Who Is Babajide Sanwo-Olu?

APC governorship candidate in Lagos state, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, was born on June 25, 1965 in Lagos. He had a fairly good upbringing, in the midst of a well groomed christian family.

Most of Sanwo-Olu’s education life has been in Lagos. He graduated from the prestigious University of Lagos, where he studied and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Surveying. Shortly after obtaining his B.Sc., he proceeded to acquire his masters degree. He re-enrolled into the University of Lagos and duly obtained his MBA in Surveying.

While Sanwo-Olu is a trained and certified surveyor, he has a strong knack for business. He enrolled at the Lagos Business School, where he acquired his advanced business training and duly obtained his degree in Business Administration. He also attended the Business School in London, where he obtained his MBA.

Sanwo-Olu, as a corporate guru who knows the importance of governance, enrolled at the United States’ Kennedy Institute of Government. He was aptly trained in the area of government administration and civil responsibilities.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is a trained Surveyor, started his career on a much different path. He was able to carve out a desired career path for himself and subsequently started out as a banker. He was, to say the least, highly successful in his chosen field of banking.

Sanwo-Olu’s Banking Career

Sanwo-Olu is well known for his success in the banking sector, with banking experience spanning well over a decade. He took up several roles and served in various capacities in three top commercial banks in Nigeria; First City Monument Bank (formerly known as First Atlantic Bank), United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Lead Bank PLC.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu‘s highlights as a banker started in the mid 1990s. He was appointed/promoted to the position of a Treasurer at the Lead Bank PLC. In this capacity, Sanwo-Olu was tasked with the prime responsibilities of overseeing the Liquid asset of the financial institution. He was also tasked with the daily management of the overall funding requirements of the bank. His tenure in this role lasted for only three years. He left the role in 1997 and subsequently left the bank for UBA.

While at the United Bank of Africa (one of Africa’s leading banks then and now), Babajide Sanwo-Olu rose to the rank of a Senior Executive Manager. He doubled as the Chief Head of UBA’s Money Market (Foreign). His primary responsibility in this role entailed management of UBA’s Liquidity and profit enhancement.

The Lagos state Governorship aspirant also headed UBA’s Strategic team. His team oversaw the bank’s entire investment banking among other important functions. Sanwo-Olu achieved significant success in his executive position at UBA and another top bank came calling for his services, with a much better offer.

Sanwo-Olu became the Deputy General Manager of First Atlantic Bank PLC (now First City Monument Bank – FCMB). He was charged with the responsibility of liaising with top companies in the country, as an expert Corporate financial analyst and advisor.

After about a decade at the top of the Nigerian banking sector, Sanwo-Olu decided to opt for a career transition, with the aim of infiltrating other private and public sectors.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu Career in the Private Sector

While, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has had his fair share of success in the Banking sector, he was equally successful in other businesses he ventured into, in the private sector. In fact, he was more successful in his other career endeavours in the private line.

Armed to the teeth with his corporate certifications, membership and experience, his success in the private sector is no fluke. He is a certified member of prominent management institutes in the country. Sanwo-Olu was trained in Personnel Management and holds the prominent membership certificate of CIPM (Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement). This is in addition to his certification by NITAD (Nigerian Institute of Training and Development).

Over the past 15 years, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has served as a board member of several top companies in Lagos and Nigeria as a whole. Apart from being a board member, he also acted in a consulting managerial capacity (chairman) for some of these firms. Some of these firms include:

**PowerCap consulting – a private power consulting company in Lagos.
**COSG – Caverton Offshore Services Group (Sanwo-Olu was a board member).
***Baywaych Group of companies – Constructions and Real estate (Sanwo-Olu acted in the capacity of a Chairman).
**LLNL-Light Level Nigerian Limited – a private digital solution firm (Sanwo-Olu acted in a directorial capacity).
**First Class Group – with specialty in cooling mechanism. A support firm of many telecom giants in Nigeria.
**Wow! Interiors – Interior design and house planning.
**Beryl Shelter – a real estate coy.

The above are some of the top companies, where Babajide Sanwo-Olu held (or still holds) stakes. In some of these companies, he was the CEO/Chairman/Director. In others, he was only a stakeholder.

While Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been extremely successful in the private sector, his exploits in the public sphere has, thus far, been much more successful.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Career in the Public Sector

This part of Sanwo-Olu’s career is by far the most significant. This portion of his career and the inherent achievements have stood him out. These have constituted the major highlights of his campaign. His exploits in the public space is, without doubt, his selling point in his quest of becoming the most powerful individual in West Africa’s richest city, Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu has been hailed by many as an apt specialist in the areas of human development and strategic planning. He has acted in several capacities in the Lagos state government from 2003 to date.

