Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, All Progressives Governorship candidate in Lagos State, Akran of Badagry, Aholu De Wheno Menu Toyi 1 and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governorship candidate during a consultation visit to the monarch in his Palace

Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has started his gubernatorial elections campaign with a kick-off rally in Badagry and an engaging live tweet-chat session with Lagosians today.

The session, which started with videos of the APC gubernatorial candidate personally reading tweets asking questions about his person, capacity and experience.

Sanwo-Olu provided insights into his plan for the state in his responses and offered practical solutions to some of the issue raised. The online real-time interactive session touched on topical issues such as traffic management, waste management, inclusive governance, health, education, infrastructural development, the candidate’s expertise and experience.

Interestingly, the online convergence, which attracted notable voices in the Nigerian twitter space, started like a playful engagement, with Sanwo-Olu saying “They say Twitter is savage… and wow, they are not lying”, turned out to a very fruitful interaction that facilitated exchange of useful ideas between the APC candidate and stakeholders.

Unlike the jamboree that usually characterizes campaign kick-off, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu launched his campaign in a methodical and highly engaging manner, which allowed for frontal engagement on pertinent issues.

By this, Sanwo-Olu has demonstrated his readiness and commitment to running an issue-based campaign, whereby he can be engaged on any subject or matter of concern by Lagosians, who will elect him as the next governor of the state.

Similarly, this matter-of-fact approach signals Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s view on governance and his resolve to bury bureaucracy in state administration through innovative deployment of technology.

At some pre-campaign engagements, Sanwo-Olu had declared his intention to run an accessible government, where the governor is reachable by every willing electorate. “Ours won’t be a government that will shut out the state by just sitting in the government house. We will be available, reachable and accessible to Lagosians, even when they live very far from Alausa”, said Sanwo-Olu.

Ending the live tweet-chat session, the APC gubernatorial candidate urged Lagosians to note down their concerns and issues pertinent to them for another live discussion on Twitter at this same next Saturday.

“Let’s keep the conversation going next Saturday. Let’s do like an opinion poll to identify the most important issues you want me to talk about when we converge next week” said an appreciative Sanwo-Olu.

•We’ll revive Badagry’s tourism, Sanwo-Olu promises

· Awori traditional rulers endorse APC candidate

There is a concise policy document to revive tourism of Badagry division if elected, the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said.

The APC candidate said the potential of the division to drive economic growth through tourism had not been fully harnessed, promising that his administration would restore the glory of the ancient town and make it economic viable.

Sanwo-Olu spoke during his consultative visit to Badagry, where he met Akran of Badagry and other monarchs in the division.

To drive economic growth in Badagry, Sanwo-Olu said rehabilitation of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway became pertinent. He said his administration would prioritise the repair of the highway, promising to rebuild infrastructure in the division.

While addressing the residents from the Akran palace, Sanwo-Olu craved for the support of the enthusiastic multitude who had trooped out to welcome him and said: “We will not be far away from you.”

The APC candidate said: “Having listened to your wishes and expectations, I am assuring you that we will take all the points raised and incorporated them in our manifesto. We will prioritise the repair of the Badagry Expressway and open-up the entire West African nations to economic growth.

“We are coming out to create a Lagos where our children and their children would be proud of. We will restore Badagry as the topmost tourism destination in Nigeria. We have developed a strategy to achieve this aim and we will implement the plan with the commitment it requires.”

The traditional rulers of the division, led by the Akran, unanimously endorsed the candidacy of Sanwo-Olu and pledged their support.

Other traditional rulers in Badagry division, who led their chiefs and subjects to the meeting, included Aholu of Ajijo Kingdom, Aholu Whenton 1 De-Yeyi of Ajaka Topa Kingdom, Aholu Agano Toniyon 1 of Ajara Agamathen, Aholu Thazunwo of Ajara Vetho Kingdom, Alapa of Apa Egun Awori Kingdom, and Aholu Sejiro Kwemeh Kingdom.

The APC candidate and his entourage also stopped at the palace of the paramount ruler of Awori in Ijanikin, the Onijanikin of Ijanikin, Oba Muhammadu Ashafa, to seek the support of Awori traditional leaders and people.

Addressing the crowd at the palace, Sanwo-Olu said his government, if elected, would not sit back and bark out orders from the Government House in Alausa. He said impact of governance would be felt across the state.

He promised that his administration would repair public amenities in Awori land, pledging that he would incorporate the repair of Ijagemo Road and link bridges in riverine areas.

He also promised to build additional General Hospital in the Iba area to add to the existing two hospitals in the area, adding that there would be free Internet for students of tertiary institutions.

Oba Ashafa hailed the APC candidate for keeping to time, noting that Sanwo-Olu arrived an hour before the meeting. The monarch urged the APC candidate not to forget traditional rulers in the state.