PRESS RELEASE

•••Governor reiterates his commitment to lasting peace, togetherness in Lagos

•••Asks politicians to shun divisive acts, statements

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reassured residents of the State that Red Line Rail will be delivered to them as an alternative means of transportation before the end of his first term in office.

The Governor gave the assurance on Tuesday while speaking to journalists at Oyingbo in Lagos after an inspection tour of the ongoing Red Line Rail project and vehicular overpass bridges at Yaba and Oyingbo train stations.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was accompanied on the tour by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Managing Director of the Lagos Area Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo and some cabinet members said his administration is on track towards delivering the dividends of democracy to Lagosians, irrespective of the ethnic or religious divide they belong to.

During the inspection, Governor Sanwo-Olu was welcomed by an elated crowd at the Yaba and Oyingbo train stations, where commercial activities were ongoing peacefully.

Lagos residents in the area came out in large numbers to congratulate the Governor on his recent electoral victory and also expressed their appreciation for developmental projects in different parts of the State.

While expressing satisfaction with the progress and level of work on the Red Line Rail, which is in its first phase is from Oyingbo to Agbado, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the State Government will intensify efforts to educate and enlighten traders along the Right of Way of the Red Line Rail of the dangers of staying there.

He said the project at different stages of completion has five Vehicular Overpass Bridges, including Oyingbo, Yaba, Mushin to Onipanu, and Ikeja, to forestall train-vehicle accidents and reduce travel time for Lagosians.

“We believe we are still on track. We believe it should be ready before the end of our first term depending on when we want to commission it. We will be doing a lot of testing, and signalization because these road tracks will also be working with the Nigerian Railway Corporation, operating a train from Ebute-Meta in Lagos to Ibadan. We need to be able to harmonize a lot of signalization between our rail infrastructure and the Nigerian Railway Corporation rail infrastructure.

“All the vehicular overpass bridges are very important because of the unfortunate train and bus accident that we saw a few weeks ago at Shogunle. So all these bridges we are building, apart from the fact that they are full vehicular bridges, are also to stop trains, vehicles, and passengers needing to interact. The highest grade of ensuring that you completely remove any contact with rail is when you build a complete alternative mode of transportation for passengers, pedestrians, and vehicles,” he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu told journalists that the early resumption of work immediately after the 2023 elections was to fulfill the ‘more work’ promise during the campaign to deliver the ‘Lagos Project.’

He expressed delight with the peaceful coexistence among various ethnic nationals living in Lagos State, especially in Yaba and Oyingbo, where there are many commercial activities.

“I came out today for us to get to work. Campaigns and elections in our view are over, we need to continue to serve our citizens. We still have about 67 days to go in our first term. So, we have to ensure that everything we need to do to be able to finish the first tenure is done. For us, the election is behind us. It is work that we have promised Lagosians that we are back to do. As a peaceful individual, I am committed to more peaceful co-existence among all Lagosians.

“We want to tell the people who are still carrying politics of bitterness that they should see the bigger picture and join us in meeting the aspiration of Lagosians, which is to provide an economic opportunity for them to make this place peaceful and continue to provide that economic space for them to be able to earn a living and be a better citizen for themselves and their family,” he said.

SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
21 MARCH 2023
Cross Riverians have deep sense of justice – Otu

