Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State, has implored citizens of the state to ensure that Lagos remains politically stable in order to maintain the state’s status as the most peaceful in Nigeria.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made the call on Sunday at the Lagos House, Marina, during a meeting with leaders of the Lagos State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by its President, Chief Solomon Ogbonna, and Ohanaeze Political Forum led by its Chairman, Chief Chris Ekwilo.
He stated that the 2023 general elections for Lagos residents, particularly the Igbo people, should be about who has their best national interests at heart, a person who has created opportunities without regard for tribal interests and who has provided a genuine platform for people to thrive, live, and work well.
“There is no part of this State that one form of development is not happening. We will continue to push development in every nook and cranny of the state. This is the most peaceful state in the country. We spent so much on security to keep all of us saved on a daily basis. So, if people now come and want to divide us, we shouldn’t let that happen.
“We all have a responsibility to continue to ensure that Lagos continues to remain politically stable for all of us so that we can continue to enjoy the peace that we are all experiencing. All the things we are doing are natural for us to do because God has created us to make life better for our fellow human beings.
“Don’t let us begin to divide what has held us. Let us be careful and let our people know that what is holding us together is bigger than wanting to divide us. For me, it is not just about coming back; it is just because we want the development to continue in Lagos. We will do our best. We will convince and carry everybody along and make sure we give everybody a space. Don’t change something that is good and working,” he advised.
Governor Sanwo-Olu praised the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos State, stating that Ogbonna cares deeply for his kin and the welfare of the Ndigbo in the State.
Ogbonna, who spoke at the occasion, praised Governor Sanwo-Olu for his support of the Ndigbo in Lagos State and promised him that the Igbo will back his second term since he has delivered all the campaign promises he made to the Igbo in Lagos State in 2019.
He said: “I want to commend Governor Sanwo-Olu for his support for Igbo people in Lagos State. He has fulfilled all the campaign promises he made in 2019 to Igbo in Lagos. So, we must support him and APC. If we have a governor of APC in Lagos and the same party at the federal level, it will be in the interest of the Igbo people.
“Our PVCs will give us the voting strength in APC. We will support Sanwo-Olu’s second term in Lagos because Sanwo-Olu is extraordinary. In 2023 elections, we will support Sanwo-Olu for second term and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for president.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Ohanaeze Political Forum, Chris Ekwilo, who described Governor Sanwo-Olu as ‘best among equals,’ stated that Igbo people will work for the victory of Asiwaju Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu in next year’s elections, noting that votes cast for candidates outside the APC are wasted votes.
“We are doing everything possible to convince our people in Lagos that anything outside APC is a waste of votes. And because of the critical elections, we are facing, we have collapsed all the political groups of Ndigbo in Lagos APC into Ohanaeze Political Forum. We are going to join forces with the Ohanaeze chairman to reach out to our people in Lagos. Sanwo-Olu’s second term is a done deal,” he said.
Ekwilo also praised Governor Sanwo-Olu’s support for Igbo people in Lagos State through the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, particularly the aid he provided to them during the COVID-19 pandemic by sending a large quantity of relief supplies to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the people.