In 2003, during the tenure of Lagos state’s godfather, Tinubu, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was appointed as a Special Adviser by Tinubu’s deputy, Femi Pedro. He acted in the capacity of Special Adviser to the deputy governor on Corporate matters. This appointment set him up politically for the best thing to come. Fifteen years down the line, he’s became the favoured choice to take up the mantle of leadership in Lagos state.

A couple of years after his appointment, Sanwo-Olu was given the directive to oversee the ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, in an acting capacity.

Four years after his political appointment, he was appointed by the outgoing governor, Tinubu, as a substantive commissioner, to head the Lagos state Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The ministry is arguably the most important unit of the Lagos state government, with regards to its work functions.

After the 2007 election came Babatunde Raji Fashola, a candidate handpicked by Tinubu. Fashola relieved Sanwo-Olu of his role as the commissioner of Commerce and Industry. He, however, reappointed him to head the ministry of Establishment, Training and Pensions. Sanwo-Olu held this office for good 8 years. He left the office in 2015, after the expiration of Fashola’s governorship tenure.

As emphasized above, from 2003 to 2015 (12 full years), Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been involved in the core operations and governance of Lagos state. He has worked successfully with two past governors of the state, Tinubu and Fashola.

Sanwo-Olu was serving as Managing Director of Lagos State Property Development Company.  A government owned setup, which oversees housing and urban development in Lagos state.

Sanwo-Olu Family

Sanwo-Olu, who hails from a Christian home in lagos Island, is happily married with kids. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is married to Dr. (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, their marriage is blessed with four ....

Buhari's Acceptance Speech As APC Presidential Candidate for 2019

AgegePulse Magazine

ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS IN THE 2019 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

6TH OCTOBER, 2018

I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Chairman and members of the Convention Committee for planning and conducting this convention. The same appreciation goes to the chairmen of National and State Executive Committees of our party. Thank you very much for doing a difficult job well.

2.​ I would like to pay tribute to Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande the first chairman of our great Party and to Chief John Oyegun who led the party until this year and all the APC Governors.

3.​ The result of the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress this time is different because I am the only candidate. I thank all other eligible candidates who deferred to me in the interest of our party unity and over-all national stability.

4. Fellow party members, it is with a deep sense of humility that I stand before you today to accept the nomination of our party, the All Progressives Congress to be its candidate and flag-bearer in the 2019 presidential elections.

5.​ As I stand today before you, there is no honour greater than the confidence given to me by all of you when you affirmed my nomination. I thank you for your support. I thank you for your guidance. I thank you for staying committed to the CHANGE agenda.

6.​ I accept this honour as a tribute and mark of confidence to carry the responsibility as we all join hands to continue the good work of the APC government to 2023 and beyond.

7.​ We are very proud of our record from 2015 to date:

a. We have arrested and checked the slide to anarchy on the security and economic fronts.

b. Boko Haram is reduced to dastardly attacks on soft targets. Normalcy has returned to much of North East and neighbouring North West states.

c. Our currency has stabilised. Our reserves are now $44 billion, a lot higher than we had in 2015.

d. Power generation capacity has reached 8,000 megawatts against less than 4,600 when we came into office. As we invest in new power generation infrastructure we are strenuously working to address the legacy deficiencies and challenges of transmission and distribution networks across the country.

e. We are executing Independent Power Projects in 9 Federal Universities to deliver uninterrupted power supply and we intend to expand to a total of 37 Universities

f. We have revived most of our capacity to produce fertilisers locally.

g. The Government through its Anchor Borrowers Programme and other incentives has empowered more than 2 million farmers to go back to the land.  We now produce 80% of our rice requirements. Many farmers who nearly lost hope are now millionaires.

h. We have introduced primary school feeding programmes to encourage attendance and enrolment. We also have introduced the conditional cash transfer to help small and medium businesses, the men, the women and young people who drive our economy.

i. We have repaired and are repairing major arterial roads and starting major railway projects with the aim of linking the 36 states with efficient road and rail transportation systems.

j. We are attacking corruption head-on. With international support we are recovering Nigerian stolen assets and applying them to infrastructural developments.

k. Today the corrupt are facing the wrath of law and leakages have been generally blocked.

Mr. Chairman, Your Excellencies, Members of the APC.

8.​ We can be proud of our achievements. CHANGE has come. Ladies and Gentlemen, fellow Nigerians, think how much PDP Governments earned between 1999 to 2015. Think what they did with it.
a. Infrastructure down!

b. Security down! 18 local governments of Nigeria under control of a hostile army of insurgents,

c. Reserves depleted!

d. Bankruptcy around the corner.

9.​What did they do with your money?

10.​ Internationally, Nigeria is now respected. My inter-action with foreign heads of state and government has been very encouraging. The international community is very supportive of our efforts to put our country in order.

