No place for thuggery in Lagos, say police

• Lagos LP replaces Salako with Ekong as Chairman
• APC-PCC launches operation ‘no void votes’ in Lagos

Lagos State Labour Party (LP) Chairman, Kayode Salako, yesterday, ceded his position to the state’s deputy women leader of the party, Dayo Ekong, on the directive of the national leader of the party, Julius Abure.

Speaking at a stakeholder’s meeting, Salako disclosed that Abure called him to his hotel in Osogbo five days ago, and asked him to assume the position of his (Abure) Senior Adviser (SA) on Lagos Affairs.

Salako said he told Abure that the new position was not constitutional but Abure replied that he is the constitution and decides what is what in the party.

He, however, noted that the new position would give him the opportunity to focus on winning his life long ambition of being a member at the National Assembly as he is holding the ticket of House of Representatives in Oshodi-Isolo constituency 1 election under LP.

Salako added that Abure told him to nominate his replacement as chairman, and he (Salako) picked Ekong because of her doggedness and selflessness in the affairs of the party in Lagos.

He said: “When people called me a mole in LP, I laughed. How can I be a mole and get the party’s ticket to contest for the House of Representative? I cant be a mole in a party I am going to be contesting to realise my age long ambition, which I was denied in All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I am grateful that LP made me what APC couldn’t make me for the many years I was there. I want to go and contest. I cannot continue to run the affairs of the party, while I am in the race.

“I want to go to my constituency and ensure that I win. When Peter Obi wins, he needs people from his party in the National Assembly and Senate for him not to be frustrated. He must control the majority. I am sure to deliver my constituency for LP.

“I am still part of the custodian of the structure in Lagos. The national chairman said I shouldn’t resign and be part of the system.”

On her part, Ekong said she would ensure everyone in the party is carried along to ensure the party wins next month’s poll, from the presidency to the State house of assembly in Lagos.

“With humility and a sense of duty I take up this responsibility. There is no doubt Salako made a huge impact during his time as chairman. I assure everyone that this tenure will be inclusive and nobody will be sidelined.

“This is the time to support each other so that we can achieve the same goal that brought us together, which is to rescue Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, Lagos State Police Command has vowed to deal decisively with anyone involved in thuggery before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.

The Command’s spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, gave the warning, yesterday, in Lagos, while reacting to allegation that some politicians were grooming thugs ahead of the elections.

In another development, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) Directorate of Grassroots Engagement and Orientation, Ifako-Ijaiye Local Council, yesterday, kicked off “Operation No Void Votes” in Lagos State.

This, it said, was aimed at educating the electorate on the need to thumbprint correctly on the ballot papers.

Co-ordinator, Directorate for Ifako-Ijaiye, Dr. Atinuke Owolabi, said the directorate would visit all nooks and crannies of the area for the exercise.

Owolabi said the electorate needed to be sensitised to avoid any situation that would reduce the votes of the APC residential candidate, Bola Tinubu and other APC candidates in the state.