2023: Ex-Lagos commissioner, Abdulhakeem Abdullateef declares guber ambition
…Says, ‘I intend to deepen politics of participation’
Razaq Bamidele
Political atmosphere in Lagos State took an interesting turn, on Tuesday, when a former Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture in the state, Dr. Abdulhakeem Abdullateef, declared his intention to contest the state’s governorship seat in 2023.
According to him, it was the turn f the Aworis to occupy the ‘driver’s seat’ in the state, promising that Lagosians would experience the best and most accountable leadership under his administration.
Addressing a mammoth crowd at the Osta Shall, Alausa, Ikeja, venue of the event, the aspirant declared that it is time for an Awori indigene to be given the opportunity to govern Lagos for the first time, asserting that the people of Awori origin in the state also have prerequisite skills and experience to govern Lagos.
He, therefore, called on Lagosians to join his political movement to turnaround the fortune of Lagos, assuring that his leadership would represent justice and fairness for all irrespective of the tribe, ethnic or religious leanings.
During the declaration of his ambition code named: ‘Yepe 2023’ with the slogan: ‘We fit do am’, AbdulHakeem said that, “the thrust of the declaration was to create a movement aimed at reawakening the political consciousness of the Lagos populace.”
He lamented that there is voters’ apathy across the country, especially in Lagos State as most residents seem to be losing interest in voting, enthusing that the time has come for residents to experience best of what Lagos could offer in all spheres of human endeavours under his leadership as the governor.
His words, “We are here to inaugurate a movement. That movement is Yepe 2023 and the movement is to raise political awareness.
“There is apathy in the country. Not so many people are involved in voting these days. You can see that the rate of voters has been going down in Lagos State.
“Out of about 24 million in Lagos State, less than 1.5 million voters participated in the last general election.
“So, there is gradual level of disinterestedness by the populace.
“So, we have started this movement to begin to raise political awareness to begin to encourage people to have a hope that we can have a transformation.
“I am the lead visioner. The vision to transform Lagos economy by the time we encourage more people to participate in politics, we believe things will change for better.”
Furthermore, AbdulHakeem said, “there was the need for residents across the state to experience what Lagos could become when managed by good manager of human and resources necessitated his intention to lead the state and give Lagosians pride of place in the management of their affairs.
“So, ‘We Fit Do Am’ foundation has been releasing several videos to encourage people to believe in the rule of law, to empower people, the youth, the elderly, the women, and widow. We have so many empower programmes.”
Abdul Hakeem, who was once a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly said: “We expect Lagosians to know that nothing is impossible. We want them to know that a time is coming votes will begin to count.
“And when vote begins to count, we want them to ensure that they support the idea of bringing to leadership people who have what it takes in term of competence and commitment as well as fear of God, that is what I represent.
“I believe I will have the support of the people when the time comes. Right now, it is not about campaign, it is a movement when we get to that we shall cross the bridge.”
On the Aworis, he had this to say, “For a very long time the Aworis have been disenfranchised for a very long time. Nobody thinks of them, nobody think of them, the questions have always been what do they know?
“Which school do they go but which schools are they going that we have not attended?
“The Aworis are competent and qualified can deliver on electoral promises. Is it a sin to be an Awori? So, I believe an Awori will be given opportunity this time around.”
Prof. Ishaq Akintola of the Lagos State University (LASU) gave the keynote address to the admiration of the ecstatic audience.
