•Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu
Lagos and Ogun states yesterday took steps to propagate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s achievements.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu inaugurated Renewed Hope Ambassadors to take the initiative across the local government areas and wards, reports The Nation.
Governor Dapo Abiodun addressed a stakeholders meeting, where he outlined the president’s performance and the gains that his bold economic reforms had brought to the state.
All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains and supporters, who trooped out in the two Southwest states to showcase strong support for the president’s re-election bid, vowed to mobilise for continuity in next year’s poll.
Lagos and Ogun are integral part of the larger Southwest geo-political zone, which served as President Tinubu’s political base before becoming the Commander-In-Chief in 2023.
At the carnival-like event held at the 10 Degrees Events Centre, Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu inaugurated the grassroots movement – Renewed Hope Ambassadors – to propagate the president’s achievements to Lagosians across the communities in 57 local councils.
The project operates under a national framework led by its Director-General and chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, with structures extending from the national level to local communities.
Sanwo-Olu, who also appointed 20 coordinators for the project, donated 20 vehicles in aid of the community engagement initiative.
He said the coordinators, led by his Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde, should activate the sensitisation in their respective local government areas.
Sanwo-Olu, who urged Lagosians to gird their loins, said President Tinubu deserves a second term because his achievements across the sectors are unprecedented.
At the June 12 Centre in Kuto, Abeokuta, Abiodun, elderstatesman Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Senator Solomon Adeola, Senator Shuaibu Salisu (Ogun Central), party chairman Yemisi Sanusi and House of Assembly Speaker Oludaisi Elemide, rallied support for the president, urging the people to renew his mandate at the polls.
Key leaders of the APC in the state, including Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele, former Deputy Governors Salmot Badru, Segun Adesegun, former Senators Gbenga Obadara, Biodun Odujirin, Tolu Odebiyi and other leaders attended the event.
Conspicuously absent were former Governors Ibikunle Amosun and Gbenga Daniel.
Abiodun said the party in the state was united in support of Tinubu and hinted at a harmonious primary to pick a successor.
He threw a jibe at those who were not at the event without mentioning any names.
Abiodun highlighted President Tinubu’s scorecard, saying Ogun would speak with one voice and move in one accord.
Tinubu’s achievements unprecedented, says Sanwo-Olu
Sanwo-Olu described President Tinubu as a great leader, achiever and performer, noting that he has delivered a “new Nigeria” and recorded unprecedented milestones in three years.
The governor, who clarified that the initiative embarked upon by Lagos APC should not be uncritically confused with a political campaign structure, described it as a civic awareness platform for promoting the policies, programmes and the achievements of the Tinubu administration.
Sanwo-Olu said: “This is not a campaign rally. This is an activation of what we believe in and a commitment to informing citizens about government programmes and promises being fulfilled.”
The governor highlighted the mandate of the ambassadors, saying that they are to take the awareness campaigns to communities, wards, polling units, markets, campuses, and other grassroots platforms.
Sanwo-Olu distributed 20 branded buses bearing the Renewed Hope Agenda Logo and President Tinubu’s image to the coordinators to facilitate mobilisation and logistics.
The president’s achievements listed by the governor include infrastructure expansion, economic stabilisation, increased foreign direct investment, implementation of a new minimum wage, reduced debt burden, lower inflation, and improved social welfare initiatives.
He said the onus is on the coordinators to intensify community engagement and sensitisation so that citizens are well informed about government initiatives.
Sanwo-Olu said the need to efficiently communicate the successes recorded by the Tinubu administration to all Nigerians had brought about the Renewed Hope Ambassadors initiative.
He said: “This project is an activation of our resolution and commitment to the belief we hold dear. It is an activation of like minds who believe in the message of Renewed Hope of our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
‘”Today, we appoint Local Government coordinators for Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Lagos; they have been chosen to propagate the achievements of the Tinubu administration. The aim of this project is not to kick off any campaign, but to create awareness about the successes we have seen in the last three years.
“These ambassadors will go from neighbourhood to neighbourhood to let people be aware of the commitments given by the president and what has been delivered so far. The aim is to ensure the messages are communicated to all citizens in their languages.”
‘We will succeed’
The Lagos Coordinator of the initiative, Ayinde, described it as a “national movement of engagement and responsibility” designed to strengthen public confidence.
He said: “It is not a campaign organisation, but a mandate to communicate the President’s achievements to communities, markets, schools, and the grassroots.”
He therefore warned coordinators to treat the oath of allegiance as an assignment, not an honorary title.
Ayinde urged the ambassadors to facilitate seamless engagement in their respective neighbourhoods and work in unity.
He also advised them to serve as a link between government policies and citizens, adding that they were expected to disseminate information on national achievements to markets, campuses and communities.
We are not afraid of poll, says Adeyeye
The Southwest Renewed Hope Coordinator, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, said: “We are not afraid of the election because we are confident of winning. What worries opponents is jealousy over the President’s achievements.”
The Osun State Coordinator, Sunday Akere, said while the campaign has not started, coordinators are to spread the gospel of the President’s achievements through political outreach and mobilisation
The representative of the 20 coordinators, Japhet Odesanya, who is the Ikorodu Local Government Coordinator, said: “We will go to all nooks and crannies of the state to propagate what the President has done. We will not disappoint; we will deliver.”
Dignitaries at the inauguration included Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, Speaker of the House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa, members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), members of the National Assembly, Lagos State Executive Council members, other party leaders, traditional rulers, council chairmen, and other stakeholders from the Southwest
Abiodun: let’s speak with one voice
Abiodun said President Tinubu deserves re-election because he has fulfilled his promises to Nigerians.
He urged party members, stakeholders and supporters to speak with one voice and move in one accord.
The governor described the gathering as not just another political meeting, but a family convergence – a meeting of visionaries, leaders of experience, individuals of wisdom, and men and women bound together by commitment and a shared destiny.
He vowed to ensure a smooth and transparent transition at the end of his tenure.
Abiodun urged party members and followers to renew their hope in the APC and recommit themselves to its ideals.
He enjoined them to continue to work, not just for its political success, but also for the prosperity and stability of the state and the country.
Abiodun said there should be no room for division, adding that this time calls for organisation, consultation, mobilisation, and strategic engagement with the people..