11.​ Ladies and gentlemen, Members of APC. I thank you deeply for your support and confidence in me. I will not let you or the people of Nigeria down.

On to victory in 2019!
Long live APC!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Thank you and God bless you all.

Presidential Primary: Dollar rain as Saraki, Atiku, Tambuwal divide PDP leaders

October 7, Octo

•Delegates claim receiving $9,000 each

•Others share $5,000, $4,000, $3,000, $2,500

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party, who were fortunate to be delegates at the party’s national convention which held in Port Harcourt on Saturday, have described the exercise as worthy.

This is because, they were said to have received thousands of dollars as bribes from some presidential aspirants.

As early as Saturday morning, some of the delegates said they already had up to $9,000 each while they said that they were still expecting more.

The aspirants who are taking part in the primary  are a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar;  Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo;  a former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso;  a former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa

Others are the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki;  a former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark;  a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter Governmental Relations, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki  (SAN) and a former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Jona Jang.

Also in the race are, a former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi; a former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido and Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed.

A particular aspirant, who had taken part in a presidential primary before, was said to have first offered the delegates $2,500 each in exchange for votes.

But when he heard that another aspirant offered the delegates $3000, he increased his own to $4000.

Our correspondent however gathered that the first aspirant later offered same amount of $4000, and action that forced the man who offered $4000 to increase his own to $5000.

Another aspirant was also said to have offered a mere

s

It was also learnt that some aspirants gave out naira to the delegates, while a source said states with large delegates got N50m, while others with fewer delegates got less.

However, investigations by our correspondents also revealed that other aspirants had also offered unspecified amount of money to the delegates.

Two delegates from the North-West,  who spoke with our correspondents on condition of anonymity, confirmed they received cash.

One of them, who showed our correspondent the envelope that contained the dollar bills, said they decided to receive the gratification as a means of getting their share of the ‘national cake’

He said, “We are not going to sell our conscience because of the money. In fact, we saw it as an opportunity to collect what belong to us from these men.

Another delegate from the South-East, who also confirmed that he collected money even wished that the exercise could be called off and another one organise to enable him to make more money.

Tambuwal, Atiku, Saraki divide PDP leaders

Meanwhile, three notable presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Saturday night, divided the ranks of  the leaders of the party on who should be supported among them to fly the party’s flag in the February 14 presidential election.

The aspirants are the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.

The leaders of the party had earlier met with all the aspirants at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt, where the need for some of them to step down was discussed.

Among the aspirants seen at the hotel were Tambuwal, Saraki, and a former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Jonah Jang.

Other aspirants were said to have been part of the meeting which was also attended by majority of the 14 PDP governors, except the governors of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa and his Ebonyi State counterpart, Dave Umahi.

Both Okowa and Umahi are holding critical positions in the electoral committee.

While Okowa is the chairman of the Special National Convention Committee, Umahi is the secretary.

A source close to the party said both men were excused in order not to affect the credibility of the outcome of the convention before Nigerians and the aspirants.

It was gathered that majority of the party leaders, former presidents and some retired generals were routing for Tambuwal.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives was considered based on his age, his reach and acceptability even beyond the PDP.

He is also said to be enjoying the support of some of the notable traditional rulers across the country.

Atiku, on the other hand, was also said to have the backing of some members of the party’s Boards of Trustees and some former governors.

Saraki, a former governor of Kwara State, was also believed to have the backing of some senators and a few governors.

All the aspirants were said to consider themselves as having the ability, if backed by the party leaders, to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

 A source, who was at one of the meetings said that the trio of Tambuwal, Atiku and Saraki were said to have the highest support of the delegates and leaders of the party.

It was however not clear whether the support of the delegates has anything to do with the inducement by any of the aspirants.

As of the time of filing this report, all the aspirants and the leaders of the party were still meeting at an undisclosed location in Port Harcourt to resolve the logjam.

A source, who was privy to the meeting, said, “I think leaders of the party do not want to be surprised at the convention ground. They want to know and be sure that the candidate that will emerge is known before getting to stadium.

“This is to avoid rancour and acrimony that may work against the party during the general elections.

PPunch

Osun PDP Protest: Police Disperse Senate President Saraki, Dino Melaye, Secondus, Ben Bruce, others

AgegePulse Magazine

DISPERSAL OF UNRULY AND VIOLENT PROTESTERS WHO ATTACKED POLICE PERSONNEL ON DUTY IN FRONT OF THE FORCE HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA.  

• Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Ben Bruce who were captured on camera to have been involved in the disturbance of public peace and public safety, unlawful blockade of Shehu Shagari way for several hours preventing motorists, road users and other members of the public from having access and passage on the highway thereby disturbing public peace and public safety and causing innocent people to scamper for safety and violent attack on Policemen posted to ensure security of the Force Headquarters, pushing and hitting the Policemen to forcefully enter the Force Headquarters to cause damage to Police equipment and Government properties are hereby invited to report themselves to the IGP Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters on Monday, 8th October, 2018 for investigation.

Today at about 1330Hrs, unruly and violent protesters who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in their hundreds with thugs and miscreants inside several trucks and vehicles blocked the Shehu Shagari way in front of the Nigeria Police Force, Headquarters creating a gridlock of traffic on the highway and preventing motorists, road users and other members of the public from having access and passage on Shehu Shagari way thereby disturbing public peace and public safety and causing innocent people to scamper for safety, suddenly the unruly/violent protesters surge and rushed violently on the Policemen posted to ensure safety of the Force Headquarters premises, pushing and hitting the Policemen to forcefully enter the Force Headquarters to cause damage to Police equipment and Government properties.

2. The Police team headed by a very Senior Police Officer despite the provocation, after issuing words of proclamation, warning this unruly PDP protesters who were chanting war songs of ”we no go gree o, we no go gree, we no go gree”, charged the Police personnel who used minimum force and dispersed them.

3. Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce and others yet to be identified were recorded on Camera pushing Policemen to forcefully enter the Force Headquarters to damage and destroy Police equipment and Government properties while Senator Bukola Saraki was at the scene of the attack in his car also captured on camera along with hundreds of miscreants and thugs in the acts of disturbance of public peace and public safety, unlawful blockade of Shehu Shagari way for several hours preventing motorists, road users and other members of the public from having access and passage on the highway thereby disturbing public peace and public safety and causing innocent people to scamper for safety.

4. The Inspector General of Police has directed immediate investigation into this unprovoked and unwarranted attack on the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the Force Headquarters premises which is against the law and condemnable. The Force will do everything within the law to bring all perpetrators of this crime to justice, no matter how highly placed.

5. Consequently, Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Ben Bruce who were captured on camera to have been involved in the disturbance of public peace and public safety, unlawful blockade of Shehu Shagari way for several hours preventing motorists, road users and other members of the public from having access and passage on the highway thereby disturbing public peace and public safety and causing innocent people to scamper for safety and violent attack on Policemen posted to ensure security of the Force Headquarters, pushing and hitting the Policemen to forcefully enter the Force Headquarters to cause damage to Police equipment and Government properties are hereby invited to report themselves to the IGP Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters on Monday, 8th October, 2018 for investigation.

6. Members of the public in the FCT are implored to remain calm as the situation is under control. Further development will be communicated to the public soon.


Ag. DCP JIMOH MOSHOOD
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS
ABUJA

BREAKING: Jimi Agbaje Wins Lagos PDP Governorship Ticket | Sahara Reporters

Jimi Agbaje has won the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest in the 2019 general election.

He emerged after a close race with Deji Doherty, another aspirant, at the party's primary held in Lagos on Friday.

READ MORE: http://bit.ly/2Pf3CwD

APC clears 24 governorship Candidates

APC clears 24 gov’ship candidates to contest 2019 elections
https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-clears-24-govship-candidates-to-contest-2019-elections.html
@daily_trust
#dailytrust

See image below

Lagos 2019: Gov. Ambode Congratulates Sanwo-Olu, To Work with Party Candidate to achieve Success In 2019 General Election

The Lagos State Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has congratulated the winner of the APC Lagos State Gubernatorial Primary and now the candidate of APC in Lagos, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, promised to work with him to ensure  smooth transition in the remaining period of his administration and ultimately to the new Governor, come May 2019.

Below is the full message of the Governor's Address,

ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, MR. AKINWUNMI AMBODE, ON THE APC LAGOS STATE GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARIES ON WEDNESDAY, 3RD OCTOBER, 2018

Fellow Lagosians, the last few days have witnessed intense political activities that have gripped the attention of the nation and created palpable tension in the polity. I strongly believe that the time has now come for the State to move forward in order that the gains of the last three and half years are not lost.

Dear Lagosians, APC is a great party and the interests of our beloved State must always supercede that of any person or group. It is in this regard that I wholeheartedly congratulate the winner of the Lagos State APC Primaries, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and urge all Lagosians to immediately support our party’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 elections and work for the success of our dear party.

As Governor, I will do everything possible to ensure a smooth transition in the remaining period of this administration and ultimately to the new Governor, come May 2019.

“As Governor, I will do everything possible to ensure a smooth transition in the remaining period of this administration and ultimately to the new Governor, come May 2019,” he said.

