..Says CUPP Did not Adopted Any Candidate
…Alleges intimidation of supporters
Agbaje with Deputy, Mrs Busari and ex-Commissioner in Ambade’ administration, Olowu at a rally in Epe
Governorship Candidate of the PDP in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has said he was very much in the race and has no contrary plan or conviction.
“I have not stepped down. And I will not step down for anybody,” Agbaje said in a statement, on Wednesday, by his Director of Media and Publicity, Felix Oboagwina.
“Neither my party nor I have any arrangement with anybody to drop out of the race. And at this point in time, no Jupiter can even make such a suggestion to me. It is taboo. It is indecent. It will not happen. Such has not even crossed my mind.
“To step down for whom? Stepping down will be an unfortunate betrayal of the hopes and dreams of millions of Lagosians who consider me as the only alternative to the impunity and corruption they have suffered in the hands of the Pharaoh who has selfishly cornered the state and its resources these past 20 years.
“The results of the last elections, despite its being cooked and falsified to favour APC, favour APC and show that Jimi Agbaje and PDP have a formidable standing and they are the preferred team to take over the leadership of the state.
“We are the glimmer of hope. We are the light at the end of the dark tunnel. And I will never be part of anything to betray our people’s trust and hope. So help me God.”
Agbaje spoke when he and his Running Mate, Mrs. Haleemat Oluwayemisi Busari, led their campaign team through Alimosho Local Government Area in their ongoing tour of the state.
He urged people to disregard the supposed adoption of a common flagbearer under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), saying, it only existed as a figment of the imagination of its evil sponsors.
“My party PDP is a bona-fide entity in the CUPP and I can assure you that no such endorsement has taken place, and it is not even on the cards,” Agbaje said.
The umbrella opposition group, CUPP, purportedly adopted the Action Democratic Party (ADP) candidate, Mr. Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi, as the sole candidate it would back against Babajide Sanwoolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Those pushing this false and evil narrative and those who think they can benefit from it are Lilly-livered and Lilliputian contestants who lack any sense of decency,” Agbaje said.
“Everyone should be wary of the antics of these political desperadoes. These are political featherweights, lowly rated in this contest, and they will do anything to play the role of spoilers. ”
The PDP flag-bearer expressed confidence about winning on Saturday.
“We have always said that we are in this race to win; and we will win fair and square,” Agbaje said.
Agbaje and Busari came to a tumultuous welcome by excited members of the public, who defied the rain and swamped his long convoy of vehicles that wound through Iyana-Ipaja, Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Egbeda, Idimu, Ikotun and other areas of the state’s largest local government.
Meanwhile, his campaign team has warned accused members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state against intimidating his supporters.
The organisation urged supporters, especially non-indigenes, to ignore such threats and troop out to vote for PDP candidates.
“We are daily inundated by members of our party that their colleagues in the other party, the APC has been intimidating them. The complaints have come from virtually all the local governments across the state.
“It appears that indeed the leadership of the APC has been encouraging its members to intimidate our members. This is a sad development that we can no longer condoned,” he said.
“We have also gathered that leaders of the APC have been using the platform of Community Development Associations (CDAs) to issue quit notices to our members in their various residences,” JACO said.
JACO, also, alleged that some other PDP members in Oshodi and Isolo had in the last few days been physically assaulted by APC members for no other reason other than being perceived as PDP members and supporters.
The organistion, however, warned that “APC members should realise that they alone don’t have the monopoly of violence. We have done a lot to ensure that our members keep the peace.”
