LAGOS – The Forum of Political Parties (FPP), comprising registered and de-registered political parties in Lagos State, has said that it’s support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) is sacrosant.
Speaking through a statement in Lagos at the weekend, the Forum said it came about to advocate and speak out in the interest of the opposition political parties, especially the smaller ones.
In the statement signed by Kola Ajayi, Chairman, FPP and Member, Tinubu/Shettima/Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat Independent Campaign Council (ICC) and Secretary, Shola Omolola, the group commended the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the endorsement of the Yoruba National Week Recognition.
It noted that the endorsement followed a resolution of the Lagos State House of Assembly at its plenary on Thursday, September, 19, 2023 due to the need to activate the Yoruba heritage and a special day set aside as Yoruba Day.
The group recalled that the Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon Obasa, had commended the governor and his cabinet for the decision, describing it as a good development.
The FPP also noted that the celebration of the Yoruba Week is expected to showcase various aspects of the Yoruba culture, including traditional attires, music, dance, cuisines and other cultural expressions, in a bid to promote and preserve the rich heritage of the Yoruba people.
It informed that the programme had been slated to commence this year in the last week of September.
FPP also commended the governor on the bold unitiative of the ‘Eko Cares’, a social intervention programme aimed at lessening the burdens on residents amid economic hardship.
It stressed: “A total of 300,000 households are expected to benefit from the inaugural programme.”
It enjoined the governor, his aides and members of the committee to reach out to the lesser opposition political parties through the FPP, IPAC, COPPILS as the affiliate groups that represent the interests of the entire members of the opposition political parties in the state, so that they too could benefit from the palliative programmes of the government.
The FPP added: “We have also been lacking other benefits that we used to get from the previous governments of the state.
“As stakeholders, we want the government and the leaders of the party to see us as partners in progress and advancement of good governance to the good people of the state, especially at the grassroots level, and also as promoters of government’s programmes and interventions.
“We want to use this medium to commiserate with the governor on the demise of his reliable, dedicated and hardworking DCOS, Mr. Gboyega Soyannwo.
“We pray the Lord gives the governor, the family, colleagues and All the fortitude to bear this urreparable koss.
“We equally congratulate Mr. Sam Egube on his appointment as the new DCOS. We know him and his pedigree very well and we are sure he will bring his experience to bear and be a worthy addition to the governor’s ‘THEMES Plus’ Agenda.
“Furthermore, FPP lends its voice and support to the call for Lagos State to be given ‘A Special Status’ by the Federal Government.
“We shall continue to pursue this agenda with the Speaker, the State Assembly members and notable Lagosians until this is achieved.
“Finally, we want to use this opportunity to appeal to the good people of Lagos State and Nigerians in general to exercise patience and understanding with our Leader and President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on his reforms and economic agenda.
“We can assure you that all the reforms and actions of this governmemt will pay off in the long run and Nigerians will be happier and better off at the end of the day.
“Long live FPP! Long live Opposition Political Parties!!Long live Lagos State!!! “
This post originally appeared in Independentng