The governor, therefore appealed to all party members that “we remain one family and unite behind the candidate of the party, so that we can continue to move this state forward. The progress of Lagos state is non-negotiable. It is a project that I have passionately worked for in the last three and half years as your Governor and one to which I will forever be devoted.”

Details soon

Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko, lo jewa Logun

Man jumps into Lagos Lagoon, dies

Oluwatobi Akindele

A yet-to-be-identified middle-aged man has drowned after reportedly jumping into the Lagos Lagoon in the early hours of Tuesday.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the deceased jumped into the lagoon after trekking on the Third Mainland Bridge inwards Lagos Island.

It was learnt that the man was rescued by some fishermen and officials of the Lagos State Waterways Authority.

A member of the rescue team, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said despite efforts by paramedics to resuscitate the victim, he eventually passed on.

He said, “The man jumped into the lagoon around 7.24am. He was rescued by some fishermen and transported to Ebute Ero by LASWA officials. After several hours of trying to resuscitate him, he, unfortunately, passed on.

“The man’s identity could not be ascertained. He apparently resorted to the action out of frustration. His body was handed over to officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, said the case was not reported to the police.

The Public Affairs Officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mahmud Hassan, said some officials of the agency witnessed the incident.

He advised people against taking their own lives.

READ ALSO: Thugs murder council chairman’s aide

“People should learn to speak out whatever their problem is and they should seek help before it is too late. When there is life, there is hope,” he added.

Copyright PUNCH.

Egunjobi congratulates Sanwo-Olu

By Esan Sefiu

The Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Alhaji Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi, has congratulated Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, winner of Tuesday’s Lagos All Progressive Congress governorship primary.

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s reelection bid went up in smoke as he bit the dust, losing to Babajide, the current Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) in the party primary held across the old twenty local government areas of the state.

The Chairman of the Election Committee, former Akwa-Ibom Governor, Clement Ebiri, who initially invalidated the election result in which Gov. Ambode polled 72,901 while Babajide has 970, 851 votes, reversed himself on Wednesday and validated the result by duly signing it.

Egunjobi, who is also the Director, Civil Society Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and Students, in a statement he released following the declaration of Babajide as the winner of the primary, paid tribute to the victor, describing him as “a mirror of nobility”.

“Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu by all accounts deserved to be applauded for a race well ran. He has always been a rock of level headedness and during the race, he demonstrated this attribute.

“Despite the vitriol hauled at him by his opponent and his name dragged in the mud, he kept his feet on the ground. In victory he was humble as reflected by his victory speech today wherein he thanked his opponent for ‘a good fight’. 

“In fact, Sanwo-Olu is a mirror of nobility,” the council chief said.

  

Egunjobi hailed the party members in Agege for turning out en masse for the primary urging them to repeat same feat in the general election scheduled for next year.

According to him, “I commended our members for their impressive turnout despite the postponements of the primary on a number of occasions. Finally, they have made decision by voting massively for Sanwo-Olu. This is not the end of the race. The big battle lies ahead and we must record a landslide victory.”      

Lagos APC Guber Primary: Convener SYSCO Gbenaga Abiola Hails Youths, Students, Lagosians

THANK YOU LAGOS YOUTHS, THANK YOU LAGOS STUDENTS, THANK YOU LAGOSIANS.

The convener, Sanwoolu youths and students campaign organisation SYSCO, Hon.Gbenga Abiola AGBELEBU has expressed a profound gratitude and sincere appreciation to lagosians who came out enmasse to elect Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the governorship candidate to fly the flag of our great party, the All Progressives Congress APC.

"Your overwhelming support as expressed by the massive turnout and active participation at the direct primary today is an attestation to your believe in our symbol, Mr Sanwoolu, the supremacy of our great party, APC and democratic tenets", Hon Gbenga posited.

Lending his voice, the director of media, publicity and public affairs communication of SYSCO, Comrade Agbabiaka Ahmed said,
"Over the past week, we have had reasons to engage party faithfuls on thier opinions, interests and principles, placed side by side the position of the party and the need to replace the statusquo with a functional one, especially on core issues of good governance, transparency, accessibility and robust public engagement, purpose driven infrastructural development and spread, and most importantly, participatory and inclusive governance as witnessed during the administrations of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN. While Scores bought into our argument without hesitation, dozens  hesitated, but at the polls today, their numbers accross the wards had drastically reduced to '4', '3', '5', '7', '2' and in some cases, Zero, against the corresponding thousands recorded for our symbol, Mr. Sanwoolu. In the end, we are all winners"

"Dear lagosians, its time for the real work and we cannot relent at this point in time, until the general elections.
It is not because we want Mr Sanwoolu, President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC to just win in Lagos state, but we want the victory to come in landslides, with a record margin of atleast five(5) million votes."

