Lagos 2023: Former Commissioner Abdul-Lateef comes with ‘Final Answer!’, declares for governorship

*He is capable, with him Christians, Muslims will be great – Akintola

*Says it’s time for Awori to govern Lagos

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

Dr. Abdul-Lateef continued, “This is the project of God. We do not believe in results but in efforts. God does not reward results. God rewards efforts. That is why we are not desperate but we are fully ready,” he affirmed.

Former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, has declared his intention to contest for the governorship of Lagos State come 2023.

He equally asked good people of the Centre of Excellence to join the “IYEPE 2023” movement, which he inaugurated during the declaration, towards achieving the goal.

Described as a quintessential administrator and distinguished lawmaker at each time he had participated in the politics of Lagos State, Dr. Abdul-Lateef, who explained that “IYEPE 2023 is the vision for the Lagos of our dream”, also came with a tag, ‘Final Answer: We Fit Do Am’ meaning that he means business with the ambition to govern Lagos.

Declaring his intention at the event well attended by different groups across the faiths, trades and politics in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital on Tuesday, he bemoaned how political apathy has become the order of the day as, according to the popular Islamic scholar cum politician, many people in Lagos no longer want to participate in politics because of the fear that their votes won’t count.

“Our greater challenge is political apathy that is lack of participation. And I cannot blame the people because they have always believed that their efforts have no where they go except to nothing. But I stand here before you today to say that it is time for you to take your destiny by your own hands.”

Adding, he said things had changed and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had done a great thing with electronic voting and so expressed confidence in the ability of the system to make their votes count come next elections.

“People talk about hacking,” he noted but said that hackers can also be hacked in ensuring that the will of the people of Lagos State reign supreme in the coming election.

The former Member, Lagos State House of Assembly spoke philosophically when he said: “The world is divided into three groups.” He listed the groups as of “Those who make things happen, those who watch as things happen and those who wonder why things happen the way they happen.”

Fondly called ‘Honourable Yepe’, the former Commissioner stated which of the groups he belongs and urged those who believe in ‘Iyepe 2023’ movement to follow suit as things, by this effort, will bring a much desired new face of Lagos.

He said, “We belong to the group of those who make things happen. I challenge you to be part of it.”

Dr. Abdul-Lateef continued, “This is the project of God. We do not believe in results but in efforts. God does not reward results. God rewards efforts. That is why we are not desperate but we are fully ready,” he affirmed.

Speaking at a news conference after the event, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef said the time had come for Lagos residents to experience the best of what Lagos could offer and what the state could become when properly managed by good manager of human and material resources.

He said the need for this paradigm shift in Lagos administration necessitated his intention to lead the state beginning from 2023.

Still speaking he gave different meanings of ‘Iyepe’ (sand) saying it means humility.

He said, “Iyepe also means that when you do what is right, your followers will be as uncountable as sand.

“That is why when people win election and they celebrate, I call them thiefs. If you vote for me, I will not dance. My dance will not come until the unemployed isempowered. My dance will not come until the hungry has food to eat. My dance will not come until the weak is supported against the oppression of the powerful oppressor. That is when I can dance,” he said.

Keynote Speaker at the event, Professor Ishaq Akintola described Abdul-Lateef as capable a d that under him as governor, Lagos Christians and Muslims will be great.

He said, “We are here to celebrate a symbol of humility, a democrat and a politician who is coming out openly and declare his ambition to become the next Governor of Lagos State.

“We are here because we support this aspiration and know it is in the course of justice; it is fair call, it is belated, he was to become deputy governor eight years ago.

“We believe that 2023 to 2027 dispensation belongs to the Muslims and this slot must not be wasted,”Akintola said.

He described Abdul-Hakeem as a consistent politician and a spiritual leader, adding that his combination of the two attributes would transform Lagos State.

Other photos from the event: