By Aliyu DANLADI
Some youths from Epe division of Lagos State on Tuesday rallied on major streets in the community to canvass and drum support for Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s re-election.
Some of the youths, who spoke in Epe, said that the action was against the backdrop of speculations that Ambode might not likely be chosen as the governorship candidate under All Progressive Party (APC) platform.
The youths, from Epe central, Eredo and Ikosi-Ejirin chanted solidarity songs as they moved from one street to another in the community, displaying several placards with various inscriptions.
Some of the placards read: “It is our turn”, “let us do it again.” “Others have done two terms, let us do it too’’; “Asiwaju, forgive your son, Ambode is loyal and respectful man’’; “Our governor is not tired’’; “Epe deserves second term’’.
Others read: “All we are saying; give us second term’’. “Ambode has unfinished project, let him complete it’’; “Let the good work continue’’; “Ambode has done tremendously well in Lagos City, can do it again’’.
The youths staged the rally from Eredo Local Government Development Authority (LCDA) to Epe LG, Lagos road, Aiyetoro, Ita-Opo and to other parts of the community.
One of the youth leaders, Mr Ayogbode Seriki, said the rally was aimed at supporting and celebrating good governance in Epe and Lagos State at large.
Seriki said the rally was also to plead to the APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to forgive Ambode, in spite of any wrong he had done.
“Only God that is perfect, therefore, he should be forgiven for any wrong he might have done either to the party leaders or to the party stakeholders.’’
He said the governor had done “marvelously well’’ in the area of infrastructure development and expressed belief that he would gear-up in other areas of inadequacy.
“A good man deserves better position. A good term also deserves another. Let the good work continue.
“We Epe indigenes and the environ stand for Ambode and his second term mandate, we plead for it,” he said.
Also Mr Lateef Okesanya, one of the youth leaders, urged the party leaders to accept and understand Ambode’s plight and give him the opportunity to serve for a second term in office.
“It has always been the usual practice for governors in Lagos State to go for second term despite any odds or challenges. So, why will the case of Ambode be different?”
He pleaded that any aggrieved party members should shun sentiment to confront the reality for the prosperity of the state.
“Former Gov. Bola Tinubu and Raji Fashola served two terms in office, Ambode should also serve his second term.
“Epe should not be shortchanged of the right in office for second term. We the concerned indigenes, sons and daughters of Epe division are begging on behalf of our dear governor Ambode to be given second chance in office,’’ he said.
Mrs Funke Atoyegbe, a woman leader in Epe, urged all the APC party stakeholders to rally support for Ambode’s second term in office.
She said although Ambode “is not a perfect man and cannot be a perfect man but the development done in the state cannot to over looked.
“All we are saying is that the man should complete his good work; we don’t want abandoned projects in Epe and in Lagos state at large.
“Ambode has the love of masses at heart. He is a unique man with professionalism attribute in him. He has done it, he is doing it and it can still do it again,” she said.
