From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

The Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, has publicly declared support for his counterpart in Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, to vie for the presidential seat in the 2015 elections.

Fashola made the declaration on Saturday in Benin City at a youth summit organised by the Edo State Government with the theme “Nigeria’s Centenary: Defining the Issues and Setting Agenda for the Future of our Youths.”

His words: “If Governor Adams Oshiomhole decides to run as President of this country, he will have my vote. He is the kind of leader that Nigeria needs.”

Oshiomhole, however, is yet to declare his ambition for the seat.

In his speech, the Edo State governor condemned the revenue sharing formula of the federation, observing that it will not guarantee the dividends of democracy to the people.

“How do we raise the issue of how the promise of democracy can be fully realised, if the federal government continues to pocket 52 percent and ask all the 36 states and the FCT to share 26 percent and the rest to be shared by 774 Local Government Areas?” he queried.

He also appealed to Nigerian youths not to give up on the nation in spite of the many visible challenges, but urged them to be nation builders, stressing that only Nigerians can build Nigeria.

“I do not think it is helpful for us to question whether Nigeria is a reality. So I ask you as young people to recognise that every country has its own share of problems and none of those problems can be resolved because the people have perfected the act of lamentation,’ he said.

The guest speaker at the accession was Toyosi Akerele. Other speakers include former Trade Union Congress, TUC, President, Peter Esele, human right activist, Joe Okei-Odumakin, controversial lawyer, Festus Keyamo and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, President, Abdulwaheed Omar who was represented by Kiri Mohammed.