President-elect |
The President-elect, retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on
Tuesday said that Lagos State was too important for the All Progressives
Congress (APC) to lose to the opposition. Buhari, at the APC rally in Orile
area of the state, urged Lagos residents to vote en masse for the party’s
governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday.
“Defy all elements, whatever it may be, and vote for APC from top
to bottom,’’ he said. Buhari told the crowd that Lagos, with its huge
investments, could not be toyed with. “Don’t attempt to be on the wrong side of
the centre because we are now the centre. “Tell your neighbours, your relatives
and even the opposition party to please bury the hatchet and fall in line and
vote for APC,’’ he said.
The President-elect assured the people that they stood to benefit
a lot if they voted for the APC. Buhari said that he would prioritise
investment in Lagos infrastructure, noting that the state is a “mini Nigeria”.
“Gov. Babatunde Fashola has told me how much the state has been spending to
maintain Federal Government infrastructure, including roads, buildings and
other institutions.
“I urge Ambode, who will be the next governor of the state, to
harass me sufficiently to honour my undertaking,” he said. Buhari commended
Chief Bola Tinubu, an APC National Leader, for all he had done in terms
of mobilising revenue to sustain development in the state. He also commended
Fashola for his hard work, commitment to the state and to the country.
“I am extremely impressed, “he said. Tinubu, in his address, also
urged Lagos residents to vote wisely in the governorship and House of Assembly
elections and not to waste their votes for the opposition. “As you vote on
Saturday, pray that God will not let you waste your vote; a vote for progress
is a vote for development, ” he said.
Tinubu said that Ambode was chosen as the party’s governorship
candidate because he had the brain, character, integrity and ability to do a
good job. “Vote for the man that will give you solid development, happiness,
hope and great progress in Lagos and in Nigeria. “We have a President-elect from
the party now, we have gotten victory and we will continue with the progress
that Nigeria deserves,” Tinubu said.
He noted that in the last 16 years, the state had been fair to all
tribes. ” In 2011, when Jimi Agbaje asked me to give him the governorship
ticket, I told him he was not qualified and I told him I was going to support a
man of character and sound mind, which is Fashola. ” Since then, Fashola has
performed tremendously well and has not been sentimental, especially against
the Igbos,” he said.
Fashola also urged residents to vote Ambode saying that the state
must not remain in opposition to the centre. “We are 5.8 million on the voters
register and I will want three million votes for Ambode. “Put ethnic sentiments
aside, there will be no discrimination. “As your governor, I have defended you
every time you have been intimidated without discrimination.
Fashola said that Buhari had promised to compensate the
state for all federal government assets it had maintained. “That sign of
compensation is already here and I know you won’t want to miss it,” he said.
Ambode also solicited support from the people urging them to vote APC as they
did on March 28.
“I want to say a big thank you to you all; March 28 was historic
for Lagosians, we said we wanted change and we made it possible. ” I urge you
to repeat that on Saturday. “We are united on one cause, we will not
discriminate against anyone. ” We are all one, be you Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo;
that is how we will remain forever, ” he said.
Ambode urged Lagos residents to consider the possibilities they
stood to gain with APC being the party at the centre. Also present at the rally
were Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Sen. Chris Ngige, and the
APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, among others.
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