Wale Jagun
The re – elected governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Olushola Sanwo – Olu, has stated that Lagosians with their votes chose competence and experience in their quest to make the state achieve greatness.
Sanwo – Olu made the remarks in his victory speech at the State House.
He was declared winner of the gubernatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), earlier in the morning.
The governor and his party, All Progressive Congress (APC), polled a total of 762,134 votes, securing a comfortable margin of 449,805 to defeat the main challenger in the Labour Party (LP) that scored 312,329 votes. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came third in the election, having received 62,449 votes.
His victory, he said, attested to Lagosians’ faith in APC as their party of choice, dedicating his success to all “hardworking” residents of the State.
His second term, Sanwo-Olu said, will bring about consolidation of his administration’s development agenda and witness the delivery of legacy projects that would raise the development profile of Lagos.
“We thank the Almighty God, to whom we owe our every breath, and who has spared our lives to see this day. I am grateful to all the good people of Lagos. I salute every citizen, not just the people who voted for us, or those registered to vote”, he said.
“Lagos is at this enviable stage of development today because of each and every one of you, regardless of your ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, gender or age. We are a vibrant and thriving hub of commerce, finance, entrepreneurship, innovation and culture because of the diversity that has come to define us, over the decades and the centuries.
“I thank all our supporters, who worked day and night to take our message of competence and accomplishment far and wide. Many of you did what you did not because you knew me personally, but because you identified with the progressive vision that we represent and believe in the message of continuity that we advocated.
“Now that the elections are over, we must re- affirm the spirit of solidarity and togetherness that binds us as Lagosians. Governance must continue and dividends of democracy must continue to be delivered. There must be no break, there will be no time-off. We will keep all the promises we have made to all Lagosians.”
Sanwo-Olu saluted the courage of his opponents to take part in the democratic process, saying their contribution created a competitive participation that reflected the essence of democracy and electioneering.
The Governor extended his hand of fellowship to his opponents, saying there was no victor and no vanquished. He urged them to accept the electoral outcome in the true spirit of sportsmanship.
Sanwo-Olu, however, condemned what he called “divisive rhetoric” used by opposing parties in the course of the campaign, noting that it was wrong for anyone to attempt to make the election about ethnicity and religion, when it should have been about capacity, competence and experience.
“We saw hateful and hurtful ethnic profiling by fellow citizens, which is totally out of place for us as Lagosians – the proud residents of West Africa’s pre-eminent melting pot. I recognise and salute all the Lagosians who refused to succumb to those who sought and still seek to divide us with their unguarded and inciting comments”, he said.
The Governor also condemned a pocket of violence that marred the election in a few polling units, which led to some residents sustaining injuries. He said relevant security agencies had been directed to investigate the breaches and to ensure that those found culpable face the full wrath of the law.
Sanwo-Olu extended his gratitude to the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for standing in support of his Government since inception, pledging that Lagos would remain aligned with the centre under Tinubu’s leadership.
The Governor thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, his commitment to leaving a legacy of fairness and equitability in the nation’s electoral system, saying: “We believe posterity will judge President Buhari well for his commitment to a fair and equitable country.”
Sanwo-Olu also hailed the President for the “unprecedented support” to Lagos in the last eight years.
With the Governor at the State House when the Returning Officer for the Gubernatorial election declared the results are Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, Senator representing Ekiti Central, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, cabinet members, All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in Lagos, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, Director General of Lagos APC campaign, Sen. Ganiyu Solomon, and other party faithful.
