The absence of Nigerian Singer, Bankole Wellington, popularly hailed as Banky W at the House of Representatives’ debate for candidates in Lagos’ Eti-Osa Federal Constituency was to the consternation of waiting audience who had hoped the artiste turned politician would turn up at the debate to use the platform to lay out in clear terms, his manifesto to would-be voters asides the street paparazzi.
Wellington, who only declared his intention to run for the office in November 2018 is vying on the platform of Modern Democratic Party, formed in 2017.
Also, candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tony Bakare; and Alliance For New Nigeria, Ferdinand Adeimefe, all absented themselves from the the debate organized by AIG MEDIA PRO in conjunction with Ibile Foundation Lagos at Oriental Hotel, VI Lagos.
However, candidate of the Alliance for Democracy, Barrister Dotun Hassan, while marshaling his points at the debate said his key focus on the national stage if elected will be to drive the creation of a Restructuring Affairs Commission as one of the first steps to get the country restructured, as well as reduce the galloping rate of unemployment in the country. “How do we really harmonize different policy documents for instance: the SDGs, the Confab report and 1963 Constitution to have an indisoluble people’s constitution? I believe that’s the best way to start and I will drive that.
“We know that our youths today are basically lagging behind in terms of any clear developmental plan and agenda. My plan is to sponsor a bill that will enact the national developmental right law which will enable every Nigerian youth to be adequately empowered not as a privilege, but as a right,” Hassan said.
Other candidates at the debate include: Olukayode Awokoya of ANRP; Babajide Obanikoro, APC and Moshood Adejimi of the YES Party.
Speaking with the The New Diplomat, Hassan registered his displeasure over the shunning of the debate by three of his fellow contestants saying, “I’m sure the people have seen the faces of the people who are really ready to serve them. You can see the PDP’s candidate was no where to be found. Sending someone to come and represent you shows that you’re not feeling the pulse of the people.
“Look at how Banky W also avoided the debate. This is not the issue of being a poster boy. It doesn’t depict the real core service and that’s what really stands me out from every other candidate. I have over 21 solid bills to sponsor when I get to the House and I’m working on those bills daily, perfecting them.
“Bills that run on setting up a Resructuring Affairs Commission to ensure that we have a solid democracy, whereby a plebiscite and referendum commission will be established under an Act of Federal government,” he said.
Hassan who has led several people-centered advocacies to halt the spate of illegal demolitions and forceful evictions of residents in Eti-Osa said he will bring a stop to the phenomenon in the area through the Act of public lawmaking, working with the State and Federal governments if elected.
He further stated that he “will set up the Eti-Osa Development Endowment Trust Fund for the people in Eti-Osa Federal Constituency, where we can be able to harness resources from corporate multinationals and the have-individuals with constitutuency offices located in all the ten wards.
“Each voter has one vote and I will urge them to cast that vote for me.
“I believe strongly that their votes will go a long way in transforming not just the present generation, but the future generation will be the most beneficial for it. I’m critical about my decision which is centered on service and I want to assure the people that I have the capacity and what it takes to take them out of this mess.” He said.