Hon Gbenga also comended the sagacity of the Babajide Olushola Sanwoolu Campaign Organisation BOSCO, ably led by the ever meticulous, selfless, generous and accomodating Director general, Mr. Tayo Ayinde. Lagosians have recognized your efforts today, they will do more moving forward until VICTORIA ASCERTA!

The body also recognized and comended the sacrifice of Dr. Femi Hamzat whose actions in the build up to this day reminded us of the need to alway put the party first.

 "Couple of days back, you told us about the personal integrity, great humility and extraordinary intelligence of our symbol, Mr. Sanwoolu, stemming from your personal interractions and working relationship with him, lagosian were confronted with an avenue to confirm those assertions. In the face of baseless and unsubstantiated provocation and verbal attacks from an unexpected source, Mr Sanwoolu not only prove to poccess  the above qualities, he added inspirational leadership, focus and self restraint to the tally. The teeming youths of the Omoluabi race and nigeria as whole have learnt a great deal from him".

"Dear lagosians, now that we have both the magnitude and direction, lets make the greatest impact as we usher Sanwoolu to the Lagos house, alausa come 2019".


Comrade Agbabiaka Ahmed AGBAH;
Director, Public affairs communications, media and publicity, SYSCO.

BREAKING: Confusion As Lagos APC Chairman Declares Sanwo-Olu Winner Of Gov Primary | Sahara Reporters

Agege Pulse Magazine

The Lagos State chapter of the All progressives Congress (APC) has announced Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the much disputed governorship primary that held across the state on Tuesday.


The State Party Cbairman, Hon Tunde Balogun announced at the State Party Secretariat ACME just now the results as follows.

Akinwunmi Ambode 72901

Babajide Sanwo Olu
970851

Babajide Sanwo Olu emerged as the party Candidate.

READ MORE:   http://bit.ly/2xT33lc

Breaking: APC refutes cancellation of Lagos governorship primary

October 2, 2018Olamide Fadipe

The spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress has said he is not aware of any cancellation of the governorship primaries ongoing in Lagos; thus putting paid to report of any such cancellation.

Yekini Nabena spoke in a brief telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES.

“I am not aware (of any such cancellation),” the spokesperson said minutes after he released a statement announcing the cancellation of the primary in Imo State.

Mr Nabena clarified an earlier report by this newspaper on the reported cancellation.

The primary pitches the incumbent Lagos governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, against Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who has the support of majority of the APC leaders in Lagos. It commenced across the state on Tuesday morning after two postponements

Premiu

APC NWC Explains Postponement Of Lagos Gov Primary

"We reached out to the party executives to submit list that would be utilised for the purpose of posting officials to supervise the elections. That list only arrived about an hour ago and so anything that was done without the list that we wanted ... because we wanted harmony, so we waited for them. We waited for about 10 hours without getting anything," Ebiri said.

NATIONAL WORKING COMMITTEE (NWC) OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) HAS EXPLAINED ITS POSTPONEMENT OF THE GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARY ELECTION THAT TOOK PLACE IN LAGOS STATE ON TUESDAY

Clement Ebiri, Chairman of the Primary Election Committee, had said a "fresh time and date for the election will be announced later".

According to Ebiri, the committee had just got the list of the party agents of one of the aspirants in the race barely an hour ago.

As reported earlier by SaharaReporters, election held in some local government areas of the state earlier in the day, with Babajide Sanwo-Olu polling majority of votes in many of the venues.

However, the committee in charge of state’s election has now dissociated itself from any election earlier held.

Ebiri said all materials meant for the election were still in their custody, hence election could not have held.

"We reached out to the party executives to submit list that would be utilised for the purpose of posting officials to supervise the elections. That list only arrived about an hour ago and so anything that was done without the list that we wanted ... because we wanted harmony, so we waited for them. We waited for about 10 hours without getting anything," he said. 

“There is no way we could have gone ahead to do anything. It is only fair that if you don’t see one party you wait and that is what has brought us to this point.

“We gave them (party executive) an appointment and at the meeting we all discussed some of these modalities and asked them to bring the names of these agents so that we could use for this exercise but we received from a party just an hour ago.”

SaharReporters

BREAKING: Ballot Boxes Missing In Epe But Ambode Declared Winner

Responding, another policeman whose badge read 'N.S. Adeyeri' urged the crowd to be patient, adding that "everybody knows this is Ambode's hometown and nobody can defeat him here".

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BREAKING: Ambode’s Commissioner For Information & Strategy Dumps Him For Sanwo-Olu

The happenings ahead of the highly anticipated Lagos State gubernatorial primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took another turn few hours ago as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan, has dumped him for his opposition candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

InsideMainland learnt that Bamigbetan declared total support for Sanwo-Olu at his Ejigbo residence, Lagos Mainland, yesterday, Monday, October 1, 2018, in front of party leaders, members and other stakeholders.

