The Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Jimi Agbaje, has said that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Jide Sanwo-Olu, would not have been contesting for the Lagos seat if not for the influence of his godfather.
He said this in response to a statement made by Sanwo-Olu that he found it hard to understand the rationale behind Agbaje’s #freeLagos mantra, and the allusion that Lagosians were in bondage.ADVERTISING
On his verified Twitter handle, @jimiagbaje, the PDP candidate said, “You make a very good point that we should not trivialize our lives. However, in all of your public statements in recent times, you have paid homage and obeisance not to Lagosians but to whom you refer to as National Leader for the opportunity to be a candidate. In effect, you couldn’t have dared to run if you were not handpicked to be endorsed.”
Agbaje added, “Freedom is an opportunity for Lagosians to elect a governor that they can hold accountable, a governor that they can question and on whose table the buck stops. Freedom is running an open government where the finances of the state are not opaque. Freedom is allowing Local Governments to run as they should (a true third tier of government) and not as a mere appendage of the state.
“Freedom is domestication of the Freedom of Information bill. Freedom is the ability of an elected leader to choose his own cabinet.”
Agbaje also reacted to the issue of Igbo in Lagos, which the APC candidate addressed. Sanwo-Olu had debunked the notion that Lagos hates Igbo. He highlighted the roles that Igbo had played and are still playing in the politics and governance of Lagos state.
In response, Agbaje said, “Oh yes, Lagos does not dislike the Igbo, your political establishment does. The royal utterance of 2015 is still fresh on the minds of the entire electorate.”
…….Sanwo-Olu calls for decency from Agbaje
The governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said since his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Jimi Agbaje, was older than him, he expected a level of decency from him.
Agbaje had alleged that in an apparent response to his appearance on a TV station on Sunday night, a hurried arrangement had been made to also feature the “panicky opposition candidate” on TV.
The PDP candidate thereafter went to question Sanwo-Olu when he (the APC candidate) said he would be innovative and improve the systems in the state.
“Innovative? An attempt at innovation is what has caused the incumbent (Mr Akinwunmi Ambode) a second term,” Agbaje had said.
Referring to Sanwo-Olu, Agbaje added, “Your imposition is not on your own terms. You will not be allowed to think freely and run a government. Lagos deserves a free hand and an independent mind; someone who is not tied to the apron strings of a godfather.
“On (your) running mate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos is getting an amazing deal, two governors wrapped in one as presented by you is an elixir for anarchy in governance.
“You were billed to be Obafemi Hamzat’s Chief of Staff in his attempt to run for office in 2014. He cannot and will not truly see himself as your deputy. With two powerful energies, the ego battles can only be imagined.”
Agbaje had thereafter said it would be nice for Sanwo-Olu to present a list of his achievements in the public and private sectors to buttress the claim that he (Sanwo-Olu) had been preparing for governance all along.
He said, “In your previous roles, what were your achievements? As the Managing Director of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, how many housing units were added to solve the housing challenge? As a commissioner, how did the lots of civil servants improve?
“As the state Commissioner for Commerce, what did you do to improve the ease of doing business? What successes can be attributed to you, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.”
However, Sanwo-Olu has knocked the PDP candidate for an attempt to join issues with him, “though in a very poor manner.”
The APC candidate said his initial reaction was to ignore Agbaje, however, he said in the era of a campaign, “it behooves on anyone seeking to be the governor of Lagos State to have an elevated mind.”
He said, “As leaders, we should place a high premium on civility and imbibe a high level of decorum in a period like this as an example to our followers.
“Our campaign should be about important issues that affect the lives of our people; what we are bringing to the table to make life more meaningful to Lagosians.
“This election will be about who has the best credentials to lead Lagos at this time of our development. It won’t be about who can dish out the most insults or tell the most lies.”
Sanwo-Olu added, “The election will be about who has the best plan to continue with the progressive and developmental agenda of Lagos that started since 1999. Lagos is a work in progress.
“In my published interviews in major newspapers this past Sunday, I was clear when I said Mr Agbaje is my ‘egbon’ (elder brother). He is older than me. There is a level of decency that is expected of an elder.
THE PUNCH
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