The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for Lagos State in 2027, Dr Kadri Hamzat, says he is the best candidate for the position.

Hamzat, the current Deputy Governor of Lagos State, said this was because of his understanding of the history and politics of the state.

He spoke on Sunday at the 70th Harvest Anniversary and Thanksgiving Service of the Cherubim and Seraphim Society, Olorunsogo Parish, Ese-Ofin, Lagos.

According to him, anyone who does not understand the history and politics of a state would find it difficult to govern effectively.

“I know the people that have ruled this state before and if I have any problems on land issues, I know where to go.

“Though nobody is perfect, I understand Lagos thoroughly,” he said.

Hamzat urged Lagos residents to beware of politicians who make attractive promises during election campaigns.

“Now we have come to the campaign period, different politicians will come to you to canvass for votes, promising heaven and earth.

“We in APC will not lie because we know the situation of things in the state.

“Lagos is more important than being used for jokes. Today, Nigeria is collecting over 33 per cent of GDP from Lagos.

“So, the state cannot be taken for granted. We cannot just allow any inexperienced person to rule the state,” he said.

The Deputy Governor said his experience in government had prepared him to lead the state.

“I was working in New York in 2005 when President Bola Tinubu, then Governor of Lagos, visited the city.

“He saw me while I was presenting a paper and invited me back home to join his government.

“Since then, I have worked as Commissioner for Science and Technology, Commissioner for Works and currently as Deputy Governor of the state.

“I understand the history and politics of Lagos,” he said.

Hamzat also urged Nigerians to continue praying for the country, saying God had a purpose for creating them in Nigeria.

Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, wife of the Lagos State Governor, said she was delighted to celebrate the 70th Harvest Anniversary with church members.

“I haven’t been here for over four years, but thank God I am here today to celebrate with you.

“We are grateful to God for giving us someone like the Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, who came from here,” she said.

Rev. Esther Ajayi, Founder of Love of Christ Generation Church, urged Nigerians to continue praying for their leaders.

She prayed for God’s mercy, saying it was through His mercy that people could excel in life.

In his remarks, Ojelabi, the Lagos State APC Chairman and a senior apostle of the church, said the anniversary was organised to give back to society.

According to him, the celebration was divided into three parts, beginning with a Night of Praise on Friday.

“To cap it up, we realised we are in a rural area and needed to encourage our people through medical check-ups.

“So, that brought the idea of medical outreach on Saturday, and I’m so glad many people turned up for the programme. Today is the grand finale,” he said.

Ojelabi urged Nigerians to draw closer to God and have faith in Him.

He also urged religious leaders to imbibe Christian values in their activities, saying people were watching them.

Traditional rulers, APC chieftains, Lagos State commissioners, local government chairmen and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly attended the anniversary.

NAN

Source: punchng.com

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Stakeholders in Abia North, under the aegis of the Alliance for Good Governance, at the weekend, converged at the Isieke Civic Centre, Ugwueke, in Bende Local Government Area, where they reiterated their resolve to support, protect and sustain the good governance model of Governor Alex Otti beyond 2031.

Presenting the communique issued at the end of the meeting, which drew eminent sons and daughters of Abia North, the secretary and spokesperson of the group and former Vice-Chancellor, Abia State University, Uturu, Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, said, “The purpose of this meeting is to reiterate that Abia has never found it so good in terms of good governance and that this good governance must be sustained at all costs.”

He said the interest of the group was to ensure continuation of good governance in the state, adding that it was the resolve of the stakeholders that the good governance transcended beyond 2031.

They called for all hands to be on deck to actualise the second-term bid of Otti and others, through voter education, especially those at the grassroots.

“We are non-partisan, we are the elders of Abia North, and we are the lone voice crying in the wilderness, calling on all and sundry not to allow this singular opportunity that we have prayed for over the years, which God has graciously granted us, in giving us a person like Governor Alex Otti, to slip through our fingers.

