13th April, 2015
Kazeem Ugbodaga
Lagos State Governor-elect, Akinwunmi Ambode has declared that he won’t discriminate against any tribe in the course of governing the state.
He made the declaration in his acceptance speech shortly before he received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for emerging winner in the governorship poll conducted in Lagos, western Nigeria, on Saturday.
Ambode polled 811,994 votes to defeat Agbaje who polled 659,788 votes in a keenly contested governorship election.
The governor-elect received INEC’s Certificate of Return at the All Progressives Congress, APC, Secretariat around 8:30p.m. on Sunday after delivering his acceptance speech.
The Certificate of Return was collected on his behalf from INEC and delivered to him by Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi.
He said he would not betray the trust Lagosians reposed in him, while dedicating his victory to God and to all Lagos residents for their overwhelming support.
According to him, he would devote time to usher in greater prosperity, growth and development of Lagos when he assumes office as the 14th governor of the state, saying that he would run an all inclusive government and ensure no one is victimized in the state.
“The people of Lagos have demonstrated that it is not about ethnicity or religion but about a common desire to enthrone good governance. Lagos, under my watch will not discriminate. It has not in the past and it has not in the present and will not even in the future. There will be no political victimization.
“In your collective wisdom, you refused to reward a party that failed at the national level by giving that party the stewardship of our beloved Lagos. There will be rapid development in Lagos, you have for the first time in 16 years married progressive governance at the national level with progressive governance at the state level,” he said.
Ambode while dedicating his victory to Lagosians, said they contested against the use of money and power to manipulate votes, but that in the end, the will of the people prevailed, saying that democracy had triumphed once again.
“I have been declared the 14th governor of Lagos State, it is only God who crowns kings and to Him be the glory. It is you Lagosians who won the election. For my contestant, Jimi Agbaje, I thank you for a keen contest. I invite you and all other contestants to work with me to move Lagos forward.
“You came out to vote and not even the threat of the enemies to unleash mayhem could stop you. I am humbled that you placed your trust in me.
“Our state government and the Federal Government will be one vision, one mind and one accord and that is to govern you wisely and not rule over you rudely. Lagos will enjoy optimal development and growth through APC working in tandem at the state and federal levels. This cooperation and enhanced policy harmony will surely pay handsome dividends,” he stated.
Ambode said the APC ran a campaign devoid of hatred and one that embraced key issues, saying that “I am now to be the servant of this state and to all Lagosians. I shall work for the cause to foster development and growth of the state.”
He called for concerted efforts to move the state forward to greater heights.