…. Vows to run a compassionate administration

Governor-Elect of Cross River State, Distinguished Senator (Prince) Bassey Otu, has expressed profound gratitude to the entire Cross Riverians for allowing fairness and justice to prevail while making their decision to choose the next helmsman of the state on March 18, 2023.
In his acceptance speech delivered after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had officially declared him as the winner of the Cross River governorship election, Prince Otu said: “This mandate is the people’s mandate. It is a reaffirmation that as a people, we have a keen sense of justice. And when the chips are down, we sacrifice our differences to reaffirm our sense of justice. I am touched by this act of greatness and I will not let you down. I will work night and day to justify the confidence you have reposed in me.
“Fellow Cross Riverians, there are no winners and losers, no victor and no vanquished. What we have is the victory of democracy. So, I reach out a hand of fellowship to my brothers who ran for this position against me from other political parties. I urge you all to join hands with me, let us build a new Cross River State. This state belongs to only one party; and that is the people of Cross River State. We share the same Obligation to work for its welfare and progress.”
The Governor-elect who dedicated his victory to God Almighty, equally acknowledged the significant role played by the outgoing governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, in the quest to ensure that power returns to Cross River South in line with the zoning arrangement that has been strictly followed in the state.
Otu stated: “In developing countries experience has shown that the struggle for power is not often a contest of ideas but a battle between right and wrong and justice and injustice. Your Excellency (Governor Ben Ayade), you stood your ground and ensured that the delicate balance that holds our beloved state in place did not trip and tumble. This singular act has set you apart as a man of deep convictions and passionate moral force. You have etched your name in history. Thank you so much.
“I bow in humility to the leadership and members of our great party (the APC) who worked night and day to give us victory. You went from door to door and from one market square to another to wake our brothers and sisters up to the incredible possibilities of a new Cross River State. This victory is a product of your commitment.
“I am infinitely grateful to the leaders of the church and the traditional institutions, student bodies and the youths, the market women and professional associations, the non-indigenes, the town unions and everyday people of Cross River State from the peaks of Obanliku hills to the lowlands of Bakassi! You came together to make this history. This Dream is your dream!
“I must thank my dear wife, my family and close friends who had to live with my long absences during the campaigns and who shared my anxieties when the votes were counted. You have the best of my loving always!”
The incoming governor vowed to run “a compassionate administration, a listening government, in which all blades of ideas shall be given a fair hearing and chance at success. We shall be fair to all but we shall insist on the minimum standards of decency in our interface with the people.
“My government will have no place for ethnic champions who interpret life from the narrow prism of their tribal worldviews. We shall run an equitable, firm and compassionate government that will work for Cross River State.
“Our policies and programmes shall touch the people where it matters the most. I reckon that it is the only way to justify your faith in me.”

Press Release
Rivers PDP Campaign Council DG, Bro Obuah Lauds Rivers People, Congratulates Governor-elect, Sim Fubara
…Also Congratulates All Elected PDP State, National Assembly Candidates

The Director-General of the 2023 Rivers Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Campaign Council, Bro Felix Obuah has congratulated the State Governor-elect, Sir Siminalayi Fubara on his resounding victory at the March 18, Governorship election in the State.
Bro. Obuah in his congratulatory statement commended the calm disposition and the steady mobilizing spirit of the Governor-elect throughout the electioneering campaign, and which endeared him the more to the electorate as demonstrated by their massive votes.
The Rivers people, Bro. Obuah noted, cannot but thank God for the successful polls in the face of daunting tasks.
Bro Obuah who is also the immediate past State PDP Chairman expressed greater joy that the winning streaks of his regime have continued to bear fruits in the State.
According to him, Sir Sim Fubara is another choice rightly made by the people to continue to enjoy good governance and democracy at its best which is the result of the choice of His Excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in 2015 and 2019 respectively.
“I give kudos to our Rivers people for their appreciation of all the good works of our indefatigable ‘Mr. Quality Projects’ which they expressed through their massive votes for our Governor-elect and all the PDP candidates in the just concluded elections,” Bro Obuah expressed.
He said the PDP-led government in the state is spurred by the People’s gratitude and poised to do more and more for the people as a new political dispensation gets underway.
He thanked Governor Wike for his foresight, courage and unwavering spirit to raise the bar of political leadership in the State which is gradually taking roots in the land as a tradition.
Bro Obuah also commended the community heads, traditional rulers, women groups, religious groups, other groups, and the youths for listening to the voice of reason which contributed to making the 2023 election in the state a good one.
The Director-General of the Rivers State PDP Campaign Council also congratulated the 32 candidates of the PDP that won the 32 seats in the State House of Assembly and all National Assembly members elected on the platform of the PDP.
He said now the elections are over, it is time for all hands to be on deck for the much desired peaceful atmosphere necessary for good governance.
He dedicated the PDP Victory to all Rivers people and pledged his usual fatherly support to the leadership for a more united and better Rivers State.