According to Echo News, Bamigbetan’s move was in connection with the resolution of the party leaders to adopt Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the All Progressive Congress (APC) flag bearer for the Lagos State gubernatorial election in 2919.

During the declaration, Bamigbetan urged party leaders and members in Oshodi-Isolo that Sanwo-Olu must get 100 per cent votes during the party’s gubernatorial primary election holding today, Tuesday, October 2, 2018, across the state.


While addressing the party members, Bamigbetan stated that his action was precipitated on the majority’s decision of the party leaders and the directive of the party National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Commissioner thereby ordered the party leaders under him to mobilize the entire members of APC in Oshodi-Isolo and Ejigbo to cast vote for Sanwo-Olu.

He reiterated that his loyalty remained for the party National Leader, Bola Tinubu, and the party as a whole, saying he could not do anything contrary to the party’s directive at this point in time.

Why I was absent at Independence Day parade — Saraki

By Henry Umoru & Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA—

The rift between the executive and the legislative arms of government, once again, manifested at the 58th Independence Day anniversary as the leadership of the National Assembly was conspicuously absent.

But two former Heads of State, Generals Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar, alongside Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, were among the dignitaries that witnessed the Independence parade with President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, were elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2015, but recently dumped the president’s party for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The Senate President is one of the presidential aspirants on the PDP platform, while Dogara has also picked the PDP House of Representatives nomination form. Saraki and Dogara President Buhari did not make any speech at the ceremony that saw different armed forces displaying their combat readiness in case of any external aggression and even internal strife.

 The Nigeria Police was not left out, as its outriders entertained the public, which included members of the federal cabinet, Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, and other government functionaries. Also present was a former military leader, Oladipo Diya. There was inspection of guards by President Buhari, which was followed by march past in slow and quick time.

There was also march past by para-military organisations, agencies and Nigeria Police Force mounted troops. The last time the ceremony held at the Eagle Square was in 2010 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.  That parade in 2010 was marred by bomb blasts. Since that year, subsequent independence anniversary parades were held in low key at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Buhari, who made national broadcast marking the 58th independence anniversary at 7am yesterday, broke the jinx and arrived the Eagle Square venue of the parade around 9.30am. According to the programme circulated to guests, Saraki and Dogara  were listed to arrive the venue by 9.10a.m for the event. Even on Sunday, at the interdenominational church service at National Christian Centre, NCC, Abuja, Dogara was listed on the programme to take the second Bible reading but he was absent and the reading was then taken by former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon. There was also aerial show by Nigerian Air Force. Before departing the venue, President Buhari signed the 58th Independence anniversary register.  

Why I was absent — Saraki

Explaining why he was absent at the ceremony, Senate President,  Saraki, said he was out of Abuja attending to other important political assignments as an aspirant to clinch the presidential ticket of PDP, ahead of its primaries, weekend. He also said in his home state, Kwara, the gubernatorial primary election took place yesterday and required his presence.

Special Adviser to Saraki on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, who spoke on his behalf,  said his principal was unavoidably absent at the parade ground because he would also meet with Kogi delegates to the national convention of the PDP. According to him, these are two very important political assignments that required the attention of the Senate President. Olaniyonu said:

“The Senate President and a frontline presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP is currently not in Abuja, he is at the moment in his home state, Kwara. ‘’The governorship primary is holding today (yesterday) in Kwara and he must be present and after that, he will be holding a meeting with Kogi State delegates to the PDP National Convention. These are two very important assignments that require his attention.” Spokesperson of  Speaker of the House of Representatives, Turaki Hassan, said he had no idea if his boss was invited to the event or why he was not present at the ceremony.

Vanguard

No roads anywhere in Lagos as residents, motorists

By Kingsley Adegboye 

Lagos residents, motorists as well as commuters have continued to lament and groan under deplorable conditions of roads across the metropolis without an end in sight to the nightmare. There is hardly any stretch of road across the commercial nerve centre of the nation that is totally free of potholes, including the recently repaired stretch between Cele and Iyana-Isolo on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway. The section by Ilasa Bus Stop inward Oshodi, has already become a gully with a massive pothole. 

Directly under the pedestrian bridge, at Mechanic bus stop, Iyana-Isolo and Five-Star, are also riddled with massive potholes while the entire service lane on both sides of the expressway, between Charity and Oshodi, is terribly bad. 

