Governor Raji Fashola has called out on all Lagosians to come and vote in order to make history come next Saturday. In the address, Fashola urged them to wash their hands with soap and water so that the card readers can identify their finger prints. Read address after the cut
Dear Lagosians,
It is with a lot of
pleasure that I address you today as we set our eyes on Saturday’s elections.
pleasure that I address you today as we set our eyes on Saturday’s elections.
I think the elections
will be historic and the whole world is watching and waiting, as we conduct the
first of five elections that will be held in West Africa this year.
will be historic and the whole world is watching and waiting, as we conduct the
first of five elections that will be held in West Africa this year.
I think the elections
will be historic because we will set an example for the whole of Africa and
show that we can decide our affairs.
will be historic because we will set an example for the whole of Africa and
show that we can decide our affairs.
I know, however, that
there can be no history without history makers.
there can be no history without history makers.
You, the voters, the
dynamic people of the Centre of Excellence, will be the history makers.
dynamic people of the Centre of Excellence, will be the history makers.
Ask yourself what you
will be saying to your unborn children and grandchildren when they ask you in
future where you were on the day when the Great Election that changed Nigeria,
took place.
will be saying to your unborn children and grandchildren when they ask you in
future where you were on the day when the Great Election that changed Nigeria,
took place.
I am sure that you will
want to answer that question with pride, to tell them how you woke up early and
walked to the polling station to cast your vote.
want to answer that question with pride, to tell them how you woke up early and
walked to the polling station to cast your vote.
This is one big reason
why you must go out and vote and persuade members of your household and
neighbourhood to vote; so that you can be a part of history.
why you must go out and vote and persuade members of your household and
neighbourhood to vote; so that you can be a part of history.
The second reason is
that this election is about your life, your safety, your wellbeing, your
business, your roads, your children’s safety and wellbeing, their future and
that of Nigeria.
that this election is about your life, your safety, your wellbeing, your
business, your roads, your children’s safety and wellbeing, their future and
that of Nigeria.
As a caring father,
mother, uncle or aunty, do you want someone else to decide the choices for you
or will you make the choice yourself?
mother, uncle or aunty, do you want someone else to decide the choices for you
or will you make the choice yourself?
If you make the choice
for yourself and for your children and you vote for the party that has made the
most impact in your life, that will be historic, it will be music to their
ears, and I am sure they will thank you for standing up to prepare that bright
future for them.
for yourself and for your children and you vote for the party that has made the
most impact in your life, that will be historic, it will be music to their
ears, and I am sure they will thank you for standing up to prepare that bright
future for them.
Please know that what
you choose to do on Saturday will decide whether Nigeria changes or remains the
same over the next four years.
you choose to do on Saturday will decide whether Nigeria changes or remains the
same over the next four years.
So I urge you to come
out and vote.
out and vote.
I know that an
overwhelming majority of us want peaceful, transparent, credible and
violence-free elections.
overwhelming majority of us want peaceful, transparent, credible and
violence-free elections.
But as we wish for very
successful elections, we must know that wishes alone will not take us there. We
must take action to realise our wishes. We must go out to vote and make the
change we want.
successful elections, we must know that wishes alone will not take us there. We
must take action to realise our wishes. We must go out to vote and make the
change we want.
As long as we remain
peaceful and law abiding, our numbers will be enough to send the strongest and
clearest message of our desire for peace to those who do not wish us well.
peaceful and law abiding, our numbers will be enough to send the strongest and
clearest message of our desire for peace to those who do not wish us well.
I expect the security
personnel to act professionally, in keeping you safe because they and their
families also have a stake in a peaceful election.
personnel to act professionally, in keeping you safe because they and their
families also have a stake in a peaceful election.
As I have said before,
this is a clean hands election.
this is a clean hands election.
So I urge you to wash
your hands with soap and water before going out for accreditation in order to
make it easy for the card reader to identify you.
your hands with soap and water before going out for accreditation in order to
make it easy for the card reader to identify you.
I urge you all to be
peaceful and patient with electoral officers and our children, the Youth
Corpers, who will be assisting them to ensure that we all perform our civic
responsibility and vote to make the type of society we want.
peaceful and patient with electoral officers and our children, the Youth
Corpers, who will be assisting them to ensure that we all perform our civic
responsibility and vote to make the type of society we want.
After you have cast
your vote, you must remain at the polling station at a reasonable distance
where you can see what is going on.
your vote, you must remain at the polling station at a reasonable distance
where you can see what is going on.
Please ignore those who
say you cannot stay at the polling station. You have every right to do so.
say you cannot stay at the polling station. You have every right to do so.
Firstly, the election
is about your lives, so why should it take place and be concluded behind your
back?
is about your lives, so why should it take place and be concluded behind your
back?
Secondly, no law
forbids you from staying at the polling station. You simply are not allowed to
disturb other voters, interfere with the process or campaign for votes on
Election Day.
forbids you from staying at the polling station. You simply are not allowed to
disturb other voters, interfere with the process or campaign for votes on
Election Day.
Thirdly and most
importantly, the Electoral Act requires that the result at each polling station
must be collated, announced by the officials and posted at the polling station.
importantly, the Electoral Act requires that the result at each polling station
must be collated, announced by the officials and posted at the polling station.
The question to ask
those who say you cannot stay at the polling station is this: Who will hear the
results, and to whom will they be announced, if voters have left?
those who say you cannot stay at the polling station is this: Who will hear the
results, and to whom will they be announced, if voters have left?
Dear Lagosians, I urge
us all to rise as one people as we did during the Ebola outbreak and
demonstrate once again that we are different and we are special, that we can
manage a democracy.
us all to rise as one people as we did during the Ebola outbreak and
demonstrate once again that we are different and we are special, that we can
manage a democracy.
We have set an example
for the whole of Africa about how to manage an Ebola epidemic in an urban
centre. It was the first of its type in almost 40 years of Ebola epidemics.
for the whole of Africa about how to manage an Ebola epidemic in an urban
centre. It was the first of its type in almost 40 years of Ebola epidemics.
We did it in a
democratic setting.
democratic setting.
We can set an even
better example with this election by being law abiding and peaceful.
better example with this election by being law abiding and peaceful.
Let us disappoint the
prophets of doom and keep a date with destiny for ourselves and generations
unborn.
prophets of doom and keep a date with destiny for ourselves and generations
unborn.
Let us vote for CHANGE
with our permanent voter’s cards and ballot papers, and make this Saturday’s
election one of our finest political hours.
with our permanent voter’s cards and ballot papers, and make this Saturday’s
election one of our finest political hours.
Dear Lagosians, history
beckons. Don’t turn your backs.
beckons. Don’t turn your backs.
God bless you all.
Eko o ni Baje
Babatude Raji Fashola,
SAN
SAN
Governor of Lagos State