2023: Sanwo-Olu pledges support as pro-Tinubu group kicks off campaign

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos state, says Bola Tinubu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is a nationalist in thinking and a progressive in action.

The governor spoke on Thursday at the launch of the Southwest Agenda 2023 (SWAGA ‘23), a campaign group championing the candidacy of Tinubu for the 2023 presidency.

Sanwo-Olu said the “extraordinary qualities” of the former Lagos governor sets him apart from his contemporaries in the Nigerian political scene.

He commended the reforms Tinubu carried out in Lagos during his tenure as governor, saying his legacy is what “we are building on”.

“Asiwaju Tinubu’s story has been a legend in vision, passion and action. These three values stand him out among his contemporaries in national politics today,” he said.

“It is no wonder the man stretches his arm of fellowship beyond Lagos, the state he led for eight years as a governor and in which he bequeathed the legacy we are building on. He is nationalist in thinking and progressive in action.”

Sanwo-Olu said SWAGA is a movement that represents the philosophy Tinubu stands for, noting that the agenda of the group, which is for Tinubu to emerge as Nigeria’s president in 2023, will be “brought to a logical end”.

“The SWAGA we are launching in Lagos today is a demonstration of Tinubu’s enduring political principles and strong vision,” he said.

“Those behind the movement took the three values and push them with passion. What we are witnessing today is the action from the vision and passion; this is what SWAGA represents. 

“By the grace of God, we will drive this agenda to a logical end and we will all witness the inauguration of our political icon come 2023.”

Also speaking at the event, Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos deputy governor, said Tinubu is capable of transforming the country in terms of employment, security, and infrastructural development.

“If we want true progress, employment, security and development, we all know who is capable of creating these opportunities for us. He is Asiwaju,” he said.

On Tuesday, Adeseye Ogunlewe, a former minister of works, had also described Tinubu as the appropriate person to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.