The All Progressives Congress governorship
candidate for Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, received leaders and delegates of
Ethnic Groups, Civil Societies and other allied groups at his Gbagada campaign
office yesterday, December 19, 2014.
The groups thronged to the Akinwunmi Ambode
Campaign Organisation Office in Gbagada to congratulate Mr. Ambode on his
emergence as the APC candidate for Lagos State and pledged their support to him
for the upcoming elections in February 2015.
Mr. Ambode in his speech assured all
present that he was specially positioned to understand the feelings of ethnic
and different sectoral groups in Lagos. He shared his story of having had to leave
home at the age of 11years to go to Federal Government College, Warri for
Secondary School. He described his experience as a child in Warri and how he
made friends with people from all parts of Nigeria. This according to him was
where his world view was formed through the relationships and friendships he
made then.
He also talked about his National Youth Service
when he served in Sokoto state with the Central Bank of Nigeria. He stated that
his one year in Sokoto gave him a direct appreciation of the Hausa culture and
traditions which he would never have had if he had not visited the place. With
these experiences, he told the gathering that he has grown to see people not
for where they come from or their religion but for who they are and what they
can do.
In his words, “we must all work together to
make Lagos safe, clean and economically livable for everybody. Lagos is the
most cosmopolitan state in Nigeria and Africa. Lagos is Lagos because of all
the races and tribes in it. We all make up Lagos, we all have a stake in Lagos
and Lagos will work for us.” He promised to cater for all ethnic groups and
ensure everybody felt at home in Lagos and had equal opportunities to excel in
whatever field they chose.
He said “If I can make it in Lagos, you can
too. If Akinwunmi Ambode can become the governorship candidate then your small
businesses can grow to become big businesses”. He asked for the support of all
ethnic groups and associations to become the next governor of Lagos State. He
painted an imagery of his governorship aspiration as one of him as having
worked on a construction site called Lagos State as a Labourer, Mason, Plumber,
getting to the level of a Supervisor and now seeking to be given the role of
the Project Manager. He promised to work for the interest of the people and
with the help of God to deliver good governance to all.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Lagos
State Governor on Politics and Legislative Matters, Hon. Musiliu Folami
welcomed the members of the Ethnic Groups and read the minutes of their
previous meeting where they resolved to support Akinwunmi Ambode and the APC in
next years’ elections. Chief Ayo Opadokun in his address to the gathering told
them that the business of the day was to secure the freedom of the people from
those who are in the business of making life difficult for the ordinary man on
the street. We are in the business of restoring ourselves because we have been
dealt with by people who have taken governance. He stated that Akinwunmi Ambode
was the person who could protect the interests of all ethnic groups and create
opportunities for all to thrive. He asked the groups to go back and in their
separate meetings ask their members to support Akinwunmi Ambode to become the
next governor of Lagos State.
Over 30 different groups attended the
meeting. Among the groups present were Arewa Community, North Central, Ndigbo
General, Mile 12 Market, NANS, June 12 Coalition, Igbo Coalition, NURTW,
NANTAP, MOMTAN, RTEAN, Taxi Drivers, CISOCON/NLC and many others.
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