PDP must retire Bode George to make progress in Lagos – Fayose

“It is high time to tell Bode George to go and retire. Let him be a support stand for the younger ones in the party.”
The immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, says a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bode George, must leave the party for the PDP to make progress in Lagos State.

The former governor spoke during the inauguration of the PDP Campaign Committee for the Lagos East senatorial bye-election on Tuesday. A statement by Fayose’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, on Wednesday also quoted the ex-Ekiti governor as advising George to support the younger ones in the party instead of “dragging positions with them.”
He said, “It is high time to tell Bode George to go and retire. Let him be a support stand for the younger ones in the party.

“As I am here, I am about 60 years of age, I have grown above fighting for minister that it will get to a point and someone will say he is sacking me. I will never be such minister not to talk of contesting any post with younger ones in the party.”
Fayose also called for support for the PDP candidate in the senatorial bye-election, Babatunde Gbadamosi. “Lagos is ripe for the PDP to take and we will take the State if will work hard and put our house in order.

“This Senate election is for the PDP to take if we are ready to take it.You have done it before by producing House of Reps members and you can do it again by producing a senator.”
He, however, said that “before the PDP can win any election in this Lagos, the party must first separate wheat from chaffs.”

The former governor said leaders of the party in Lagos State should desist from exposing rancour among the party members and urged them to lay emphasis on giving the younger ones the opportunity to grow and allow them to be in key positions in the party.

POLITICS
Ex-Lagos commissioner launches political group to challenge Sanwo-Olu in 2023

A former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef,
has declared his intention to contest for the office of the Governor of Lagos State in the 2023 election.

Abdul-Lateef is known as a member of the governing All Progressives Congress and incumbent Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is in his first term, is expected to seek reelection in 2023.
Abdul-Lateef made his governorship declaration during the inauguration of “Iyepe 2023 We Fit Do Am” project, a movement meant to create political awareness among Lagosians, News Agency of Nigeria reports.
He said, “There is apathy in the county; not so many people are involved in voting these days. It has been going down in Lagos State.

“Out of about 24 million people in Lagos State, during the last voting exercise, we witnessed less than 1.5 million voters.

“You can see that there is gradual level of disinterestedness by the populace. So we have started this movement to raise political awareness to encourage people to have hope that we can have transformation.

“By the time we encourage more people to participate in politics, we believe that things will change for the better by the grace of God,” he said.
According to him, “Iyepe” is a symbol of unity which reminds us that we are all from Adam who was created from sand.

“A leader who bears Iyepe will bring about unity among the people.”
He urged Lagos residents to believe that nothing was impossible, adding that the time had come when votes would begin to count so as to bring into the leadership competent and committed people.

Abdul-Lateef, who was yet to name his party of choice to contest the governorship election, said that he was optimistic that Lagos residents would support him when the time comes.
He, however, commended the leadership role of All Progressives Congress National Leader, Bola Tinubu, for working towards leading Lagos State to the promise land.

He also commended the efforts of the past governors of Lagos as well as that of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for their tremendous leadership role in the state.

Also speaking, Ishaq Akintola, Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), described Mr Abdul-Lateef as an “uncommon politician” and expressed support for his ambition to be Governor of Lagos State, come 2023.

“We are here to celebrate a symbol of humility, a democrat and a politician who is coming out openly and declaring his ambition to become the next Governor of Lagos State.

“We are here because we support this aspiration and know it is in the course of justice; it is fair call, it is belated, he was to become deputy governor eight years ago.

“We believe that 2023 to 2027 dispensation belongs to the Muslims and this slot must not be wasted,” Akintola said.

He described Abdul-Hakeem as a consistent politician and a spiritual leader, adding that his combination of the two attributes would transform Lagos State