We’ll win Lagos, S’West — ACN

The battle for the political soul of Lagos got fiercer on Saturday as the Action Congress of Nigeria maintained that the party would still emerge victorious in the forthcoming poll in the state.

The party also said it would capture the over 14 million votes in the South-West, leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, its major challengers in the zone, empty-handed in the coming poll.

Among ACN chieftains who stated this at the party’s colourful rally held at the Tafawa Balewa Square on Saturday were the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, his successor, Babatunde Fashola, and the party’s presidential candidate, Nuhu Ribadu.

Specifically, Tinubu, who urged the electorate to shun the PDP overtures, said the party had nothing to offer the people of Lagos and the West in general.


Describing the party as Poverty Developing Party, Tinubu added that its leaders were synonymous with failure.

He said, “They cannot get Lagos. They are nothing. They are babalawos, baba-aladiyes and baba-oniros. They are mosquitos and yamuyamus. They cannot get Lagos. Be ready to defend your votes. The purpose of electing Fashola is being served.

“Their own leaders have left a legacy of failure, and inept leadership. Their own democracy is government of the greedy by the greedy and for the greedy. They are wicked and selfish. Please, I beg you, don’t vote for them. This is the Broom Revolution; sweep them, clean them.”

Fashola, who, nonetheless, acknowledged that forthcoming elections would be tough, noted that the ACN would not only win, but must do so overwhelmingly.

He also said the PDP had nothing to offer, especially as it had failed to impact on the citizenry in the past 12 years.

He said, “They threaten us. They want to take over but cannot provide power for one building. They rent a generator for N150,000. You can even see their performance at the live debate. They want to manage the lives of 18 million Lagosians yet cannot manage power.

“Four weeks to the elections, they started fixing the airport road, something they have neglected for four years. They say they love Lagosians yet we do not have a minister who represents us in Abuja. They are offering you electoral carrot, but we are providing democracy dividends.

“This place we are now, they sold it to their friends but we fought them to a standstill. We said as long as we are here, we will not allow them to sell a national monument. Is that the party you will vote for?”

If re-elected, Fashola promised that he would continue to serve the people well as well as provide them with the needed infrastructure.

He said, “We will complete the first light rain in West Africa and the Lekki seaport which are capable of providing 120,000 jobs. We will accelerate implementation of the Lagos Mortgage Scheme and start delivering houses to people before the election. We have increased water supply by 130m gallons in the past four years and our agricultural scheme is empowering 1,000 farmers.”

Fashola, who arrived at the campaign grounds around 1.07pm with Ribadu and his running mate, Fola Adeola, in an open air vehicle, acknowledged the cheers of thousands of broom waving supporters who jammed the venue in carnival mood and various outfit to show support for their various candidates.

Ribadu, who also promised the party supporters to return soon for the presidential rally, said change had come to Nigeria.