The political unit of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu – literally stood still on Thursday for the formal launch of Southwest Agenda 2023 (SWAGA ‘23) in Lagos State.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu joined full political machinery in the State to host the carnival-like event held at 10 Degree Event Centre in Oregun and attended by political leaders from all divisions of Lagos.

SWAGA, a group being led by Senator Dayo Adeyeye, is a political movement building support base for the former Lagos State Governor in anticipation of his interest to contest for president in the 2023 general elections.

Sanwo-Olu was accompanied by all members of the State Executive Council, lawmakers in the State House of Assembly, and members of Conference 57 to formally unveil the political group.

Declaring total support for the group’s agenda, Sanwo-Olu said SWAGA was formed based on the belief in Tinubu’s vision and political philosophy that prioritise development of human capital and economy.

The Governor described the APC National Leader as a “core political thinker” of the contemporary generation, noting that Tinubu’s constituency in progressive politics stood him out as a beacon and rallying figure capable of delivering directional leadership to the country in the next dispensation.

He said: “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. 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.

“The SWAGA we are launching in Lagos today is a demonstration of Tinubu’s enduring political principles and strong vision. 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 logical end and we will all witness the inauguration of our political icon come 2023.”

Sanwo-Olu assured the proponents of the movement of his continued support, promising to mobilise more political support for the group. He said he would join hands with SWAGA coordinators to take the agenda beyond the Southwest region and make it a national movement.

Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said Tinubu personified the progress the Nigerians had been yearning for, drumming support for the APC National Leader.

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

Senator Adeyeye said Lagos was the last State to be visited since the movement started last December, noting that all political and traditional rulers across the State have been carried along.

The Oke-Ogun Council of Elders held its meeting yesterday at the residence of the President, former Minister of Agriculture, Otunba Bamidele Dada, OON to deliberate on various issues affecting Oke-Ogun specifically on the areas of economy, security and social issues.

The meeting played host to Prof. Tunji Akande, former Director General of Nigerian institute of Social and Economic Research NISER briefing the Council on economic development of the region and Hon. Dele Adeola, member representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju State Constituency who also briefed the Council about the efforts the Oke-Ogun caucus of lawmakers at the State Assembly are making to ensure that the region gets its own fair share of development activities.

The president, Otunba Bamidele Dada, OON while giving his remark admonished all sons and daughters of Oke-Ogun to ensure that they contribute their own quotas towards the development of the region.

In his words, Prof. Tunji Akande, spoke on the solutions to economic development of Oke-Ogun, and implored the people of the region to join hands together towards the development of the region. He averred that Oke-Ogun can only be developed if both natural and human resources endowed to the region are well utilized for meaningful development.

He however frowned at some economic saboteurs who continually aid illegal miners to rip off the region of its endowed natural resources.

Comrade Jare Ajayi, the Spokesman of the Council while speaking to the correspondent of ODUDUWA NEWS, said the essence of the meeting was to agree on proactive steps that could be taken to harness both human and natural resources endowed to Oke-Ogun towards its development.

He used the ocassion to appreciate the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde on his efforts at ensuring that development comes to Oke-Ogun.

The Council commended Gov Makinde for siting LAUTECH Satellite Campus in Iseyin, the ongoing construction of township road in Saki and his concerted efforts at ensuring that the projects that have Federal Government input are speedily done for the benefit of the populace.

The elders however alerted the State and Federal Governments as well as all stakeholders to be security conscious and prevent the region from being used as safe haven or refuge camp of the remnant of bandits currently being dislodged from their various hideouts in the Northern region.

The Council further used the ocassion to unanimously request the establishment of Oke-Ogun Development Corporation in order to speed up development and also implored the State Government to ensure that the Local Government councils are fully operational so as to be holding them accountable for the development lacuna in the State.

The meeting had in attendance some eminent personalities from the region included Prof. Tunji Akande, former Director General of NISER; Prof. YK Yusuf, OAU, Ile-Ife; Comrade Jare Ajayi, Elders Council/Afenifere Spokesman; Alh. Abu Gbadamosi Olododo, former TESCOM Chairman, Elder Olalere among several others.