The APC Governorship Campaign Group in Lagos State on Wednesday, officially flagged off the re-election campaign of the incumbent governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Speaking at a media briefing to herald the flag-off at Ikeja, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso said the theme of the 2023 re-election campaign for Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat is: ”A Greater Lagos Rising!”.
Omotoso said the theme indicated the continuation of what the present administration promised in 2019 and had been implementing.
”We promised our people A Greater Lagos. What do we see around us? Abundant evidence of a new city rising from the womb of time. We do not make a false claim of having reached the zenith of our journey.
”Our contextual usage of the word is as an adjective that suggests an upward swing, an increase and an upward movement. These are the signs the people of Lagos state can see all around the state,” he said.
According to him, the campaign is not about Sanwo-Olu and his team alone but it is a tribute to all the youths who are putting Lagos on the global map.
He said the campaign was a celebration of the collective progress made in the last three and half years, against all odds.
The commissioner said that from the social motivational perspective, the idea of rising captured the essentialism of the spirit of thousands of ‘creative and tech rebels’ who call Lagos home.
He said that the creative and technology experts were changing the false narratives about Nigeria with music, movies, fashion, sports and technological innovations, hence, putting Lagos state on the global map.
According to him, they are the ones helping to announce the rising of the Lagos city in distant shores, they are the Made-In-Lagos brands to whom the campaign is also dedicated.
Also speaking, the Director-General, Sanwo-Olu-Hamzat Campaign Committee, Sen. Ganiyu Solomon said that Sanwo-Olu deserved a second term as he had touched on every aspect of his administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S developmental agenda.
”It is during his time that we witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was during this time that the EndSARS situation also occurred, and all these did not stop him from performing and from ensuring that the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda is followed,” Solomon said.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Sam Egube said that Lagos had not made any mistake in choosing the right governor.
“The greater Lagos is indeed rising with Sanwo-Olu.
”When you hear our leaders in the entertainment industry shout for joy, then you know that today that scripture is fulfilled, that when the righteous is in authority that the people shout for joy. When we see those things, indeed, we say that Lagos is indeed, rising.
”When we see the health facility, the Mother and Child care centres in Epe, in Ajah, in Badagry, in Igando come alive, you cannot but agree with me that the Greater Lagos which we talked about, is indeed rising.”
Meanwhile, a multi-dimensional roadshow, comprising power bikers, activation rigs and mobile advertising vans, was spotted across cities in Lagos State on Wednesday with flashes of an appealing slogan: “A Greater Lagos Rising”. The overall activities formally flagged off the re-election campaign of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
In riverine communities, hundreds of residents rolled out branded canoes in a special sea show, traversing the Lagos waterways to kick off the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship electioneering.
The events culminated into a press briefing held in Ikeja, where Gov. Sanwo-Olu and Director General of the APC Governorship Campaign Council, Sen. Ganiyu Solomon, unveiled the campaign assets, including theme, colour and font branding.
Represented by Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, the Governor declared: “I am running on records; get ready for more.”
Sanwo-Olu said the theme of his second term campaign reinforced continuity of his achievements in first term. He said the idea of “Greater Lagos Rising” captured the passion and resilience of young creative citizens toiling to change the story of the State in music, movies, fashion, sports, manufacturing and technological innovations.
The Governor said renewal of his mandate would further strengthen his administration’s resolve to scale up efficiency of his development blueprint, known as THEMES Agenda, and unlock more socio-economic opportunities for hardworking residents.
He said: “Our campaign assets capture the audacity and spirit of Lagos in the rising of the city. The campaign assets are not some forms of self-adulation but fitting credit to the contributions of hardworking Lagosians, especially the youth, to the height Lagos has attained today. This campaign is not about me and my team alone. It is a tribute to all our youths who are doing amazing works to put Lagos on the global map. Renewing our mandate will represent people’s confidence in the collective progress we have made in the last three and half years against all odds.
“There is no doubt we are running on records. Evidence of our achievements abounds to discerning minds. Lagos is on the threshold of history as the first sub-national to deliver on a mass rail system; the Blue Rail Line is being test-run ahead of commissioning and operations in the coming weeks. The Red Line is also scheduled for commissioning in the first quarter of 2023. We have completed and inaugurated 16 housing schemes within this first term. Our people are confident that we can do a lot more after they witnessed the commissioning 62 fire-fighting vehicles in a day to keep our citizens safe.
“This administration, within three years, upgraded two tertiary institutions to degree-awarding schools to raise human capital and prepare our young people for future jobs. Our Government trained 18,000 teachers under the Eko Excel Initiative. People who benefited from Ilera Eko Health Insurance scheme now see proof that something is changing in the State. Honest residents know that Imota Rice Mill and the Lekki Deep Sea Port are incontrovertible proof that a greater Lagos is indeed rising and unfolding before their eyes. Now, imagine what we can do with additional four years.”
The Governor explained the essence of yellow as dominant colour in the campaign materials, noting that the shade symbolised the energy, youthfulness, enthusiasm, optimism and happiness which are common expressions among Lagos residents.
The brand colour also came with a mix of foggy, signifying warmth, transformation, freedom and fun said to be hallmarks of the State.
All the colours used, Sanwo-Olu said, collectively evoked the resilience of the State to remain on the path of progress, despite being hit by global COVID-19 pandemic and the violence resulting from ENDSARS protests.
He said: “Our campaign will be reinforcing the energy, remarkable audacity and unbroken resilience of our people. Rising is a proof of growth. Our actions in the last three and half years have blended into our Greater Lagos mantra, with the State rising and transforming before our very eyes.
“When we say a ‘Greater Lagos is Rising’, we are drawing attention of our citizens to the positive changes taking place all over the State, including growth of our economy, breath-taking rebuilding of Lagos and the renewal of hope in citizens. Let us write a new history.”
Solomon said the party would be rolling out campaign materials to all nooks and crannies of the State to showcase the achievements of the Sanwo-Olu administration, urging residents of Lagos to support the effort to renew the Governor’s mandate.
Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Sam Egube, said Sanwo-Olu’s re-election bid was proper. He noted that Lagos rose in its challenging period, saying: “Mr. Governor never allowed those challenges to bring Lagos on its knees.”
Egube said the simultaneous development of two rail lines, building of a deep seaport and delivery of international standard bus stations were evidence that Greater Lagos had started to rise.
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