Lagos residents and CAN support Sanwo-Olu’s candidacy.

The state’s Christian community and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Lagos have made it obvious that they are supporting the incumbent governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, and his running mate, Dr. Obafemi Kadri Hamzat, for a second term.

Advertisements

Speaking during a media briefing held to announce CAN’s endorsement of governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for a second term, the Chairman of CAN Lagos State, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, noted that it was essential to make it clear that the Christian community in Lagos demanded a Christian governor, and by divine providence and the listening ears of party leaders, the present governor was given favor. NewsReport gathered.

Adegbite stated, however, that the endorsement was based primarily on Sanwo-Olu’s performance and nothing else.

“His achievements in the critical sectors of the state’s economy are endearing, and we are convinced that they need to be sustained. The recently completed multibillion-naira Imota Rice Mill project, foreign direct investments coming through the Lekki Free Trade Zone, the recently completed first phase of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line, and the commencement of the second phase called the Red Line, the repositioning of the health sector through the building of more health centers at the grassroots, and a free health policy for children below 18 years of age and adults above 65 years of age, not minding your ethnic background or religious affiliations, are just a few of the things we have seen, and consistency is what we need.”

“These, among others, are projects, programs, and policies capable of creating employment for our teeming youths and helping in strengthening our economic fortunes”, the cleric noted.

Speaking further, he said: “As a people guided by an objective sense of history on how we got to where we are and based on what we have seen and experienced so far, putting our trust in Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, who has done extremely well the first time around, is the safest and right thing to do.”

Meanwhile, an independent survey conducted among Lagos residents on their likely choice in the forthcoming governorship election in the state has shown that the majority of Lagosians are determined to set aside sentiments about ethnicity and other political biases and reelect Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for a second term in office, based on what they described as his proven ability and experience in handling governance in Lagos State.

The majority of the respondents were of the opinion that the two other major candidates for the position, from the opposition political parties, appeared to be running purely on rhetoric rather than capacity or proven ability.

A respondent in the Lagos Island area said that though she was not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and neither a fan of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, she would not throw the baby out with the bath water.

Another respondent, a trader in the Ladipo market on the Mainland said he could not  toy with his investments in Lagos, by sacrificing experience for tribal sentiment. He claimed he voted for the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi in the last election because he is his kinsman, and that for the Governorship election, he would be voting Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu since Mr Peter Obi is not on the ballot on Saturday March 11.

Most of the respondents admitted that Governor Sanwo-Olu had done very well as governor of Lagos, perhaps surpassing all his predecessors. A large majority of the respondents expressed great fears about the danger inherent in electing inexperienced politicians to run the affairs of a megacity with a huge and delicate economy like Lagos.

The decision of the Sanwo-Olu administration to sustain the culture of infrastructural revolution in the state was also referenced by respondents as one that makes him preferable to the other candidates.

Mentions were made of the recently completed Lekki Deep Sea Port and Imota Rice Mill, the largest of such in sub-Saharan Africa.

The completion of nearly all projects of the previous administration, among many other landmark achievements, and the commitment of the administration to ensure that Lagos remains secured, especially with the improved funding of the security institutions in the State, also earn Mr. Sanwo-Olu some ratings above his opponents in the coming election.