Outgoing Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro yesterday declared his interest in running for the governorship of Lagos State in the coming elections.
Obanikoro, who spoke when he inspected the ministry’s Quarter Guard set by the Defence headquarters in his honour, as part of activities marking his sendforth, explained that he wants to become the governor of Lagos State in order to rescue the state from unnamed individuals that have put the state in bondage.
“Lagos is under bondage and for the liberation of Lagos; I want to liken it to General Gowon’s phrase that it is a task that must be done.
“As a native Lagosian, I am committed to the liberation of Lagos.
“Commercialisation of Lagos as a way of governance is something we must put an end to,” Obanikoro said.
The minister also expressed hope that the ceasefire deal struck between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram sect will be successful.
He expressed his appreciation to President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau and the staff of the ministry for the support given him while in office.
“We came in at a very difficult time for the country and I thank God we have been able to strongly put in hard work to ensure that value is added to what we met on the ground, and some of the successes that we have seen in terms of stability in the country is part of the contribution that we have also made as part of the ministry of defence family,” he said.
“Funding will always be a challenge, the commitment and the effort we have put in so far with Mr. President at the helm of affairs; we are making progress. From a nation of anything goes to a nation where we are bringing about stability. We have conquered the issue of militancy in the Niger/Delta; the Boko Haram issue will also be a thing of the past,” he said.
“I’m excited; things like this don’t come easy, a lot of sleepless nights have gone into it. We must salute Mr. President for the courage and the conviction that we must have peace than to have war,” he stated.
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