By Chief Isreal Orjiekwe
In a few days time, this Saturday, March 11, 2023 precisely, millions of Ndigbo in Lagos will be saddled with a choice between a governorship candidate who is not coming to learn on the job, one who has shown compassion to Ndigbo, accomodated them in his government, a shrewd, urbane and cerebral manager of men and resources and above all, a friend of the Igbo and the protector of the Igbo interest and other candidates with vague experience and zero visibility in the socio-political and economic barometer of the state.
His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the March 11, 2023 governorship election represents the former.
He is manifestly the ultimate choice of Ndigbo.In him, the American author John C Maxwell’s characterization of a leader takes flesh and blood. Maxwell: “A leader knows the way, goes the way and shows the way”
Since he assumed office four years ago, Sanwo-Olu has sufficiently demonstrated that he is a detribalised leader, one who can be trusted to manage the affairs of close to 30 million Lagosians.
His policies are business-friendly and have positively impacted on Igbo owed businesses thus endearing him to a broad spectrum of the race resident in Lagos.
For example, Governor Sanwo-Olu constructed internal and access roads leading to, and within the Ajao Estate axis to boost the hospitality industry in the area.
Note that yours sincerely is a tourist promoter, a hotel owner and the patron of the Association of Hotel owners in Lagos and can therefore, authoritatively assert that Ajao Estate is the headquarters of hospitality industry in the state with most of the hotels within that axis owned or operated by business moguls of Igbo extraction.
Similarly, in furtherance of the above, under Sanwo-Olu’s administration, there is now a brand new, multi-lane road leading in and out of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and cutting through the vicinity of Ajao Estate.
Nothing can be more soul-lifting than what Governor Sanwo-Olu has done for the Igbo in Lagos , the wholesome kindness, he has shown us in this state in four years of his administration is a definite definition of humanity.
How else can Ndigbo reciprocate this quantum gesture if not by voting him back into office for the next four years for him to continue doing good?
Sanwo-Olu stands out in the motley crowd of candidates for this Saturday’s election not because he is flying the flag of a popular party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, but because he is the knight in the shining armour for Lagosians, especially, Ndigbo resident there.
Here is a young, energetic, urbane, cerebral, accessible and unassuming yet well wired political leader who connects seamlessly with the people.
Of course, Ndigbo needs at the Lagos state seat of power, Alausa, a governor who they can easily approach, one who can give them a listening ear, solve their problems, see them as equal and critical partners in the task of building Lagos and give them the much desired leverages to excel. Sanwo-Olu is the Governor Ndigbo needs in that regard.
Saturday is just a few days away and my appeal to Ndigbo in Lagos is to head to polls in their millions and cast their votes for their friend and benefactor, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He is the right man for the job.
– Chief Isreal Orjiekwe (Akuzurumba of Akokwa) is an APC chieftain and Chairman, Golden Destiny Hotel Group, Ajao Estate, Lagos. He is also the Patron of Association of Hotel owners and a big tourist promoter
