A Group, South West Youth Forum, SWYF, has urged the electorates in Lagos State to mobilise families, friends, and neighbours to vote for Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu on March 18, 2023.
The Group urged Lagosians not be discouraged by the change in date for the Governorship Election from the initial March 11 to Mar h 18th by electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
At a Press Conference held at Maryland, which was attended by Youths from the 20 Local Government Area and 37 Local Council Development Area, the National Coordinator of the Group, Abiola Ottun – Coker , said Governor Sanwo-Olu had been fulfilling his promises to residents of Lagos state, hence, the need for Lagosians to vote enmasse for Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Obafemi Kadiri Hamzat, as they performed excellently well in the state.
Speaking, Ottun-Coker said that Governor Sanwo-Olu would be reelected because of his achievements and “the sustainability of peace, unity and development” in Lagos.
“Lagos has given so much to all of us, let us pay back by showing gratitude to a Governor (Sanwo-Olu) who we believe has done his best.
“The evidence of Mr Governor’s transformational leadership can be seen in the number of inherited projects that have been completed and the new ones initiated
both completed and ongoing.
“It is instructive that no section and sector of the State has been left behind under the current administration. All parts of the State and sectors have been positively touched”.
She however appealed to Ndigbo in the State and religious leaders not to allow ethnicity and religion be a dividing factor in the forthcoming governorship election in Lagos State.
Ottun-Coker also urged residents of Lagos to put behind the outcome of the Presidential Election, and come out en masse to vote Sanwo-Olu.
“Our incumbent governor is the governor of all the people, anointed governor, reliable and responsible, hardworking, a listening governor.
“We are solidly behind the governor, the present administration up to the federal level. The governor has done a lot of marvelous jobs that we can easily point to..
“Let’s forget the past and face the future,
“His achievements in the critical sectors of the state’s economy are endearing, and we are convinced that it needs to be sustained.
“The recently completed multi-billion naira Imota Rice Mill project, foreign direct investments coming through the Lekki Free Trade Zone, the recently completed first phase of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line, and the commencement of the second phase called the Red Line, repositioning of the health sector through the building of more health centres at the grassroots, and a free health policy for children below 18 years and adults above 65 years of age not minding your ethnic background or religious affiliations are just a few of the things we have seen and consistency is what we need.
“Sanwo-Olu needs peace, he wants progress for Lagos State, the country and the whole world. We are saying this with one voice that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, by God’s special grace on Sunday, will be celebrating his return to office for a second term.
“We use this opportunity to congratulate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the victory, which is for everyone of us,”
“I will urge our people, especially the youths not to make the same mistake that they made where they voted blindly out of frustration. And the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, told them he will address their frustration.
“I appeal to my Igbo brothers and sisters, don’t let us make this an ethnic issue. Anywhere in the world where ethnicity has become an issue, it becomes destructive.
“I will plead that the youth, our religious people, and our Igbo brothers and sisters in Lagos should think of the past. Nnamdi Azikwe, the father figure of Igbo land, started and all his political life was in Lagos. The first Igbo lawyer, Sir Louis Mbanefo went to Methodist Boys High School and King’s College; he had his education in Lagos.
“There is no place that you don’t have Youth, neighbours and colleagues. I am appealing to all youths to go back home and work out their strategies for everyone of us.
“It is not a matter of fighting; we have to call our neighbours, our parents, community members and everyone to come out en-masse and vote for Sanwo-Olu.
“What Sanwo-Olu has been able to achieve in Lagos and what he wishes to complete, it is the wish of Lagosians that he should be allowed to complete them.”
She added that Governor Sanwo-Olu should be allowed to sustain and consolidate his achievements in his first term, “We don’t want disruption again. The breaking of policies and government has negatively affected Lagos State and we must avoid it at all costs”.
She also Sanwo-Olu is best positioned to return as the governor of the state for a second term.
