Kunle Adelabu
-Condemns desecration of palaces, monuments during #EndSARS protest
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Lagos East Senatorial bye-election and former Group Managing Director, Polaris Bank PLC, Mr Adetokunbo Mikhail Abiru, has once again unveiled his agenda for the development of youths if elected.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last week rescheduled the bye – election for December 5, 2020.
While stating the problems of poverty, unemployment and disconnect with the teeming youths and masses in his open letter to the Lagos East youths, titled, ‘A Message To Lagos East Youths’, Abiru said that he’ll do all within his power to engage and provide them with sustainable empowerment.
“On my part, if I am elected as your senator for Lagos East, I will leverage on my experience, which spanover three decades, as an economist, chartered accountant and banking executive who has worked in exemplary institutions such as Deliotte, GTBank and First Bank and also as someone who had led the transformation of the former troubled Skye Bank into a strong, digitally enabled and strategically positioned Polaris Bank…. .
“…To do all within my power to improve the lot of our youths and masses; engage with our youths at multiple levels and provide structured and sustainable empowerment for women and youths through an endowment including capacity building, skills acquisition, microfinance; and incorporate the “5 for 5” agenda of the #EndSARS protesters in my legislative priorities”, Abiru said.
“I stand by my unwavering commitment to provide quality representation, lead with character and values, and act with integrity and commitment in all my actions”, he assured the youths and Lagos East electorate.
While appraising the #EndSARS protest and the violence that followed, Abiru, again, commended youths’ agitation against police brutality, but regretted the turn of events as soldiers allegedly opened fire on the peaceful protesters.
“Sadly, we are all aware that forces other than the peaceful #EndSARS protesters turned a potential moment of hope, inspiration and transformation into a tragedy, first, with seemingly orchestrated sporadic attacks on peaceful protesters across the country and state, and then the tragic events at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20.
While commiserating with the Governor of the State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, and entire Lagosians, the Senatorial candidate also condemned the sad event and the desecration of palaces and monuments across the state.
“I commiserate with the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the good people of Lagos on this unfortunate incident and pray that such will never again be seen in Lagos.
“In the aftermath, we experienced another tragedy as Lagos witnessed an unprecedented orgy of violence, including looting of stores and supermarkets; severe damage to government and private property, including several businesses; and the desecration of our culture and traditions by persons who invaded the palaces of the Oba of Lagos, HRM Oba Rilwan Akiolu and the Onitedo of Iwerekun, HRH Oba T. A Elemoro.”, he said.
