TheCable

Wale Oluwo, an associate of Akinwunmi Ambode, former governor of Lagos, has formally declared his intention to contest in the state’s governorship election.

Oluwo, who declared his bid in Lagos, on Wednesday, said he is ready to challenge Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, at the All Progressives Congress (APC) party primaries, scheduled to take place on May 20.

The former commissioner for energy said the voting demographics of the state want a new leadership, adding that if elected, his administration will resolve issues that border on security, flooding, and endless traffic.

“Today, I am pleased to formally announce to you that I will be seeking the nomination of my party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to run for the office of governor of Lagos state,” he said.

“My motivation is altruistic and my sense of commitment to the people of Lagos is absolute! I was born and bred in Lagos and have lived practically all my life in Lagos State. I know Lagos and Lagos knows me. I do not have the privilege of being an indigene of another state because my maternal and paternal origins are deeply rooted in Epe, Lagos State

“I am running for office because I believe in the promise of Lagos and the capacity of its people to be great. I do not see Lagos as just one of the 36 States of Nigeria, I see Lagos as capable of attaining self-sufficiency in the provision of amenities for all its inhabitants, just like Dubai.

“If given the opportunity to govern Lagos State, I will provide the leadership for a new team that will work to restore the dignity of Lagos state and re-establish its leadership role as we used to know it. 

“The choice of the candidate we present to voters in 2023 will be a critical success factor in this regard. While the majority of Lagos voters still prefer to keep the APC in power in Lagos in 2023, the different voting demographics want the party to present a new leadership that will provide effective solutions to the economic, social and infrastructural problems confronting our people.”

On May 12, Oluwo submitted his expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the governorship of Lagos, in Abuja.

In 2018, he resigned as commissioner and accused the leadership of the party of being anti-democratic in relation to the process that saw Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, become the party’s candidate in the 2019 general election.

His resistance and eventual defection from the ruling party followed the rejection of Ambode by the party’s stakeholders to contest for a second term.

In an interview with THISDAY, Oluwo said Ambode Campaign Organisation (AMCO), a group within the Lagos APC, will not be intimidated by the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), another group led by Bola Tinubu, the party’s national leader and presidential hopeful.

GAC, popularly known as the highest decision-making body of the APC in Lagos, had in April, endorsed Sanwo-Olu for a second term in office.