Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, takes a look at the prospects of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Lagos, ADEKUNLE DISU, in getting the party’s ticket for 2015 election.
Renowned technocrat, Adekunle Disu, on September 23, officially joined other aspirants jostling for the Lagos State governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for 2015 general elections.
MPA Ground Magodo, the venue of the exercise, witnessed large supporters from different local governments of the state in attendance. Party members, friends, admirers and well-wishers from all walks of life also filed out to show support for Disu’s ambition.
Incidentally, before his official declaration, his supporters, who believed he would be an agent of positive change for the state, had flooded many parts of the state with his posters.
It was an occasion that witnessed some cultural display to the admiration of the audience, as elated Disu, at a time, could not help but regale with some dance steps.
Addressing the audience on his nine-point agenda, Disu listed education/vocational training, energy development, healthcare delivery, infrastructure development, agriculture and food security, environmental management, employment and job creation, security, law and order as well as integrated transport system as his areas of priority.
He promised to elevate governance, if voted into office, assuring that he would ensure the implementation of policies and programmes that would alleviate poverty among the people and provide conducive environment for job creation and wealth generation.
Disu said he would provide the needed change for the people and ensure that he would grow the state economy to be one of the top five in Africa within a 10-year period.
He added that he would “deploy the best human resources in delivering first class service in all areas of governance, provide a business-friendly environment that will attract foreign and local private investments by using the best available technology in operating government business”.
Disu pledged that Lagos under his leadership would be a safe and secure environment with efficient and accountable services to its citizens, adding that the state of his vision would be driven by public-private sector collaboration, with the objective of growing the economy to be one of the top five in Africa.
He counselled the Lagos electorate to vote for him, promising to restore confidence in governance.
While stressing that his covenant with Lagos voters would be worth enjoying by all, he promised to stop at nothing to transform the state without discrimination.
Speaking with TheNiche at the occasion, Disu disclosed that he would build a state that every resident would be proud of, adding that he has the requisite qualification, exposure and experience.
His words: “I am set for the battle to contest the 2015 governorship election in Lagos under the All Progressives Congress. I have resuscitated and reactivated all my machinery across the state, and serious meetings have started.
“I am optimistic about the contest and I urge the voters to give me a chance to make a positive difference in their lives as well as in the development of the state.”
At the moment, no fewer than 20 chieftains of the APC are jostling for the governorship of Lagos in next year’s election.
Our reporter gathered that majority of the aspirants have been positioning themselves to receive the political blessing of the party leader and former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu.
Even at that, leader of the party’s executive committee in state, Oladele Ajomale, was quoted to have said that more aspirants may likely join the governorship race; hence the possibility of the number increasing.
The aspirants, so far, include House of Representatives Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila; House of Assembly Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji; former Accountant-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Akinwumi Ambode; Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Senator Gbenga Ashafa and Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Others are former Head of Service, Adesegun Ogunlewe; Commissioner for Agriculture, Gbolahan Lawal; his Works Ministry counterpart, Obafemi Hamzat; Transport Commissioner, Kayode Opeifa; former Health Commissioners – Dr. Leke Pitan and Dr. Tola Kasali; businessmen – Hakeem Alobo-Bakare and Babatunde Fowler; and APC National Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire.
Most political watchers are of the opinion that the race would be a tough one and that the aspirant that would finally emerge as the APC candidate must be one that would not be imposed on others, or the party may run a high risk of losing the state to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has vowed to capture the state. And with people like Jimi Agbaje already on the card of the PDP, commentators are agreed that it would not be as easy as it used to be for APC.
Whether Disu will pick the APC ticket or not, most Lagosians agree that he remains a man of integrity, with proven track record.