South South Peoples United Forum urges Sanwoolu not to forget its members when he makes appointments

LAGOS State governor-elect Babajide Sanwoolu has been challenged by the South South Peoples United Forum (SSPUF) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to neglect it members when forming his cabinet and constituting his government.

In March, Mr Sanwoolu was elected by a wide margin as the Lagos State governor and is due to assume office on May 29. By far the most cosmopolitan state in Nigeria, Lagos is a melting pot made up of Nigerians from all across the country and during the election campaigns, there was a fierce debate about how the cabinet should reflect all the ethnic groups who reside there.

Already, Ohaneze Ndigbo has been lobbying fiercely for fair representation, with some of its members requesting that Igbos be given at least six commissioner positions. Now the Lagos State chapter of the SSPUF is asking that be accorded appropriate representation too as over the years, its efforts had not been adequately recognised and rewarded.

Made up of indigenes of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta States who are resident in Lagos, the SSPUF said its members worked like any other ethnic group for the success of the APC during the just concluded general elections. Chief Isaac Emiyede, the group’s chairman, said despite being starved of funds during the last electioneering, the SSPUF did not relent in ensuring that the party emerged victorious in different parts of the state where its members were resident.

While congratulating Mr Sanwoolu, his deputy Obafemi Hamzat and other elected APC members for their success in the recent elections, the group stated that it had never been involved in anti-party activities over the years. Chief Emiyede commended the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola and the chairman of the Lagos State APC chapter, Babatunde Balogun, for their efforts in ensuring the success of the party in the state and the country at large.

He added: “We wish to reiterate that our loyalty to the party has remained unshaken and also to say that we are fully committed to the party’s policies and programmes. However, the unfortunate irony which makes us cry out despite our unflinching commitment to the party, is that in all these years of our activities, achievements and contributions, our efforts have not been adequately recognised.

“The party has not empowered us, neither has it given us any appointment as a group to sustain and keep the group together. During the last electioneering, we were grossly marginalised and starved of campaign materials and funds but in our determination to see that APC won all elections, we resorted to self-funding through contributions and donations by our members.”

Chief Vincent Ahwi, the chairman of the South South Traditional Council of Chiefs in Lagos, also urged the incoming Sanwoolu administration to recognise the group because members worked like the Arewa and Ndigbo groups in Lagos for the success of the party.