitement yesterday at Alausa in Ikeja, the seat of power of the Lagos State government, when the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, held a consultative meeting with workers.

    A huge crowd of workers from all local government areas converged on Adeyemi Bero Hall to listen to the promises and programmes of the APC candidate.

    Workers’ welfare, Sanwo-Olu promised, will be a priority of his administration, if elected.

    He promised to run a listening government, to which every worker will have access.

    The APC governorship candidate, who was accompanied by his running mate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, described the meeting as “a homecoming”.

    He said he and Hamzat were moved to tears, seeing the crowd of civil servants who welcomed them.

    Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat were commissioners in the state.

    The APC candidate explained the programmes in his manifesto, codenamed THEME, saying the programmes were formulated to elevate Lagos to be the pride of black race.

    He said: “We have developed our programmes to address the current challenges facing Lagos and to set the template for the realisation of a Greater Lagos that will be the pride of the black race.

    “This is the message we have been telling 25 million Lagosians on the campaign trail. To achieve these goals, we believe there is need for a knowledgeable public service that will drive these policies and programmes.

    “Our programmes will not be effectively implemented and our objectives achieved without the readiness of the public servants to work with us as the drivers of these policies and promises made to Lagosians. Most of our programmes will be technology-driven and we feel there is need to meet with you and prepare you ahead.”

    All government offices, Sanwo-Olu said, would be equipped with free Wi-Fi to promote seamless communications among government workers.

    The APC candidate promised that his government would bring back international capacity building and training opportunities for workers, but said the condition for selecting beneficiaries would be strictly be based on merit.