AS the Nigerians return to the polling booths on Saturday, March 18, the National Intervention Committee for 2023 Election set up by the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reiterated that there is no vacancy in the Lagos House.
The special committee was put together to look at issues arising from the February 18 Presidential and National Assembly elections with a view to rectify the issues and put the party on the path of winning the Governorship and House of Assembly elections convincingly come Saturday.
The special purpose committee is having engagement with various interest groups, stakeholders in the state, addressing their concerns, and proffering solutions to the identified problems.
Addressing a press briefing on Wednesday in Ikeja, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, revealed that the committee is not set up as a parallel to the structure of the APC in the state, “rather what we are doing is to support, complement, and strengthen the structure on ground at the zonal, ward, LGA, and the state as a whole. We are also putting message across to our people as to why it is important for us to win the election.”
The one-term Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) from 1999 to 2003, furthered: “In this regard, we recognise the developmental trajectory that Lagos has achieved thus far particularly from 1999 when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu took over mantle of leadership as Governor of the state and put in place the Lagos MasterPlan.
“This is what successive governors have keyed into and we have gone ahead to emphasize the need for continuity of the developmental agenda. If we don’t have that, you will end up having what is called policy summersault which does not augur well for development.”
“We have also been communicating with our people on the need to appreciate that Lagos cannot be subjected to experimentation; we need someone who is part of the team who knows what to do and has garnered experience.
“Lagos is not to be left to neophytes taking cognizance of its strategic importance – the economic nerve centre of the country, the 5th largest economy in Africa – and with its complexity you need an experienced hand who has the wherewithal, knowledge, and experience of an insider in the progressive developmental trajectory of Lagos’, the one time Senate Minority Leader, now Minister of Science and Technology added.
He continued: “Within the last few days, every sector of Lagos have been gingered into action, various groups have seen the need not to allow that agenda to step by into the hands of those who have nothing to offer in terms of following that trajectory.
“It is also important to say that for Lagos to have maximum benefit particularly where the former governor who is the architect of modern Lagos will be taking over as president of this nation. It will be in the best place to get all that it needs.”
“We need alignment between state and government at the centre to move ahead. With all other these things that we have benefitted under Sanwo-Olu like the blue line, red line, seaport, tax credit, all these could be possible because we are in alignment with Federal Government. We have to let out people know that this is very important for all of us’, Sen. Mamora told Trek Africa Newspaper.
“We want people to go out there and exercise their franchise, no fear, no intimidation and in peaceful means. With the assurances, we got for this March 18 election or people have no reason to fear in terms of exercising their voting rights. The assurance we have gotten from all the security agencies within and outside the state is that there is no cause for alarm”, he concluded.
The committee comprised of prominent members including Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun (retd), AIG Hakeem Olusegun Odumosu (retd), AVM Gbolahan Adekunle, Hon. Sanya Osinjo, Hon. Kayode Bawa-Allah, Princess Bola Kazeem, Prince Ademola Adetokunbo and Arch. Kabiru Ahmed.
Others are Hon. Olusegun Olulade, Hon. Adewale Adeogun, Mr. Seyi Bamigbade, Mr. Adeniyi Kehinde, Hon. Princess Folashade Olabanji Oba, Dr. Tayo Fashogbon, Mr. Adeniyi Kehinde, Mr. Wole Aboderin, Hon. Idris Aregbe, Hon Kayode Olusegun, Hon. Olusola Orelaja, among others.
