Sanwo-Olu Withdraws From Governorship Debate With Jandor, Gives Reasons
Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State, has condemned the “shocking video” trending in which a group of thugs were seen shooting in broad daylight in the Surulere area of the state, and has withdrawn from participating in the “The Platform Governorship Debate” scheduled for January 29, 2023.
Pastor Poju Oyemade of the Covenant Christian Church family is organizing the program, which will feature governorship candidates running in the state’s 2023 election.
Governor Sanwo-Olu stated this in a statement titled “Lagos will never condone violence,” a copy of which was made available to newsmen by Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy.
The governor condemned the savagery, saying it had tarnished Lagos State’s reputation as the safest in Nigeria, and vowed that “we will henceforth shun any forum that may require us being together with PDP and its agents of violence.”
According to him, the decision was made in response to advice from competent sources, including elders and respectable Lagosians, but he quickly stated that he “holds Pastor Poju Oyemade and the Covenant Christian Church family in high regard and cherishes future opportunities to engage the congregation and render accounts of his stewardship to them as integral parts of the Lagos electorate.”
“We will never be found in the company of those to whom the lives of innocent Lagosians mean nothing. Mr Sanwo-Olu won’t share a podium with them,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State government stated that security agencies are investigating the viral video, expressing hope that “they will fish out and prosecute the evil actors, who are believed to be henchmen of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”
Text of the statement reads:
“The Lagos State Government has noted the flood of comments sparked by the shocking video of a group of thugs shooting in broad daylight in Surulere.
“Security agencies are investigating the video, which has gone viral on the social media. We believe they will fish out and prosecute the evil actors, who are believed to be henchmen of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“We condemn this savagery that has portrayed our state, the safest in Nigeria, in a bad light. That is not who we are; we are civilized and cultured.
“Following advice from competent sources, including elders and respectable Lagosians, we will henceforth shun any forum that may require us being together with PDP and its agents of violence.
“Consequently, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu regrets to announce that he will not be participating at The Platform Governorship Debate of January 29, 2023. The Governor holds Pastor Poju Oyemade and the Covenant Christian Church family in high esteem and cherishes future opportunities to engage the congregation and render accounts of his stewardship to them as integral parts of the Lagos electorate.
“We will never be found in the company of those to whom the lives of innocent Lagosians mean nothing. Mr Sanwo-Olu won’t share a podium with them.”
