LAGOS State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has lauded Lagosians for voting him for a second term in office, saying they chose competence and experience to steer the state’s affairs.
Sanwo-Olu, expressing appreciation in a message he issued early today, said he was honoured to be re-elected.
He pledged to continue working tirelessly to deliver a better Lagos for all.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the state witnessed a lot of divisive rhetoric during the campaigns.
According to him, elections should be about capacity, competence, and experience, not ethnicity or religion.
He said, “I salute those who refused to be divided by hateful and hurtful ethnic profiling. Recent skirmishes in some LGAs resulting in injuries are reprehensible and not reflective of who we are. Law enforcement and security agencies have been directed to ensure that those found culpable face the full wrath of the law.
“Very importantly, and this cannot be overemphasized: What unites us as Lagosians is far more important and substantial than whatever differences exist among us.”
He said the 2023 elections deeply tested the state, stressing that his victory belonged to every Lagosian.
Sanwol-Olu argued that he had worked hard to live up to the responsibility of governing Africa’s most important subnational economy.
The governor commended President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President Muhammadu Buhari, and others who contributed to his victory.
He promised to ensure genuine healing in the state and would continue to run an inclusive government that delivers democracy’s dividends for all.
“The true Lagos spirit is a welcoming, embracing, liberal one, not a divisive, exclusionary one. In the days, weeks and months ahead, we will continue to do everything to demonstrate and amplify this.
“We must reaffirm the spirit of solidarity and togetherness that binds us as Lagosians. Our work will continue, and there will be no break. The dividends of democracy must continue to be delivered,” he said.
The ICIR reported how the governor won the governorship election conducted in the state on Saturday, March 18.
He polled 762,134 valid votes to defeat his closest rival, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP), who got 312,329 votes.
Marcus bears the light, and he beams it everywhere. He's a good governance and decent society advocate. He's The ICIR Reporter of the Year 2022 and has been the organisation's News Editor since September 2023. Contact him via email @ mfatunmole@icirnigeria.org