Sanwo-Olu to Agbaje: Lagos not in bondage - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said Lagosians are free citizens and not in bondage in what seemed to be an overt response to the campaign theme of his opponent, reports ITREALMS.

Sanwo-Olu stated this on Sunday at the Palace of the Akran of Badagry Aholu De Wheno Menu Toyi 1 during a consultative visit to the traditional rulers in the Badagry division.

In a direct response to the candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Jimi Agbaje, who said Lagosians were in bondage, Sanwo-Olu said Lagosians had not been enslaved under the APC-led government, noting that the state had achieved accelerated prosperity since 1999 due to the tenacity and purposefulness of the ruling party.

Highlighting the numerous infrastructural needs of the Badagry division, the APC standard-bearer promised to speedily address some of the listed concerns of the people.

He said: “Some have started talking about freedom and insinuated that Lagos is in bondage. Unfortunately, we cannot begin to talk about freedom in the 21st century. This is insulting to humanity and the people of Lagos especially because slavery and bondage were abolished in Badagry several decades ago. When they talk about freedom, we ask them freedom from what? We have had our freedom and everyone in Lagos is free. We have since moved away from the era of slavery, to era of prosperity with deep-seated aspiration for greater Lagos.

"We are aware of the challenges facing the people of Badagry on the rehabilitation of the expressway and we are promising that our administration would immediately hit the ground running and ensure the completion of that important road immediately we assume office by your votes.”

Sanwo-Olu reminded the royal fathers of the economic importance of tourism to the GDP of the state, maintaining that he would ensure a speedy completion of all projects that will improve the quality of lives of the people. 

"It is no brainer that once we fix infrastructure, it will automatically jump-start development in the area. That's why it has become expedient for us to look critically into this before we can even think of other things. I am promising you today that Badagry will assume her pride of place in tourism if you give us your votes,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The team stopped at the Palace of the Onijanikin of Ijanikin land, Oba Mohammed Ashafa who praised Sanwo-Olu for his punctuality, saying the candidate's sense of timeliness spoke of his character as a man of honour. Speaking on behalf of the royal fathers in Aworiland, the Oniba of Ibaland endorsed the candidacy of Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat

Ayo Midele/GEE

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Pix: Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, APC Governorship candidate in Lagos State, Onijanikin of Ijanikin land, Oba Mohammed Ashafa and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat during consultation visit to the palace 

We are in bondage

Commentary@ITRealms:

"I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves"- Harriet Tubman

How can anyone describe Nigeria as a free nation when Sheik Othman Dan Fodio, the hero of the core Muslim north, the father of the Fulani Caliphate and the first Mahdi of Nigeria once said,

"Allah has bestowed on me and my people the historic duty to spread the holy faith of the Prophet throughout the Caliphate and convert these pagans. If they refuse to accept Allah and his Prophet we will wash the earth, the forests, the mountains, the rivers and the streams with their pagan blood. Ours is a holy and righteous calling. We are doing the work of Allah".

How can anyone describe Nigeria as a free nation when Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Saurdana of Sokoto, the Premier of the Northern Region and the second Mahdi of Nigeria once said,

"The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather Othman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the north as willing tools and the south as conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us and never allow them to have control over their future".

How can anyone describe Nigeria as being free when General Muhammadu Buhari, the indisputable King of the north, the avenging sword of the Caliphate, the almighty President of the Federal Republic, the unquestionable leader of the African Mujahadeen and the third and last Mahdi of Nigeria once said,

"It is my intention to spread sharia to every part of Nigeria" and that "why should Christians bother when Muslims chop off the hands of Muslims in the name of sharia" and that "Muslims should only vote for Muslims" and finally that "an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on the north".

What portion do those of us that are southerners and Middle Belters have in this so-called "free country" and why have we been consistently denied the right to decide whether we wish to remain in it by having a referendum?

Were we born to be slaves whilst others were born to rule? God forbid it. My Christian faith teaches me that I am the head and not the tail.

It teaches me that it is a sore sight and a great evil under the sun to see the sons of slaves riding on horseback whilst the sons of the King walk around on bare feet.

It teaches me that we are the head and not the tail and that light is meant to overcome darkness and not that darkness overcomes the light.

The truth is that whichever way you look at it Nigeria is not free and Nigeria is not one nation.

We are in bondage and servitude to the sons and daughters of Futa Jalon and we are badly divided. That is the subject of this essay.

*Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation & former Minister of Culture & Tourism, sent this from Ile-Ife, Osun State

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