Members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) from the Lagos East Senatorial District have approved the re-election bid of the Senator representing the district in the Senate, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru.

It would be recalled that Abiru was elected 6th of December 2020 to complete the term of late Senator Bayo Osinowo (Pepper) who died in office.

Some of the GAC members who gave their nods to the re-election bid were; Pa Bushira Alebiosu, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Bashorun, Alhaji Akanni Seriki and Mr Wale Edun.

Others are; All Progressives Congress (APC) Vice Chairperson ( Lagos East), Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, Mr Bode Oyedele, and former Minister of Works, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe.

The leader gave their approval on Monday in Ikorodu at the official declaration of Abiru to run for Senate in 2023 under the platform of APC.

Addressing the supporters of Abiru, the APC Lagos East Senatorial District, Alebiosu said the Senator surprised all APC leaders with how he had changed the face of legislative representation in the district, adding that his performance had made many of them to feel there had not been senator from the district before 2020.

He said that Abiru’s sterling performance incomparable, saying that he was just beginning and would be given bigger leadership task with time.

” Your return to the Senate in 2023 is non-negotiable and I can tell you that we are solidly behind you”, said Alebiosu.
Another GAC member, Asiwaju Bashorun, congratulated him for the successes recorded in the past one year and five months, saying that he never betray the trust the party has in him.

Narrating how Abiru was drafted into partisan politics to contest in 2020, Bashorun said it took the leaders some time to persuade him to run for Senate, adding that Abiru was so much attached to his banking job.

” He took us some times to persuade him to run for Senate because he was so glue to his banking job. Anyone that wants to get to the top must work hard to fit in. The computer programmes and empowerments done by him show his capabilities. He has vision for the youths and he has shown it through various programmes he had done. My advice for those seeking public office is that they should be ready to serve and not see public office as money-making thing. I can tell you for free that we the entire leaders in Lagos East are for Abiru”, said Asiwaju Bashorun.

He urged electorates to go and collect their PVCs to cast their votes on election day.

Speaking on loyality to the party,, he said aspirants must not play do or die politics, saying ” If you aren’t given the ticket this time, you can try other time. Loyalty is key in politics”.

In his remarks, Alhaji Akanni Seriki (Baba Baamu), described the Senator as a good political manager based on how he was able to spread dividends of democracy across the 16 local governments in the district, adding that his character and human relations were unique.

” Abiru’s relationship with the politicians and the people is second to none. He is able to match the two set of constituents. We are with him and for him to get the ticket. Anybody wanting to obtain form to contest in primaries with him is only wasting time becausewe are satisfied with his performance. I pass vote of confidence in Abiru. We want him to continue the good representation in the Senate”, said Seriki.

Meanwhile, Abiru in his speech, reeled out his achievements since 2020, saying ” In a deliberate move at spreading prosperity across the Lagos East Senatorial District, my office in partnership with The Fate Foundation and Chartered Standard Foundation organized a Business Workshop/Clinic for 1000 MSMEs across the Senatorial district.

” The training which attracted Executive Leadership of business-related regulatory agencies and partners like; BOI, SMEDAN, CAC, LIRS, NAFDAC and LSETF greatly enhanced the capacity of MSMEs in the district.

” In addressing the dearth of knowledge which is one of the major reasons why MSMEs fail, a knowledge pack containing seven valuable books covering areas like; Financial Management, Human Capital, Legal, Strategy, Marketing and Communication, Digital Technology and Tax Management authored by reputable corporations including Deloitte, KPMG, Verraki among others were given free of charge to all trainees. Participants also received Enterprise Development Certificates after the training.

” I went further to announce a N100Million (One Hundred Million Naira) Constituency Intervention Revolving Loan at a very low concessional 6% interest rate per annum, which will be topped by additional N100 Million  from the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund(LSETF) has also graciously pledged to add N100Million totaling N300Million”.

Abiru said that N300Million Constituency Intervention Revolving Loan Scheme would be unveiled soon for the benefit of MSMEs, Artisans and tradesmen in Lagos East.

The Senator added ” I have set up a Community Innovation Space known as Senator Abiru Innovation Lab (SAIL) in partnership with a renowned technology and Social Enterprise company, The Co-creation Hub (Cc-HUB) in Lagos to train youths in the senatorial district on relevant digital and innovation skills, and build the best entrepreneurs that can compete in the ever-dynamic global economy.

” The Center is currently situated in Ikorodu within our district, starting from the constituency office but planning to move into a bigger permanent facility by July 2022. Five (5) pilot programmes have been put together with a view to proffer solutions to some of the challenges identified and many of our youths have started applying for opportunities to participate in the programmes.

” Over Four Thousand (4,000) young people across the Lagos East Senatorial District applied for the SAIL programmes. Currently, over One Hundred Fifty (150) students are participating in the Five (5) Pilot Programmes at the SAIL Centre in Ikorodu while over One Thousand (1000) eligible applicants will be trained online”.