The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on Saturday flagged off its campaign in Kosofe federal and state constituencies of Lagos State, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Chief Adisa Falade, the Lagos state Chairman of the NNPP who officially kicked off the campaign for candidates of the party in the constituencies, said the party was prepared to swing a surprise in the state.
Falade, who spoke through the state Secretary of the party, Mr Sheriff Oladejo, said the official opening of the campaign for party’s candidates was to ensure that all candidates of the party were adequately supported.
According to him, all the party’s candidates in Kosofe, haven monitored the pattern of voting in the area, are ready to mobilise electorate to win all the legislative seats in the area at both national and state elections.
“We are presenting candidates that the people of Kosofe area know very well. They are tested and trusted, and they are better than all candidates of other parties. This gives us an edge above all other parties within the constituencies.
“We are giving all our candidates maximum support in terms of materials, mobilisation, financial and others, and we are sure of winning,” Falade said.
He urged the electorate to try NNPP in 2023 and vote for the party for better representation and dividends of democracy.
Speaking, Mr Abdulwaheed Odunuga, the NNPP House of Representatives Candidate for Kosofe, expressed confidence in winning the election, saying it was the people that wanted him to represent them.
Odunuga said he had studied the politics of the area in the last eight years saying: “being a product of the people, I am sure of winning this election.”
According to him, if given the mandate to represent the people of the area, he will not disappoint their trust and confidence in him.
“If elected, I will sponsor bills that will make positive impact on the people of my constituency. I will not fail the people of Kosofe.
“The mandate will be for them and not for me. I promise to live for them, especially the poor masses here,” he said.
Odunuga promised to carry out oversight functions with all honesty to ensure that public funds were properly and adequately used for the purpose for which they were budgeted, to reduce corruption.
He said that, as an advocate of public office holders using public institutions like schools and hospitals instead of going abroad, efforts would be made to revamp public schools and healthcare through relevant legislations.
“I believe public office holders should send their children to public schools and public hospital. I can assure you that within four years, I believe those Institutions like school, hospital will be in better shape.
“We will make sure that the public schools are working, we will make sure public hospitals are working. These are my priorities.
“I believe I have the capacity to sponsor bills that will influence these and bring positive changes into the lives of the people.
“I believe I will be in a better position to attract constituency projects and investment into the community better than what we are currently having,” he said.
The candidate, who however, noted that though NNPP was a new party in the area, said the party would win because of credible candidates it fielded.
On his part, Mr Babajide Bakare, NNPP’s House of Assembly candidate for Kosofe II, said the party was confident of winning because all candidates were products of people’s choices.
According to him, the intention of all the NNPP candidates is to change the leadership style and the narrative in governance in the area.
“We want to ensure good representation, that is our vision for stepping out to contest. For so long here, what we have had is that some people are chosen by a privileged few to go and represent the people.
“The people actually asked us to go out to even tell you the most interesting thing, our nomination form, our expression of interest forms were donated by members of our community,” Bakare said.
Bakare pointed out that their agenda as candidates was anchored on three main pillars- massive empowerment for youths, women and the aged.
“We also want to influence and bring about infrastructural development including roads, drainages, water for our people, and lastly we want to put into the environment, a critical example of what we want to see in other places to happen.
“So, what we are going to push is to see to a bill that will seek to bring chairmen of all local governments and local council development areas in Lagos state to run open government,” he said.
National Daily reports that the event was attended by loyalists of the NNPP and some non indigenes, especially the Arewa group.
The Arewa members from Mile 12, who attended the event assured the candidates of their support during the forthcoming elections.
Speaking through their Secretary, Mr Aminu Sani, the Arewa group said the candidates, as long as they aligned with Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NNPP Presidential Candidate, would have their votes.
