By Abayomi Elias.
In their preparation towards the general election which kicstarts in February 25, 2023, the stakeholders of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Lagos East Senatorial District met to discuss work plans and modalities in resolving the herculean task ahead before the election so that no stone is left unturned as regards the party’s victory.
The well attended meeting which had The GAC members, Traditioner rulers, Market women, Artisans, politicians, party candidates and the youth in attendance used the meeting to dot all the I’s and cross all the T’s to ensure the party candidates emerge victorious at the polls.
The Governor advisory council members opined that this is not the time for dancing or to show off, but it is time they have to get serious so as to get the job done.
Apex leader of APC in Kosofe Federal constituency Otunba Bushura Alebiosu in his remark at the meeting said;
“The essence of this assembly is to let us know we have a lot of work to do. You have seen our campaign trains. The job we were delegated by the party is that the turn out of electorates in this election must be massive.
“The northerners are saying if they vote enmasse than us, they will benefit more and we should raise no eye brows. That is a challenge for us. The election that brought in Lagos state governor was marked with voter apathy.
“We have to talk to ourselves, we have to make plea to call people to so they can come out and vote. We want massive votes. We have to keep visiting homes and canvassing for votes so they can vote for us. If you have not collected your voters card, endeavour to go get it”. He said
Another apex leader of APC in Lagos East and a GAC member Senator Anthony Adefuye corroborated his colleague in his remark at the event. Adefuye said The work ahead is a great task.
“This is the first time we would have a president from us, that is our son and a Yoruba man. It won’t be nice for us not to vote and allow another state to defeat us in Lagos.
“Let us have campaign committe in every LGA and every ward. Let us campaign together. We beg you, enough of dancing around, enough of showing off. If we don’t win, we don’t get anything.
“We must win in the Presidential election. Let all of us work together now. All the aggrieved should work together as one. Now I don’t have power to fight but I have powers to win election”. Adefuye said.
He took the participants down memory lane to show statistics of last election results between APC and their closest rival PDP. He used the illustration to appeal to stakeholders to be ready for the herculean task ahead.
Chief Olumuyiwa Sosanya, Senator Ogunlewe spoke at different intervals at the meeting to charge party faithful to start canvassing for votes now.
“We have done polling units committee. 15 committee would mobilise 20 electorates. Not on election day but we have to start now by talking to them. Let us identify 20 people that can vote, we have to start doing this now not on election Day. If we do this across Lagos East, we shall win the election if we adopt this strategy.
The present member house of representatives representing the good people of Kosofe Federal constituency Honourable Rotimi Agunsoye who demonstrated at the event that he will give his total support to Ogbara with words and actions also talked about the giant strides of Asiwaju and why he should be massively voted for. In his words, he said;
“When we used to votes, we didn’t have all these transformers and classrooms. If you go round, all these we have fixed and we have done them to compliment the job of Lagos state government. Not just only in Kosofe but acros the Lagos state axis. Epe, Ikorodu, Badagry et al.
“We should not forget how Asiwaju turned the fortune of Lagos state around. Our votes for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu must be massive. I have done my own bit, I am going out. There is time and season for everything. Whether there is Fuel scarcity or not, we will vote for APC. Whether they change currency or not, let us go and vote. He has done it in Lagos, he will do same for Nigerians”. Agunsoye said
In an interview with Newsconnect reporter and Kafilat Ogbara at the event, she expressed her optimism that her party is 100 percent ready for the 2023 general election.
“Sometimes when you are preparing for an election or any program at all, as the program gets nearer, you find out you still need to dot some I’s and cross some T’s. That is exactly what we have come here to do today.
“Four million votes in Lagos state is possible. We have started house to house campaign, door to door campaign, person to person campaign, place to place campaign and zone to zone campaigns. Everywhere we need to get to, we have all put on our trousers and we are ready to do the job.
“All our party members, all our stakeholders, everybody is prepared for this election because we know that this is not just an APC election, it is a Lagos election. We have our presidential candidate from Lagos state and we have no excuse at all, it is non-negotiable and we are not going to take any chances at all.
“We are coming all out to deliver the numbers of vote that we want. Our targets is 4 million votes. All our women across Lagos East we are all prepared. All our youths are on ground and we are going to be having a youth walk to sensitise all our young people because a lot of people don’t really know the good things and the laudable achievements of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu”. Ogbara said.
The Director General of APC Campaign in Lagos State Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon in an interview with our correspondent at the event summarised the essence of the meeting just like others who we interviewed and added that;
“The huge task is voting Asiwaju Tinubu and his running mate and also re-electing Governor Sanwo-Olu and his deputy Kadiri ditto all APC candidates across board.
“The whole idea is to make sure we are on top of our game which has been shown here. Come out on the day of election and vote for APC. That is the best way you don’t lose your votes. Any votes going to any other party is a wasted votes”. Solomon said
He said election day is not for playing football or watching televisions. “It is for you to come out and cast your vote that you are entitled to. There is no right without corresponding duty. If it is your right and it comes in every four years, we should keep that particular day sacred, set it aside and make good use of it. Any other time you can do whatever things you like”. He concluded.
The Chairman of Mile 12 market, Alhaji Shehu Usman who was at the event said the Arewa community have gotten their PVC’s and they are ready to vote enmasse for Asiwaju.
“The previous votes seem to be very small. Now our leader, our mentor, our father the leader of APC in Lagos State and in Nigeria Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is contesting through the ballot.
“So there is every need for us put more effort to ensure we get highest vote. We are highly optimistic that he is going to be the President of Nigeria Insha Allah.
“Of course we can’t be too overwhelmed, we can’t be too over confidence, we are going to do our possible best to ensure people around come out enmasse to vote for him and other candidates.
“Arewa community has gotten a lot of PVC and I am sure we are going to use it to vote for APC Insha Allah”. He said.
Lascota leadership at the event gave testimony of the Federal government grant they got which was facilitated by commissioner of wealth creation in Lagos State Chief Mrs Yetunde Arobieke. They were Trained by German and equipment were both for them. On that premise they promise to vote enmasse for all APC candidates across board.