“It was also agreed that it is not enough to merely wish that Governor Alex Otti will remain in office beyond 2027. All hands must be on deck to actualise it.

“We resolved to embark on massive voter education, particularly at the grassroots and among the less literate. We also agreed to mobilise our youths not to succumb to pressure or inducement from other parties and not to sell their votes.

“If anyone offers them money, they should collect it, but at the right time, vote for Alex Otti and all candidates in his lineup.

“In the past, we fretted, we trembled, we were afraid and intimidated to be identified as Abians. But today, we can raise our shoulders high and say proudly, we are Abians. Continue breaking new ground in the remaining months of your first term and into your second term,” Prof Mkpa said.

A former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uchechukwu Ogah, and a renowned economist, banker and former Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings, Elder Urum Eke, said the stakeholders were mobilising their structures ahead of the general elections, adding that Abians would no longer allow mediocre to occupy positions of trust.

The convener of the Alliance for Good Governance, Chief Ebueme Ezikpe, and the meeting host, Sir Johnson Chukwu, described the Alliance for Good Governance as a structure that brings together opinion leaders and people with some level of influence to shape the direction of governance in the state, noting that Otti’s achievements have, among other things, introduced sanity into governance.

Source: punchng.com

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The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, on Sunday, urged politicians in Oyo State to make their campaigns issue-based and stop attacking, abusing or calling one another names ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The council also urged political parties and their candidates to focus their campaigns on policies, programmes and ideas capable of addressing the challenges confronting the people of the state and Nigeria at large.

The CCII President-General, Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole, made this call in a statement issued by the council’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Olomide, in Ibadan, the state capital.

Ajewole said political campaigns should provide an opportunity for candidates to explain their vision and plans to the electorate rather than becoming platforms for personal attacks and name-calling.

He said, “Our politicians should make their campaigns issue-based. They should stop attacking one another, abusing themselves and calling each other names.

“Politics should not be about abusing or pulling down your opponents. It should be about telling the people what you intend to do for them if allowed to serve,” he said.

The CCII President-General urged candidates seeking elective positions in 2027 to clearly explain their programmes and policies to the electorate, particularly how they intend to address the challenges facing the state and the country.

“The people want to know what you will do differently. Tell them your plans for Oyo. Tell them what you will do to improve education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, employment and the economy.

“Those seeking national offices should also tell Nigerians what they will do to move the country forward. Let the people hear your ideas and compare your programmes instead of listening to attacks and name-calling,” he added.

Ajewole stressed that political differences should not be allowed to destroy the bonds of unity and peaceful coexistence among the people of Oyo.

He said candidates and their supporters should exercise restraint in their public statements, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could create unnecessary tension and distract the electorate from issues that directly affect their lives.

“We must remember that after the elections, we will remain brothers and sisters, and we will continue to live together. Political disagreements should not make us enemies.

“We, therefore, appeal to all our politicians to conduct their campaigns with maturity, decorum and respect for one another. Let the campaign be about ideas, programmes, policies and what each candidate can offer the people.

“Politicians should caution their handlers, especially their media aides, social media handlers and bloggers, against attacking perceived political opponents. Political differences are normal, particularly as we approach the 2027 elections, but such differences should not degenerate into personal attacks, insults, character assassination or the spread of inflammatory content.

“I urge politicians to prevail on their media teams and supporters to focus on issues, policies and constructive engagement, rather than using the media and social media to attack or ridicule their opponents. This will promote healthy political discourse and help preserve peace and unity in Oyo,” he stated.

The CCII President-General said voters deserved the opportunity to make informed decisions based on the records, programmes and vision of candidates, rather than on insults and personal attacks.

Ajewole further called on political parties, campaign organisations and supporters to place the interests of Oyo and Nigeria above personal and partisan considerations, urging them to promote peaceful and issue-based political engagement throughout the electioneering period.

Source: punchng.com

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