By Olanrewaju Adesanya
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other key players in Lagos State political turf had on Saturday tasked mammoth crowd of APC supporters on the need to ensure his administration gets a second chance, while pledging to ensure an even spread of the democratic dividend.
Sanwo-Olu, who is seeking re-election for a second term in office under the platform of APC made this pledge while flagging off his campaign at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
Addressing supporters, the elated governor charged party faithful to commence house to house voters’ mobilisation for the ruling party.
“Just a week ago, our party flagged off its presidential campaign where an alarmed crowd ushered in Asiwaju Tinubu and his vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima in Lagos here.
“I want to thank you all for doing same for our candidates a week after. I appreciate your love, commitment and solidarity for our candidates.
“I thank you for coming out in Lagos and showing us that there is only one party, the APC in Lagos State. We will not take your support for granted,” he said.
Enumerating his sterling performances to the supporters, Sanwo-Olu said: “It has been an interesting and challenging three and a half years for myself and cabinet.
“We have seen global economic melt down but we have continue to scale through. We have come out better and stronger.”
He described the slogan of his campaign as ” A Greater Lagos Rising”.
Sanwo-Olu said that Lagos was rising because of his administration’s achievements under THEMES agenda.
According to him, residents of the state have seen the commitment of his government in all sectors.
“We have seen infrastructure being constructed, completed and handed over to Lagosians.
“I want to say for a greater Lagos, go out there from house to house, campaign and vote for all our candidates, from the presidency down to the State House of Assembly.
“I greet all our APC teeming supporters for coming out to solidarise with us,” he said.
In a welcome address, the Chairman of APC in Lagos State, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi said that Gov. Sanwo-Olu had performed creditably well in the last three and half years beyond the expectations of Lagosians, hence, the need to re-elect him to take the state to greater heights.
Ojelabi said that the APC remained synonymous to development, and the development has been felt across the state in terms of healthcare service, education and infrastructural development.
Also speaking the Director General of APC Campaign in Lagos, Sen. Ganiyu Solomon implored party members to move from house to house to mobilise residents to exercise their civic right for the party.
Solomon said that the Permanent Voters Cards were essential for the actualisation of the dream of Gov. Sanwo-Olu re-election, urging Lagosians to pick up their PVC, so as to vote in next year’s election for the party.
The party leaders including Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Cardinal James Odumbaku reiterated the need for party members to deliver not less than five million votes for the Presidential Candidate of the party, Asiwaju Tinubu and Gov. Sanwo-Olu.
The Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly Rt.Hon. Mudashiru Obasa in somewhat a trajectory of Lagos success story however, urged Lagosians not to be distracted but to be much more focused on the progressive mien of governance in the state.
“Since the commencement of the current democratic journey in Nigeria, we have remained committed to making our dear Lagos an enviable State both in our country and internationally.
“To this end and with every single Lagosian, we have waded through torrents with a resolute conviction that Lagos must work.
“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, our President in 2023 by God’s grace, started the battle. Today, our State is high up there standing like a giant and showing the perfect result of good governance and continuity.
“We are happy with how far we have come, we are excited that we – the leaders and the led – are all united with the goal of not just sustaining the tempo of progress, but further positively pushing the scale of development for our dear State.
“I, therefore, want to urge every Lagosian not to be distracted. We must all meet new goals we have set ahead of us as we move into a new administration.
“We, the political arms of the Lagos State government, have verifiable results we have achieved since this administration began in 2019.
“ At the Lagos State House of Assembly, we have continued to stand out with concepts, bills, motions and resolutions of international standards. We have constantly thought and acted ahead of time. No wonder we remain a case study in Nigeria.
“As we fully begin campaign activities in our State, we see an opportunity to also push towards achieving national goals of development. It is a time to work for our presidential candidate, the Jagaban Borgu, to bring our collective desires to fruition.”
The Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Information and Strategy, Hon. Setonji David, told newsmen at the rally that the massive turnout of supporters had shown the world the APC remained a dominant party in the state.
David, representing Badagry Constituency II at the Assembly, said that with the outcome of the rally, the ruling party would win all elective seats in the 2023 general elections, saying “Lagos is 100 per cent APC”.
The campaign flag-off attracted party supporters and leaders from the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas.
The supporters, who dressed in different colours of T-shirt, including yellow, blue, among others and various Ankara fabrics, displayed various placards to canvass votes from members of the public.