President-elect Muhammadu Buhari returned yesterday to the hustings in Lagos to seek support for All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode.
The rally in Orile, Lagos Mainland, an area with a big concentration of Igbo residents, presented the opportunity for the party leaders to address the reported anti-Igbo comment by the Lagos monarch, Oba Rilwan Akiolu. They spoke before a massive crowd of cheering residents, many of them excited to see Gen. Buhari, who was visiting the city for the first time since his victory in the March 28 election.
Governor Babatunde Fashola and APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said the party should not be crucified for the Oba’s statement because he is not a member of the APC and was not speaking for it.
Tinubu said: “To you the Igbo, don’t we pay your children’s school fees like others? When we conducted an exam and a spelling competition, an Igbo boy, Ebuka, from Anambra, came first and he became the governor for one day.
“Those that won the competition three times in a row were Igbo. Ebuka was sent to Switzerland computer school and then Obafemi Awolowo University. We did not say he was an Igbo boy and he would not enjoy. He became an executive in Oando and he is now in Canada.
“Another boy, Felix, won and went to Switzerland and OAU. We paid his scholarship; we did not deny him because he is Igbo.”
The APC National Leader, who noted that he was the first Yoruba governor to ever appoint an Igbo commissioner, said the Peoples Democratic Party, having failed to win last week’s presidential election, was desperately trying to pull the APC into the Oba Akiolu controversy.
Tinubu urged Lagos residents to vote wisely in the governorship and House of Assembly elections and not to waste their votes on the opposition.
“As you vote on Saturday, pray that God will not let you waste your vote; a vote for progress is a vote for development,” he said.
Tinubu said Ambode was chosen as the party’s governorship candidate because he had the brain, character, integrity and ability to do a good job.
“Vote for the man that will give you solid development, happiness, hope and great progress in Lagos and in Nigeria.
“We have a president-elect from the party now. We have gotten victory and we will continue with the progress that Nigeria deserves,” Tinubu said.
He noted that in the last 16 years, the state had been fair to all ethnic groups.
“In 2011, when Jimi Agbaje asked me to give him the governorship ticket, I told him he was not qualified and I told him I was going to support a man of character and sound mind, who is Fashola.
“Since then, Fashola has performed tremendously well and has not been sentimental, especially against the Igbo,” he said.
Tinubu added that the PDP has plundered the economy through its agents, such as Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) and other bodies.
He said the money meant for the country’s development was diverted to private pockets, noting that Nigerians have been in bondage under the PDP-led government.
He said: “Now they want to sneak into Lagos through the back door.
“Lagos is not for experiment; this is the job for great brains. And because I supported Fashola, he got angry. I told him I will support a man of character and sound mind. Now, let me ask you people, has Fashola not performed?
“Did he discriminate against the Igbo? He paid your children’s WAEC money, school fees and other things like that. Did he ask whether you are Okafor or Mahmud when you visit government hospital for medication? Did he ask you to pay different money when you are not a Yoruba man?
“That is what you must think about as you vote on Saturday. Your vote for APC is a vote for the progress of Lagos and, by the grace of God, APC will continue to serve your interest in the state,” he said.
Gen. Buhari described Lagos State as too important for the APC to lose to the opposition.
“Defy all elements, whatever it may be, and vote for APC from top to bottom,” he said.
Gen. Buhari told the crowd that Lagos, with its huge investments, could not be toyed with.
“Don’t attempt to be on the wrong side of the centre because we are now the centre.
“Tell your neighbours, your relatives and even the opposition party to please bury the hatchet and fall in line and vote for APC,” he said.
The president-elect assured the people that they stood to benefit a lot if they voted for the APC.
Gen. Buhari said that he will prioritise investment in Lagos infrastructure, noting that the state is a “mini Nigeria”.
“Governor Fashola told me how much the state has been spending to maintain Federal Government infrastructure, including roads, buildings and other institutions.
“I urge Ambode, who will be the next governor of the state, to harass me sufficiently to honour my undertaking,” he said.
Gen. Buhari praised Tinubu for all he had done to mobilise revenue to sustain development in the state.
He also praised Fashola for his hard work, commitment to the state and to the country.
“I am extremely impressed,” he said.
Fashola called for Igbo support saying the APC created the Orile Iganmu Local Council Development Area, which has a large concentration of Igbo people.
He said the state had spent over N51 billion to construct roads, which will benefit everybody, irrespective of where they came from.
“Even if you did not vote us in the last election, you can change your mind and vote us now. We will build Lagos together.”
Fashola urged residents to vote Ambode, saying: “We are 5.8 million on the voters’ register and I will want three million votes for Ambode.
“Put ethnic sentiments aside, there will be no discrimination.
“As your governor, I have defended you every time you have been intimidated without discrimination,” he told the crowd.
Fashola said Gen. Buhari had promised to compensate the state for all Federal Government assets it had maintained.
“That sign of compensation is already here and I know you won’t want to miss it,” he said.
Ambode also solicited support from the people.
“I want to say a big thank you to you all; March 28 was historic for Lagosians. We said we wanted change and we made it possible.
“We are united on one cause; we will not discriminate against anyone.
“We are all one, be you Yoruba, Hausa or Igbo; that is how we will remain forever.”
The huge crowd waited patiently for the arrival for the party leaders. They were entertained by a live.
At 12. 25pm an open roof bus that conveyed the party leaders arrived at the venue. Those in the convoy include: National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Tinubu, Fashola, Rivers, State Governor Rotimi Amaechi Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, Lagos State APC Chairman Dele Ajomale, Ambode, Cardinal James Odunmbaku and Lagos State APC Women Leader Kemi Nelson.
Others are Dr. Idiat Adebule, Mr. Audu Ogbe, Lagos State Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Director of Organisation, Buhari Campaign, Boss Mustapha.
Gen. Buhari presented Ambode to the crowd and urged them to support him.do not forget to comment, like and share.
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