The Lagos state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday said reports that Tokunbo Abiru, the party’s candidate for Lagos East senatorial district bye-election is scheming to replace Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2023 is the handiwork of the opposition in the state.
Seye Oladejo, the party’s Publicity Secretary who said the APC is focused on the bye election scheduled for October 31, added that the aim of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is to cause disaffection in the APC and distract Governor Sanwo-Olu from delivering the dividends of democracy to Lagosians who overwhelmingly for him in the 2019 general elections.
“The report that Abiru is being prepped to replace Governor Sanwo-Olu in 2023 came from the camp of opposition because we won’t have a governorship election until the next two and half years. So, our party and Abiru as a candidate is focusing on the assignment at hand”.
“The opposition will want to throw a spanner on the wheel to cause disaffection in the ruling party, perhaps that’s why they remain as permanent opposition in Lagos State”.
“But nothing can be farther from the truth, Abiru is focusing on the ticket he got from APC and I enjoy some personal relationship with him and I can tell you that he is not even thinking beyond the present mandate he has. But it will suit the propaganda of the PDP to say that somebody is being prepped up to take over from the governor and you can see that the governor didn’t even respond to that”.
Oladejo also said despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Sanwo-Olu has been able to surpass the expectations of Lagosians in key areas of governance.
According to him, the pandemic brought out the best in the governor as the way he managed the situation earned him applause both from within and outside the country.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu has been able to surpass the expectations of the majority of Lagosians in the past one year. When one is coming into government, a lot of unexpected and unpredictable issues play themselves up”.
“ The pandemic threw up the leadership quality in the governor, he was on top of it in words and action. Lagosians were able to leverage on that and have confidence in the government they elected”.
“To put the icing on the cake, he was always communicating, doing daily briefing twice or thrice in a week; making sure Lagosians are abreast of the plans of the government to ameliorate situations, provide medicals and support at all levels”.
“Let’s take the pandemic out, which has been more or less a big distraction to his governance. Since the pandemic has been easing out, we are all aware of lots of activities going on in the government under the THEME agenda. Just last week, 255 roads and power projects across the state have been approved, reaching out to the grassroots”.
“These are impactful projects and not propaganda. I even feel the government is not saying enough about activities going on in the seat of government in Alausa; he remains a silent worker and achiever and I’m very sure the majority of Lagosians are very happy and proud that they voted him in as a governor”.
“Of course, he will and can do better and as the resources of the state continue to permit him, he will reach out to all the nooks and crannies of the state even surpassing the achievements of his predecessors which will be a thing of pride”.
On the criticism by the PDP that the governor is working at snail’s speed, the APC said the governor has refused to be distracted but focused on delivery of democratic dividends, adding that he has refused to get involved in political issues in the APC except the election in Ondo where is heading the campaign for the party.
“The opposition is in the business blabbing but we are in the business of delivery of our promises to the people. The governor has simply refused to be distracted by the opinion of a few frustrated oppositions. He is not even meddling in the politics of APC, apart from the recent assignment where he is heading the campaign of the reelection of his colleague governor in Ondo State”.
“ You can see he has rolled up his sleeves, focusing on his work, you won’t find the governor respond to any comment or opinion of the opposition; that’s the business of the party and which we are up to”.
“Remember he dropped the appellation ‘his excellency’ which means that when he’s all done and dusted, people can now decide if he’s worthy of being called by the title. For me, that speaks so much of humility and determination about someone who is really committed to perform and deliver on his mandate” he said.
Source:- Independent ng
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