Gov, deputy, Obasa, legislators-elect receive certificates of return
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, promised that his administration would take its mandate to a new level of performance, delivery of dividends of democracy and completion of all ongoing projects as well as ensuring that all new ones were funded, prioritised and delivered.
He urged Lagos State residents to be law-abiding, remain united, live in peace and harmony, irrespective of faith, creed, political affiliations and tribe, and should not leave room for hatred, incitement or violence.
The governor also promised that his administration was poised to unlock four more years of peace, progress and prosperity for the state.
He spoke when himself, his Deputy, Obafemi Hamzat; Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa and other lawmakers-elect received their Certificates of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Sanwo-Olu, in his remarks, thanked the leadership of INEC for a job well done, hoping that in future elections, the commission would continue to raise the bar.
He, however, urged Lagosians to hold his administration accountable as it commenced the next phase of the journey that would take it till 2027.
Obasa, who reassured Lagosians that the state House of Assembly was ready to build on its last success, said the House would continue to make laws that would bring progress in Lagos and protect the interests of Lagosians.
Corroborating the Speaker, the lawmaker representing Eti-Osa Constituency I, Gbolahan Yishawu, pledged that himself and his colleagues would not relent in making life better for Lagosians through effective legislation.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Olusegun Agbaje, who congratulated the elected candidates, said the elections would not have been possible without the support and cooperation of the electorate.
Meanwhile, Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State Chapter, Oluseye Oladejo, has said that the re-election of Sanwo-Olu was in recognition of his giant strides in all the six pillars of the T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda as well as the rejection of politics of religion, ethnicity, violence and hate.
Oladejo, who spoke at a media briefing in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, stressed the need to curb the excesses of warmongers and scaremongers that are desperate to foment trouble in the state.
According to him, ethnicity, which is anathema to democracy, has never been a factor in the voting pattern in Lagos State, claiming it was introduced and orchestrated by the Labour Party (LP) and its candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
He said: “The cosmopolitan nature of Lagos State and the discernment of the people as well as their resilience were well displayed as Lagosians brushed aside divisive tendencies to vote a clearly popular and performing government back to power.
“Many false narratives have been put in the public space by the aggressors in the last election, who have turned round to shed crocodile tears in their bid to play the victim. The elections have been won and lost. It is time for all patriotic citizens to concentrate on building our dear state and, by extension, the nation. But this is not the thinking of the opposition parties that have shown that they lack the true spirit of sportsmanship.
“We commend security agents for their conduct during the elections. They were professional, especially in Lagos State, despite attempts by some people to create an atmosphere of fear and violence. The security agencies were prompt in nipping crises in the bud in flash points. They maintained decorum in the face of confrontation in some areas.
“We condemn the post-election hate-speeches and fake news still being promoted in various media spaces. May I alert the security agencies by calling their attention to meetings on Twitter Space towards mobilising unsuspecting people for demonstrations aimed at destroying Lagos State, a replica of the #EndSARS saga.”
“It should be noted that the general election was held throughout the nation and the law provides for those not satisfied with the conduct of the exercise to approach the court of law as it is done in civilised climes. Any approach contrary to this under any guise should be viewed seriously.
“Rhodes-Vivour’s intention was to pitch a section of the populace against another. When he started his campaign, he was Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour. He soon metamorphosed into Chinedu Rhodes-Vivour and, with his mother, was campaigning in areas seen as having heavy Igbo population, adopting Igbo as the language of communication.”
