Don’t Be In Opposition In New Government, Buhari Tells Lagosians

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, April 7th, 2015

*Asks Them To Vote For Ambode

Ayo Balogun, Lagos – President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari stormed Lagos on Tuesday to drum support for the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, saying that Lagos is too important for the party to lose to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Speaking at the campaign rally held at Coker, Orile area of Lagos, Nigeria, Buhari said it would be unwise for Lagosians to be at the wrong side with the Federal Government.

“Before the elections, Governor Babatunde Fashola informed me of the huge fund spent by the state government to maintain the federal infrastructures in the state. And I told him that if I win the elections, I will give it priority.

“I am here to thank you for voting me as your President and other candidates of the APC. I am asking you to defy the all odds and ensure that you troop out and cast your vote for the APC candidates on Saturday.

“Lagos is too important for APC to lose. I am giving you this assignment because the billions of Naira of Nigeria’s investment cannot be joked with. Don’t attempt to be on the wrong side of the centre. We are now the centre,” he said.

Buhari said he was extremely impressed with what Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had done in terms of mobilizing revenue to sustain Lagos’ development, adding that he had lots of respect for Governor Babatunde Fashola for his hardwork and commitment to the state and the country.

He said there is no doubt Lagos is a mini-Nigeria as every ethnic group is represented in the state, assuring that if Lagosians vote for APC in Lagos “you stand to benefit individually more than collectively. It is in your interest to vote for our party.

When you get home, tell your friends, relatives and those in the opposition to vote for our candidate in Lagos.”

Speaking, former Governor, Bola Tinubu said the hope is back as the APC had clinched the presidency.

“Here in this local government, there have been several lies by the PDP. Also, Ifeanyi Ubah, who has allegedly embezzled all the funds meant for the oil subsidy. He knows that we are the political leaders but the Obas are not. And that was why he planned to visit the Oba of Lagos. We are the politicians, why didn’t he come to us. He held a meeting with some Igbos in the PDP in Sheraton and later went to the palace.

“We have never discriminated against anyone in Lagos. We pay the WAEC of students in the public schools irrespective of the state they came from. And we organised yearly Spelling Bee competition. It has also been won by children of the Igbos in the state. And they have ruled the state for a day,” he said.

According to him, “One of them is Ebuka an indigene of Anambra State, not Oyo State, won the spelling bee competition. We didn’t do Iwu against him and turn the vote. We did not discriminate against him; he acted as one day governor. So Ibos cannot say they have not governed Lagos because Ebuka and others acted as governor here. We sent Ebuka to Switzerland for training, to computer school, to OAU got his degree, went back for his Masters on our scholarship. He now works for Oando as executive. Ebuka is in Canada as we speak.”

Tinubu said he did not just pick Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as governorship candidate as he has the brain, character, integrity and ability to do a good job.

“When the Federal Government seized our money in Abuja we would have retrenched workers and sack some workers but Ambode said Oga I work with you, there is way out of the problem. Ambode said he would work with me to ensure that more money is provided to run governance in the state. This is the man (Ambode) that will give you (residents of Lagos) happiness and improve the level of infrastructure in the state. We have a president now. No matter what they say, Nigerians have voted and that is their voice. We have gotten the victory. We are only waiting for the calendar,” he stated.