Specifically, Apapa roads are worst hit by this decadence. Whether accessing Apapa through Oshodi-Tin Can end or through Wharf Road, the situation has remained irredeemable for years now. The experience navigating through Apapa during rainy season becomes  more terrible as vehicles break down, heavy-duty trucks overturn or get stuck in the mud while motorists disembark at very terrible sections of the roads to push rickety and articulated vehicles thereby causing traffic gridlock on the roads. However, in May when the federal government flagged off the reconstruction of Wharf Road, Apapa, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, assured that the next road to be given consideration for reconstruction within Apapa, would be Tin Can/Coconut section of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway because of the importance of the expressway to both Apapa port and Tin Can port. Fashola added that discussions had already begun on the issue at the federal executive council level. Also speaking on plans to reconstruct Tin Can axis of the expressway recently, the minister said “I just want to appeal to residents of Apapa, to people whose livelihood depends on Apapa, that Apapa is one of the priority roads under our priority of works to solve roads that lead to critical ports. 

We also have Calabar on our radar. But one after the other, there would be an enduring solution.  According to him, “Year on year, you will see that the provisions for the budget funding of Apapa and the Tin Can Island and Mile 2 to Oworonsoki Roads, all of which evacuate the Port have not been sufficient really to deal with the cost. The cost that we are getting from the contractor there is in the region of about N100billion and above and the annual budgetary appropriation that is approved for us is about N7 billion. And then there are debts that we met. I therefore appealed to residents and other users of the road to exercise a little more patience”, Fashola noted. Related Maritime workers threaten strike over Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.   The situation is the same on Isolo/Ikotun/Egbe Road, Ikeja, Ogba, Ojodu, Oshodi, Gbagada, Abule-Egba, Iyana Ipaja, Agege and numerous other areas of Lagos metropolis. Whenever it rains in Lagos, residents are thrown into panic, despair, and anguish, as the already deplorable roads become almost impassable. From Lagos Island to the Mainland, the expressways to high streets and the inner streets, it is lamentations by residents as the roads are neglected and abandoned by both state and local governments. 

Just as motorists and commuters plying Apapa/Oshodi Expressway on daily basis are lamenting the agony they go through as a result of the deplorable road condition coupled with the daily gridlock, motorists and commuters on Agege Motor Road, are not spared of this harrowing experience. From the Mushin-Idi-Oro axis to Ojuelegba end is in a terrible state that even trailer and tanker drivers now avoid the ever-busy highway, as the potholes on the road have become a serious threat to them, but those of them that dare the dangerous potholes always have a sad tale to tell as their vehicles usually break down. The smaller vehicles plying the road are always attacked by traffic robbers who take advantage of gridlock caused by the bad portions of the road and broken down vehicles. A journey of few minutes takes hours as a result of bad roads across the state. It is now a common sight to see overturned trailers, tankers and containers and broken down vehicles on a daily basis, especially when it rains. Road Safety and LASTMA officials are not helping matters, as they do not do their work as they should, but rather look for motorists to extort and worsen the traffic situation.

 Mr. Hakeem Sule, a resident of Jakande Housing Estate Mile 2, was very sad while speaking with our correspondent on the situation of Lagos roads which has paralysed movement and social activities in the city. According to him, “Government at the local level is practically non-responsive as it is not doing anything about bad roads in their domains. I don’t drive my car out any more because of the deplorable condition of the roads across Lagos. I am not  prepared to work for Lagos mechanics.” 

Speaking in like manner,  Mr. Vincent Agu, a businessman along Mile 2  Expressway, said  one can hardly find a road without potholes now and this has contributed immensely to the high rate of accidents and deaths in the city. He therefore called on the government to intervene as Lagos residents groan under deplorable road situation in Lagos without hope in sight. “Aside the bad roads issue, most roads lack proper road signs. 

Containers are not strapped or hooked properly to the trailer and many drive with bad tyres and no brakes. Government should please do something about this; we can’t keep living like this,” Agu lamented. A resident of Gowon Estate Egbeda, Mr. Kunle Ayeni, said: “Government needs to wake up. Something has to be done, as people are dying as a result of these roads. The road leading to Gown Estate in Egbeda is terrible and plying it means regular visit to the mechanics.” Also lamenting the deplorable condition of roads across Lagos metropolis, a commercial bus driver who simply introduced himself as Emeka, said the dilapidated state of the roads across the city, is primarily due to blocked drains, pointing out that because of the blocked drains, whenever it rains, the roads become flooded. According to him, the authorities who are supposed to maintain the drains are not up and doing, stressing that their insensitivity to routine drainage maintenance is responsible for the situation on Lagos roads as the flood water continues to tear the roads apart

APC National Working Committee Meets Ambode In Lagos | Sahara Reporters

They arrived Lagos on Monday, and met with Akinwunmi Ambode, who is seeking a second term on the party's platform.

It is expected that the NWC addresses the ongoing issues relating to Ambode's candidature, especially as he has apparently fallen out of favour with national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu
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