Allow Southerner Succeed Buhari, says Sanwo-Olu

Babajide  Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State governor, yesterday insisted on power returning to the Southern part of the country, saying it is the only fair deal ahead of the 2023 general election.

Specifically, he said the South West geopolitical zone is the “top-notch” in the South to produce President Muhammadu Buhari’ successor.

Sanwo-Olu who stated his position on rotational presidency after submitting his nomination forms at the International Conference Centre (ICC), also stated that his government has delivered true dividends of democracy in all facets of life in Lagos, hence his second term.

On the possibility of a Southern presidency in 2023, he said, “I think we believe so (Southern Presidency) and I think that’s what is fair, that is what is just. But it is really about Nigeria. There are aspirations everywhere and there are so many qualified people but for equity and fairness we have in our country, I think it is just morally fair that it (presidency) goes to that part and the South-west is top-notch in that. We believe that our positions from those meetings are still very valid and everybody must consider.

Sanwo-Olu also said it was wrong for anybody to describe the recent meeting with South West APC presidential aspirants in Lagos as a failure.

His words: “You should have asked what was the objective? Did we achieve the objective of that meeting? The answer is yes. We needed to have ourselves in the room, lock up ourselves and have frank conversation which was exactly what we did. Are we going to have further conversation with the leadership?

“Yes, I believe so. So we are not fed up, we were sincere with ourselves and we hope that in future engagement all the aspirations we have in our region will come to pass.

On whether he was confident of getting a second term, Sanwo-Olu said, “So, our confidence is premised on the fact that we’ve received tremendous support from the citizens of Lagos and we have been opportune to put in place a robust economy agenda that has propelled all of the various interventions we have in Lagos.

“In fact, if I start rolling them here we will be here till tomorrow but in all phases of life, we have touched our citizens; in transportation, in education, in health, in housing, in good governance, in provision of basic amenities but more importantly, in security for our people.

“You know what we have as a nation but Lagos continues to remain in our view the safest city. And we have grown the city from what it used to be three to four years ago before we took over. Now it receives the highest foreign direct investments because the environment is safe and secured. We have provided the platform for the organised private sector to thrive.

“Mind you, Lagos also during this period was the epicenter for Covid-19 for about a year and a half. We slowed down but did not slow down the economy. It gives us the opportunity to redoule our efforts in all the areas that we have talked about. In fact Covid-19 propelled us to even have better health facilities as we speak today. It is a point people have seen our sincerity and real dividends of democracy in all facets of life.”