The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday explained why Lagosians should reject the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Jide Adediran, at the poll.
He said the main opposition candidate, who worked with him as a cameraman and consultant when he was governor, lacked the required maturity, experience, competence and capacity to run Lagos, which is the fifth-largest economy in Africa.
Fashola maintained that being a cameraman and following the governor to state functions do not qualify Adediran to be governor.
The PDP candidate, a former reporter with Lagos Television when Fashola was governor, covered the Lagos State House at times handled the camera during the governor’s events. He owns the Core Media.
However, Fashola put him on the scale during the launch of Eko O ni baje 10,000 Foot Soldiers for Tinubu/Shettima and Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat, saying that his “boy” does not have the qualities required for the number one seat in the state.
Reacting to the minister’s comment, Adediran said he was never a cameraman. He said he will continue to hold his former boss in high esteem.
The former governor said PDP cannot win presidential poll because it is polarise.
Fashola, who is also the Director of Election Planning and Monitoring, APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), canvassed support for the APC presidential standard bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, Governor Babaijde Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
At the event which was held at the Haven Event Centre, Ikeja, former APC National Legal Adviser, Dr Muiz Banire, and Lanre Akinsola conducted training for the canvassers and foot soldiers.
The launch was attended by Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Hamzat, former Deputy Governors Abiodun Ogunleye, Sarah Sosah and Joke Orelope-Adefulire; Minister of Science and Technology Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, Rotimi Agunsoye, Ademorin Kuye, Delapo Badru, Hakeem Odumosu, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai and Femi Onibokun.
Fashola, who took a swipe at the PDP, said: “Some people say they will take the land from us. That is too much. I did the job of a governor for eight years and part of what helped me was that I was Chief of Staff to the governor. Even, that was not enough.
“So, just following a governor being a cameraman and then, watching me for eight years, then, you think you will now be a governor, you are not ready. Come to our leadership school, you are not yet ready.
“That is why you will see that they are focusing on the 51 billion naira Lagos State is generating. You did not see the immigrant population that is coming into Lagos every day. The bigger the prosperity, the bigger the problem. Their party doesn’t see people; they don’t see the problem.”
Fashola urged members of the APC to canvas massively so that more people can vote for the party.
Sanwo-Olu urged Nigerians to vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying that nobody has the credential to become president more than him.
He said Lagos will deliver the largest vote for the APC because Tinubu is on the ballot.
Sanwo-Olu said: “I want to thank our minister and all those who have worked with him, especially his 10,000-foot soldiers; that five million votes will come out. Tinubu is the best for Nigeria. Nobody has a credential like Tinubu to become president. That is why we truly believe in him. We will deliver the largest number for our presidential candidate.”
The governor said the Lagos State Government would from this weekend begin to distribute food packs to cushion the effect of the naira and fuel scarcity, which Lagosians are facing.
Sanwo-Olu said the initiative was borne out of concern, adding that “it is not for politic’s sake.”
Sanwo-Olu said the five million votes pledged by the APC supporters in Lagos to deliver the State to Tinubu were not impossible, given the strength and structure of the campaign employed by the party in Lagos. The Governor said it was time for the party’s canvassers to embark on mass voter enlightenment in order to minimise void votes for the party.
Sanwo-Olu boasted that the party’s presidential ticket remained unbeatable, noting that Tinubu’s academic background, political acumen and administrative capacity stood him out as the most qualified contender with better credentials.
The governor said the election of Tinubu as president would usher in a new era of hope for the masses, adding that the APC presidential manifesto was designed to stimulate socio-economic growth and take the country to its pride place as a major force on the continent.
He said: “We gather today to add yet another layer to the structures already put in place with other existing platforms that are working for the victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I thank our Honorable Minister and the team working with him for bringing about this stakeholders’ engagement. This is an engagement where we want to hit the ground running and our aim is to reach out to the electorate in every nook and cranny of Lagos.
“When we work together, we can achieve a lot together. With the emergence of this structure, the five million votes we pledged to deliver for our presidential candidate in Lagos will be delivered. We know that Tinubu is the best choice for our country at this moment in our history. This is a team that is unbeatable and one that possesses the best credentials, given the political and educational backgrounds of Tinubu and Sen. Kashim Shettima.
“We have seen the reality of political and economic breakthroughs in Lagos. Given Tinubu’s skills, experience and capacity, we believe Nigeria would be better served under his leadership. We have seen how other States are working together for Asiwaju. We who are his people in Lagos cannot but keep our rightful position to deliver the larger number of votes to the Tinubu-Shettima ticket. That is why we must put our political strength to work at the next presidential election.”
Sanwo-Olu said the APC candidate was already positioned to win the election but said the party’s canvassers must work to ensure a wide margin of victory against Tinubu’s opponents.
The governor said the task before APC foot soldiers were to adopt a method of vote management, stressing that the method involved proper education of the electorate on how to cast their ballots in line with methods prescribed by the electoral umpire.
Speaker Obasa urged party faithful and supporters to be dedicated and committed to enlightening prospective voters on the importance of the elections.
He said Tinubu has moulded many people in politics, stressing that it is a payback for the party
Deputy Governor Hamzat enjoined parents to enlighten their wards, especially youths on the need to vote for Tinubu.
He said Tinubu has a pedigree, based on his developmental strides as a former Governor of Lagos State.
Eminent lawyer and former Environment Commissioner Banire told the foot soldiers that “elections are now predictable and scientific,” adding that APC should change and strengthen its campaign strategies.
He cautioned against an exclusive focus on rallies, warning that it may not lead to victory.
Banire said canvassers should embrace the “cell approach” by traversing the grassroots and mobilising voters through the more effective sectoral appeals and door-to-door system.
The legal luminary advised the canvassers to target professional and non-professional groups, artisans, peasants and youths in the neighbourhood.
Banire also enjoined the prospective voters to learn from the Osun State governorship election by paying attention to the importance of BVAS.
Akinsola, who spoke before Banire, described the BVAS as a game changer, urging party supporters to stick to guidelines on poll day.
He added: “Don’t arrive at polling booths with government vehicles. Don’t put on party uniforms.”
