Tinubu, who
addressed a urge crowd of party members and supporters at the flag off
of the APC governorship campaigns in Lagos, described the PDP an an
Ebola-infested party, urging the people to flee from its candidates at
the elections. He said Agbaje’s decision to contest on the platform of
the PDP is worrisome and embarrassing, adding that he took the wrong
decision at a time Nigerians were fed up with the ruling party at the
centre.
At the carnival-like campaign held at
the Skypower Ground, Government Reservation Area, Ikeja, party flags
were presented to the governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, his
running mate, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, the Lagos West senatorial candidate,
Yayi Adeola Olamilekan, the House of Representatives candidate for
Ikeja District, Hon. James Faleke, and the House of Assembly candidates
for Ikeja Constituency I and 11, Gbolahan Lai-Mohammed and Damola
Kasumu, by the party chairman, Otunba Oladele Ajomale.
Ambode, who was described as the choice
of the youths, promised to run an accountable government, if elected at
the February 28 poll. Exuding confidence, the flag bearer, who was
accompanied by his wife, Bola, said: “I have been an accountant all my
life. I will be accountable to you. We will make life more economically
viable. We will make Lagos safer. We will set up an Employment Trust
fund that will make youths have access to finance for entrepreneurship.
“I will be like BRF. I will be like
Asiwaju. I have learned under them. They will pray for me. I will
perform better than them. I will not disappoint Lagosians.”
The flag bearer added: “The moment of
history has come. We are excited. We are grateful to God for this day.
Our party exists in all local governments and nooks and crannies. We
stand for the protection of lives and property. We will carry all the
people along, irrespective of their tribes.
“At the centre, we need change. The
economy may collapse, if it is left in the hands of the PDP. Some parts
of the North has been taken over by the Boko Haram. Enough of suffering
under the PDP. We should vote for Buhari and Osinbajo on February 14
and 28.”
Noting that the job of the governor is
tedious, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) urged Lagosians to
endorse the youthful governorship candidate, saying that he is full of
vigour, zest and energy.
He stressed: “It is a tough job. I took
the job at the age of 44. Now, I am 52. When I took the job, I could
count the number of grey hairs I had. Now, I can’t count them again. I
thank Lagosians for giving me the job. I thank Lagosians for also taking
care of me. Akinwumi Ambode is younger than me. You need youthfulness
to do this job. That man (the PDP candidate) is already 60. An old man
cannot do the job. If you call him at midnight, he will not pick your
call.”
Many stakeholders, interest groups,
women and youth organisations from 57 local councils joined party
faithful for the campaign, which lasted for almost eight hours.
Thrilling the crowd were the ace fuji musician, Alhaji Ayinde Wasiu,
Buga, and other artisists-Kunle Afuad, Iyabo Oke, Mrs. Surutu, Doris
Simon, Segun Ogungbe, Sikiratu Sindodo, Ojo arowosoge ((adeyi Oloro).
At the campaign presided over by Ajomale
were the deputy governor, Hon. Joke Orelope-Adefulire, her
predecessors, Princess Sarah Sosan and Otunba Olufemi Pedro, the wife of
Lagos State governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, Senators Oluremi Tinubu
(Lagos Central), Ganiyu Solomon (Lagos West) and Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos
East), Chief Pius Akinyelure, Prince Oluyole Olusi, Chief Kayode Olowu,
Second Republic Deputy Governor Rafiu Jafojo, Col. Adedeji Ajala (rtd),
Dr. Abayomi Finnih, Hon. Olawale Oshun, Chief Lanre Rasak, APC National
Publicity Alhaji lai Mohammed, House of Representatives Minority Leader
Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Women Leader Mrs.
Kemi Nelson, Mrs. Folake Shokunbi, former Heads of Service Hon. Yakubu
Balogun and Adesegun Ogunlewe, former party secretary Primate Charles
Odugbesi, Hon. Rotimi Agunsoye, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, Mrs. Sola Oworu,
Chief Wale Mogaji, Cpmrade Ayodele Adewale, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, Hon.
Lateef Raji, Mr. Tunde Temionu, and Mrs. Jumoke Okoye-Thomas.
Other chieftains are the ceremony were
House of Assembly Speaker Yemi Ikuforiji, his predecessor, Joko Pelumi,
Hon. Bola Olujobi Badmus, Chief Demola Seriki, Chief Chris Ekwilo, Mrs.
Toke Benson, Hon. Hakeem Gbamgbola, Ademorin Kuye, Abdullahi Enilolobo,
Fuad Oki, Kola Pregrillo, Chief Raheem Daramola, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi,
Ademola Sodiq, and Hon. Kolawole taiwo, Gbolahan Yishau, Alhaji ganiyu
Badmus, Hon. Olamide Kasali, Comrade Joe Igbokwe, and Hon. Wale Ahmed,
Hon. Paul Kalejaye, who was the master of ceremony.
Excited at the urge crowd, Tinubu, who
thanked them and other party chieftains, said it was an evidence that
the APC will win the general elections. The former governor told them
that Ambode is better than Agbaje, who he said lacked experience about
governance.
Tinubu said: “There is no way for the
Poverty Development Party, the Peoples Deception Party in Lagos. Lagos
is not for experimentation. He (Agbaje) was with us in the AD. He
failed. He said hewas going to Afenifere. He was in the ACN. He
contested against Fashola. He failed. We said Fashola is more
knowledgable; he is a man who listens to instructions. We asked him to
be his deputy and learn so that he can be a good governor later; that he
should go through aprehenticeship. He rejected the offer of a deputy
governor. He went to the DPA. he became their leader. In DPA, he
contested against Fashola.
“Lagos has faith in a better and rewarding future. We said Lagos will not spoil (Eko o ni baje).
