Lagos is stronger for its diversity, says Sanwo-Olu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the state is stronger socially and economically because of its diversity.

Sanwo-Olu, in a statement from his media office yesterday, condemned discriminatory comments fuelled by the disruption of elections in some areas of Lagos State during last weekend’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state, and cautioned that residents of Lagos should not play into the hands of “mischief makers and crisis merchants”.

He described Lagos State as home to every resident and that if elected as governor, his government would serve everybody regardless of their ethnicity, religion or party affiliation.

Speaking on the conduct of last Saturday’s elections, which he described as peaceful and well-coordinated, the APC candidate said, “Every resident of Lagos State is central to the promised socio-economic development of the state and everyone has the right to identify with any party of their choice. We are stronger and better in our diversity.

“As a politician and governorship candidate, it will be exciting for me to have the support of every tribe in the state, but where people have other preferences, I cannot say that they do not have such rights. However, it will only be appropriate for the electorate to support a party that has made Lagos a home for everyone.

“For instance, 40 per cent of the teaching staff in Lagos State public schools are non-Yoruba. The students in secondary schools, for which the Lagos State government pays the National Examination Council and Senior Secondary School Examinations, are in equal proportion between the Yoruba and non-Yoruba in Lagos State.”

He stressed that Lagos recognised her heterogeneity and would continue to promote the assorted ethnic composition as a unique advantage over other states in Nigeria.

“It is only in Lagos State that you can find principal officers who are not ethnic people in the state civil service, parastatals and establishments. I call on our people to eschew violence and any form of harassment of innocent people. We must live in peace for the development we know in Lagos to continue,” said Sanwo-Olu.

The APC candidate said he anchors his campaign on inclusive governance, stressing that he would work to positively impact the lives and businesses of every resident of Lagos.