Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr Jimi Agbaje, says he will beat All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu, flat in the 2019 election.
Agbaje expressed the confidence while addressing his supporters at the formal declaration of his ambition in Lagos.
He said 2019 would be a year of victory for him, after two failed attempts.
Lagos is a stronghold of the APC and though over 40 candidates from different parties are eying the state’s governorship seat in 2019, APC’s Sanwo-olu and PDP’s Agbaje are believed to be major contenders.
Agbaje promised to shock the APC and its candidate in the election.
“I will beat the APC in 2019; mark my words, I will not only beat them, I will beat them flat. I am sure of winning because Lagosians are behind me.
“The support we were given in 2015 is still there, intact. We will expand on it in 2019. I am in the race because I am passionate about Lagos.
“I hear them calling me their customer because of my past attempts, but I tell them,the customer is King. By next year, we shall know the results. But I can assure you once again that I will beat them flat,” he said.
The governorship candidate said the APC had failed the state in all the ramifications, calling on residents to vote out the party for lack of progress.
He said he had the capacity, the experience and sincerity to deliver the Lagos of everybody’s dream, if elected.
Agbaje said he had a robust plan to provide jobs for the teeming youths ,who in turn would drive the prosperity of the State.
He added that he would improve security in all parts of the state to safeguard lives and properties.
Agbaje said the problem of gridlock was becoming unbearable, promising to implement actions to ease movement of vehicles and pedestrians.
He said he would improve essential services like health, education and accelerate infrastructural development of all parts of the state.
Asked if the gale of defection of prominent PDP members would not affect his chances, he said the exit of a few individuals would not stop his victory.
He said the party was not in anyway affected by the defection, adding that party members were more determined than ever to liberate the state from APC.
“It is normal for people to change parties, but the question is, what is the impact? When Obanikoro left, did anybody go with him?
“When Salvador left, our former Chairman, he left alone. The people are still in the party. Chief Bode George is here, so are all the great party men.
“So, we are winning in 2019. No doubt about that. The people are tired and they want a change in PDP,” he said.
At the event, it was a rainbow coalition of various social, political and cultural groups.
The crowd came from various localities in the state including Ajegunle, Mushin, Ikorodu, Agege, Badagry, Ikeja and several other areas to witness the grand event in Lekki, Lagos.
According to Agbaje, 1000 megawatts of power would be targetted in four years to muscle up and boost the economic fortune of Lagosians. He said the plank of his health care programme would be built around health insurance schemes.
The PDP candidate also promised to restore the glory and standard of education in the state by providing more accessible to quality education as opposed to the current ineffective system.
“I am running a believable administration and I am in the race for service, not for self. They are in politics for selves”.
He also used the opportunity to introduce his deputy, Mrs. Haleemat Oluyemisi Busari, and promised that they would “carry the load together” instead of the culture of making the deputy a “spare tyre”.
The duo promised to hold more town hall meetings in the days ahead to engage supporters and voters on the programmes for the state.
“We need a governor that the buck stops on his table. I promise to be that governor. The buck will stop on my table and Lagos will go back to his glory as the future is bright,” he said amidst thunderous applause.
