Cleric warns Lagosians against religious politics, canvases support for Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat

A cleric and former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. AbdulHakeem Abdulateef has appealed to Christians and Muslims in Lagos to come out en masse on Saturday, March 11, 2023 to vote for APC gubernatorial candidate, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and all APC candidates to ensure the symbiotic relationship between the state and the Federal Government.

The former commissioner also congratulated the President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying Almighty Allah elevated him and that his victory and was well deserved.

He pleaded against allowing religious sentiments to determine the gubernatorial poll.

“Lagos needs to be retained under APC for continuous development. The incumbent governor and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat have done very well and therefore deserve to be returned,” he said.

Abdulateef noted that all the votes cast for Tinubu would become a complete waste if Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu loses the Saturday, March 11, 2023 election.

“Participating in democracy is about ensuring that we are all part of the system, there must be a handshake between the federal and the state government. The Federal Government only has competence over the exclusive legislative list in the nation’s constitution. Still, the state has exclusive jurisdiction over the residual matters and both of them must work together on the concurrent list and that is what can translate into development.”

He faulted the criticisms against Tinubu due to the Muslim Muslim ticket.

“In Nigeria, we are one, the Muslim Muslim ticket was electorally correct and it is the only politically expedient decision Tinubu could have taken. He loves Christians, Muslims and even pagans. The current battle is the biggest and it is meant to ridicule Tinubu, which will make him not having governors who will translate his policies at the federal level into domestic prosperity.”

Abdulateef pleaded with Christian and Muslim communities and leaders to support Sanwo-Olu and desist from voting based on sentiments.

“I’m a Chief Imam supporting Sanwo-Olu, simply because my vote for Asiwaju will be of no effect if the state government stands in opposition against the policy. I will not ever have a feel of what it means to have a Federal Government that is determined to right the wrongs in Nigeria.

“Let’s protect this land from the aggressors, the Holy Quran told us in chapter 49vs13 ‘O mankind, indeed we have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted’. So, let us all vote for Sanwo-Olu for consistency,” he said.

He expressed displeasure over the plan to take over Lagos State due to hatred conceive against the builder of the state, Tinubu. “Allah has used him to build the state they want to take over. Do you know it will be a great disservice for Lagos State to be in opposition when the builder of the state has been elevated by Almighty Allah to become the president of Nigeria?” He asked.