Ikorodu town stood still today as the people trooped out to welcome their son, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, the Governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), while accusing the present state government of marginalising them.
Thousands of citizens filled up the vast compound of the Ikorodu Town Hall, where today’s rally took place, with many more lining up the streets later on as branded vehicles of PDP and the candidate filed through in a colourful road-show after the campaign.
Jimi Agbaje’s father, the late Prince Kosebinu, the first Nigerian bank director, comes from the Lasunwon royal family in Ikorodu town.
Levelling the accusation of marginalisation today, while submitting a list of demands to the PDP flag-bearer, former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, said that the old Ikorodu Division had no Commissioner or Permanent Secretary in the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) regime.
He asked the PDP Candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, to redress the situation upon winning the governorship.
Present at today’s rally were: Agbade’s Running Mate –Alhaja Safurat Abdulkarim, his wife –Mrs. Biola Agbaje, Chief Bode George (former National Vice Chairman of the party), Chief Bode Oyedele, Captain Olatunji Shelle (PDP Lagos State Chairman), Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and Mrs. Bisi Salis-Fakos (PDP Senatorial Candidate for Lagos East).
Also present were Barrister Ola Animashaun and Mr. Kazeem Abatan (House of Reps Candidate), as well as Mr. Sesan Akeju (PDP candidate to the State House of Assembly).
Accusing the APC of tarring his campaign boards on the Third Mainland Bridge, Agbaje vowed not to replace or repair them, saying, the vandalisation had made the rival party unpopular.
His words: “Those boards are going to be left there for some weeks still. APC will have to beg us to change those billboards because people are abusing them.”
He urged PDP supporters to avoid violence, saying,it was clear that his party would win the polls, and it would be tragic if any of those working for his victory should be missing during his coronation.
He recalled the non-violence pact he signed the previous day with the APC Candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi, Ambode, saying: “I told the world that my own supporters in PDP will be non-violent. We know we are going to win. We will show them that you don’t have to be violent to win.”
Agbaje said traders, commercial motorcycle operators and civil servants would get a good deal under his government.
“The government of the day has displayed a penchant for fighting everybody, including civil servants. Traders are oppressed, so are okada operators,” Agbaje said. “We will pay N18,000 as minimum wage to civil servants, instead of the N12,000 they insist on paying.”
Agbaje reiterated his pledge to establish a rail link for Ikorodu in order to solve the perennial traffic gridlock bedevilling the town.
He also promised to complete the ongoing east-west road project linking the town with the rest of Lagos.
Emphasising his government’s plan to provide water for the people of Ikorodu, Agbaje said he would run a masses-oriented government.
“We in PDP will give you potable water through your taps at home. They said there are no houses for the poor because there is no low-cost cement or iron-rod. But we in PDP will build houses for the masses,” he said.
Accusing the state government of short-changing the education sector, the PDP politician said he would make as his top priority the appointment and welfare of teachers.
“To be fair, the APC government can be given credit for planting flowers. When we come in, we shall develop Lagos like never before. So shall we develop Ikorodu,” he pledged to the cheering crowd.
