The governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, has declined to participate in the ThePlatform debate organised for gubernatorial candidates in the state ahead of the general election.
According to the moderator, Victor Oladokun, Sanwo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), explained that he pulled out of the debate held on Sunday, January 29, because he does not want to share the stage with Olajide Adediran (aka Jandor), the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose supporters were violent towards the supporters of another candidate, Channels TV reports.
Source: UGC
Recently, it was claimed that the supporters of Jandor were found opening fire on supporters of another candidate in the Surulere area of the state.
Sanwo’s statement read by Oladokun, said:
“On account of this incident which has already gone viral, Governor Sanwo-Olu through his spokesman, announced yesterday (Saturday) that the governor will be pulling out of the debate because he won’t want to share the stage with a particular candidate whose supporters allegedly carried out the attack.”
Participants at the debate include Olufunso Doherty of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP), and Adediran.
Reacting to the allegation against his party, Adediran debunked it, insisting that his supporters won’t shoot at the people they campaign to in the said area of the state.
However, the PDP’s gubernatorial flagbearer warned all his loyalists to desist from all forms of violence before, during, and after the coming election.
The full statement, as seen by Premium Times, read:
“Following advice from competent sources, including elders and respectable Lagosians, we will henceforth shun any forum that may require us being together with PDP and its agents of violence.
“Consequently, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu regrets to announce that he will not be participating at The Platform Governorship Debate of January 29, 2023.↳
“The Governor holds Pastor Poju Oyemade and the Covenant Christian Church family in high esteem and cherishes future opportunities to engage the congregation and render accounts of his stewardship to them as integral parts of the Lagos electorate.
“We will never be found in the company of those to whom the lives of innocent Lagosians mean nothing. Mr Sanwo-Olu won’t share a podium with them.”
Source: calabargistblog.com.ng
