Jimi Agbaje, the Governorship Candidate of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, took his campaigns to Bariga, a suburb close to the University of Lagos, and promised that his administration would prioritise education and health sector in the state, if elected governor.
Agbaje promised to initiate a health insurance policy that would transfer the burden of hospital bills from the citizens to the government.
Paramount ruler of Bariga, Oba Gbolahan Barudeen Timson, Jagunmolu 3, bemoaned the politician’s past failed governorship election attempts in the state, describing him as a victim of serial electoral manipulations.
Oba Gbolahan Barudeen Timson, Jagunmolu 3, who received Agbaje in his palace, recalled that in 2015, celebrations and rejoicing had broken out on the streets of Bariga by residents who were confident that results at their disposal recorded victory for the PDP candidate.
According to him, “Some will win election and the result will be given to another person. In the 2015 election, my people trooped out to dance when they saw the result of the election that it favoured PDP. Suddenly, the results were changed. When election is conducted and another thing is announced, then this country has problems.”
The PDP candidate also visited the Adaranijo Central Mosque, at Pedro area of Bariga, and also met with Muslim clerics under the Chief Imam, Alhaji Ishaq Olohuniyo.
The Monarch urged PDP and the authorities to tackle the matter of rigging and electoral manipulation in Nigeria as it was an albatross on the country’s democracy and economy.
“It is not as if JK did not win victory in an election before. But his victory was diverted. I salute your tenacity. Everybody knows that Agbaje is loved in Lagos State,” he said.
“Before he died, Obafemi Awolowo told us that many of us alive then would not see true democracy until we died. Now his words have proved prophetic.”
Agbaje was accompanied on the visit by his running mate, Haleemat Oluwayemisi Busari, and PDP Trustee member, Aduke Maina.
