Wike endorses Sanwo-Olu for second term, donates N300m to COWLSO

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has endorsed the ambition of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for a second term in office.

Wike gave the approval while speaking as the special guest of honour at the 2022 Annual Conference of Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) held on Tuesday at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

At the conference, themed: “Spring Forth, Stand Out,” Governor Wike also donated the sum of N300 million to the women’s conference.

Saying that Governor Sanwo-Olu’s performance in office has earned him a second term, Wike commended his Lagos State counterpart for giving women the opportunity to serve in various capacities in the state, especially in the Judiciary.

“By the grace of God, you will be a second term governor. Lagos is doing better than other states in this country because Lagos has allowed women to participate in governance in various capacities. I am very happy to participate in this conference. I don’t play politics of ethnicity.

“Even if Sanwo-Olu is in my party but is not doing well, I wouldn’t have come here. I do not regret saying I am in support of you. If you are not in my party and you are doing well, I will support you. If you are at my party and you are not doing well, I will not support you,” Wike told Sanwo-Olu.

The Rivers governor added: “So why would you not support such a government that is encouraging this? Look at the physical infrastructure in Lagos. What do you say? Lagos is the Center of Excellence.

“There are some people who will be here, instead of them making Lagos to continue to improve, they will bring the state down and that is not the case here. For me, I’m satisfied, it doesn’t matter the party’s difference.”

On the 2023 general elections, Governor Wike said: “My view is that we’re looking for a president that has the interest of Nigerians, a president that has experience in governance, a president that Nigerians can say yes, he can put food on our tables.

“We want the president who will fight insecurity, that is who we are looking for, not some people who talk about ethnicity.”

Wike further said the Rivers State government has emulated Lagos by ensuring a woman became a deputy governor in 2015, as no female had ever served in that capacity since the creation of the state in the 60s.

He commended Lagos State First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for several projects COWLSO had done under her leadership in the last three years.

In his remarks, Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the organizers of the conference for their positive contributions to the state.

“I must express how much I am proud of the achievements of COWLSO, especially in the way they have stood by us and contributed to promoting the ideas and objectives of our administration.”

According to Sanwo-Olu: “The various philanthropic and humanitarian activities of COWLSO, in addition to their interventions in critical sectors such as health, education, environment and youth development have continued to impact positively on the lives of Lagosians.”

While calling on women to change the trend, embrace the new normal and emerge bigger and better, Sanwo-Olu urged them break new barriers, as well as set new targets for themselves.

He urged participants to vote for him for a second term in office, advising that they should not be deceived by anyone.

“Don’t allow anyone to deceive you,” he charged women, adding: “Go to the polling booths and reelect credible APC candidates, tell them it’s about your future.”

In her opening address, the Chairperson of COWLSO, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, said this year’s theme was apt as the “world is in need of solutions.’

“As women, we owe it to ourselves to emerge into better versions of ourselves as we spring forth and keep pushing forward to make a positive difference,” she said.