Lagos, – Candidates of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and the Action People’s Party (APP) in the just concluded governorship election in Lagos State, have congratulated Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on his re-election.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC on Monday, declared Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner in the election, haven polled 762,134 votes in the election to defeat 15 other contestants.
Mr Mode Adenipebi of the ZLP, in his congratulatory message in Lagos, said that Sanwo-Olu’s reelection revealed that the people of Lagos state still wanted him to continue what he had been doing.
Adenipebi, noted that the electioneering had caused deep division and ethnic rivalry among residents in the state, and urged the governor to unite the people after the tensed campaign period in the state.
He also urged him to show love to all irrespective of their political and ethnic divides.
“I want to congratulate our amiable governor on his re-election. The mandate given to you (Sanwo-Olu) freely by the people should be held more jealously and responsibly.
“The governor is to be a father to all now that the electioneering is ended. The tension between the indigenes and non-indigenes before the polls should make the governor unite all the people.
“All groups (political and ethnic) must be cared for, defended and protected. Politics of bitterness will not take us anywhere,” he said.
According to him, every resident of the state deserves love, care, compassion and protection from the governor.
“We believe you will not disappoint those who voted for you and those who because of their personal conviction voted against you.
“Let us mend all fences and broken wall of partition that the electioneering has created. Let us rise up as residents to bring in greater Lagos agenda,” Adenipebi, who is also the Lagos state Chairman of ZLP, said.
He urged Sanwo-Olu to look back and see the challenges still facing the residents, and address them as soon as possible.
According to him, Sanwo-Olu must be magnanimous in victory and carry everyone along.
Similarly, Mrs Abiola Adeyemi, APP governorship candidate, while congratulating the governor, called for inclusive governance that would bring all stakeholders on board.
She said that her party would be ready to support his administration.
According to her, Sanwo-Olu’s re-election should bring in more dividends of democracy to the people.
“Every position of authority is meant to bring comfort and succour to the masses.
“The primary function of government is security and welfare of the people. We want the governor to concentrate on this and bring hope to the masses.
“While we promise our continuous support for this administration now that campaign is over, we shall not hesitate to engage in constructive criticisms where needed,” Adeyemi said.
NAN recalls that both Adenipebi and Adeyemi were among the governorship candidates that stepped down for Sanwo-Olu few days to the election.
Sanwo-Olu polled 762,134 votes to defeat his closest rival of the Labour Party, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour who scored 312,329 votes in the election.
The PDP candidate, Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, garnered 62,449 votes to come third in the poll. (NAN)