He was defeated; he came back and we said he should go to the cabinet;
he said no; well, we have many people to do the job in our party; In a
twinkle of an eye, Jk went to the PDP; PDP is Ebola. But, we say Lagos
is not for experiment. We know where we are coming from. We know where
we are going. How many drugs does he have in his pharmacy to cure Lagos.
We don’t need experiment in Lagos.”
Tinubu said the APC government has lived
up to expectation in the last eight years under Fashola, adding that
continuity is desirable. Tinubu described himself as an expert in talent
hunt, adding that the choice of Fashola as the 2007 flag bearer has
produced fruits of development, progress and prosperity for Lagosians.
He added: “Today is a great day. I am a
proud man. I am happy. I thank the Almighty God. This crowd makes me to
be proud of Lagosians. In 2007, I handed over to one young man. I
brought him before you. I told you he will perform better; that he is a
SAN with a sound mind. That man is Babatunde Raji Fashola.
“It has been eight years of performance,
unequalled performance, unbroken promises, sound experience,
construction of good schools and roads, employment for younger people,
youth skill development. Mother and Child hospitals are getting better.
The state has made progress under rhe leadership of Fashola.
“I am a proud leader and father.
Whatever they may say, who is the father of this talent? I am the one.
Our prayer is that our children will live and perform better than us.
May your children live and perform better than you.”
Tinubu reflected on how Ambode became
the candidate, recalling that the youths of Lagos rooted for him. He
said: “Many leaders, women and youths came to me. You said you wanted a
talented, experienced youth to continue where Fashola would stop. We
cannot experiment in Lagos. I said, wait. Don’t be in a hurry. Help is
on the way. Voluntarily, you identofied that help. It is my joy to
present Akinwumi Ambode to you.”
The former governor thanked the
governorship aspirants who participated at the primaries for their
dedication, loyalty and understanding, adding that their conduct has
portrayed the APC as a great family. Tinubu thanked Senator Ganiyu
Solomon and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat for their spirit of sportsmanship and Dr.
Leke Pitan, Dr. Tola Kasali, Tayo Ayinde, Yemi Ikuforiji, Adekunle Disu
and mrs. Agbesanwa for their commitment to the party.
Noting that Lagos State also produced
Prof. Yemi Oshinbajo (SAN) as the APC vice presidential candidate, he
said the legal scholar will team up with General Muhammadu Buhari in the
implementation of the commonsense revolution. He said, since Nigeria is
facing grace challenges, it needs special leaders at the state and
federal levels to navigate the ship of the state.
Tinubue stressed: “I am happy that
Osinbajo, a former member of Lagos State cabinet, is the running mate to
Buhari, who is a straightforward, bold, honest Nigerian. A nation needs
a special leader in its time of trial. Nigeria made a mistake in
electing Jonathan in 2011. Jonathan is a man who gives excuses. He has
admitted that he has failed. No more repeat. We want Buhari. Jonathan
must go.
“Jonathan has spent all the money. He is
spendthrift. Now, revenue is dropping. We need a man of intellect and
an expert in financial engineering. When the Lagos money was seized,
Ambode found solution to the problem. He has done good to Lagos. He must
reap goodness.”
Fashola, who urged Lagosians to reject
the PDP at the polls, said that PDP leaders are fond of peddling
falsehood. Noting that Tinubu has described the party as Ebola, the
governor said: ‘PDP is more terrible than Ebola.”
Fashola advised Lagosians of 18 years
and above to vote wisely, adding that they cannot be disqualified when
they are armed with their permanent or temporary voter’s cards. The
governor, who berated the President for failing to fight the
infrastructure battle, said that he does not deserve re-election.
He added: “Jonathan is complaining that
Buhari who was in power in 1985 did not buy guns for the military. But,
Nigerians solders have been part of the ECOMOG in their peace-keeping
mission in West Africa. Does Jonathan wants to fight insecurity with
1985 guns?”
Noting that the next administration will
face some challenges, Fashola said, since the next challenge is
financial management, Ambode is fit for the job.
Second Republic House of Representatives
member Olusi, who said he was overwhelmed by the crowd of supporters,
added that it has strengthened his belief that victory is at hand.
Urging Lagosians to embrace the
elections as a contribution to the cause of popular rule, he said: “Be
prepared. Get ready. get your voter’s cards ready. Patience and
endurance are required to collect the cards. Our country in mess. You
know the position f the economy, transportation and electricity. We need
to reduce to the barest minimum corruption. Obasanjo, who has been with
them, said that the economy has been mismanaged. Since change is
desirable, vote for the APC.
Reflecting of the succession struggle in
the state, he said: “Tinubu ruled for eight years. God used him to
chose Raji Fashola as the governor. He ruled well. APC governors are
doing well. That is why APC is fit to rule the state and the country.”
Former Commissioner Nelson, who doubles
as the Southwest Women Leader, advised Lagosians to vote for continuity
in their own interest. She described Ambode as a better candidate,
assuring that he will nt disappoint the people.
She added: “You should go and collect
your PVCs. They cannot rig it. We have brought out a good candidate.
Ambode will perform better than Fashola. There will be more development.
Nigerians should not vote for those who cannot liberate the Chibok
girls. Women in Lagos should vote for the APC becaise the APC has always
defended the interest of women.”
Former APC Youth Leader Enilolobo said:
“PDP has wrecked havoc on democracy. Under the miliary rule, we paid N60
per litre for petrol. It is now N96. Cement was N80. It is now N2,000.
There is no electricity. PDP has brought misery.”
Ajomale said: “By the grace of God, we
are going to win. Somebody who has destroyed the economy of the country
does not deserve re-election. When America had problem, they changed
their government. We are having problems now.”
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