OBA of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, on Thursday pointedly told those nursing the ambition to contest the 2019 governorship election against the incumbent, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, to shelve the idea.
The monarch gave this stand while speaking at the 21st Convocation Ceremony of Lagos State University (LASU)which held at the university’s auditorium complex, saying Governor Ambode, the incumbent, was performing well in the state and should be given another term of four years in office.
“And that was why about nine months to the 2015 governorship election; I told residents of Lagos that Ambode will be the next governor of the state whether they vote or not but that all doubted me.
“Few days ago, one of the aspirants greeted me and alleged that I halted his ambition. No one should come out in 2019 and declare his ambition. The only way to avoid not wasting their money is to support Ambode and his deputy to rule Lagos for the next six years,” the monarch said.
Also speaking, Lagos State governor, Mr Ambode, revealed plans by his administration to build a 6000-bed hostel within the University campus, Ojo in partnership with the private sector, saying this would be done to improve on the learning experience in the institution.
He said the government would continue to invest in infrastructure and tertiary institutions in the state, including LASU to make them emerge as great citadels of learning and pride of all.
“We will continue to invest in physical and social infrastructure in this University. We have many projects nearing completion and these legacy projects when completed will no doubt change the entire overview of the landscape of the university. One of these projects is a PPP arrangement to deliver a 6,000-bed hostel for LASU,” he said.
The governor, while commending the management and governing council of the institution for the professionalism with which the affairs of LASU had been piloted, charged them to build on the ranking of the institution as the Best State University in Nigeria to become one of the best five universities in the country by 2020.
Ambode particularly charged the management to work assiduously to make LASU emerge as the preferred university of choice by 2025.
“You will recall that at the 20th Convocation of this institution last year, I made a commitment that our government will invest massively here and upgrade its status to that obtainable anywhere around the world provided all stakeholders can ensure that peace reigns on campus.
“One of the results of that is the accreditation of this institution’s School of Dentistry; the only state university to have an accredited School of Dentistry,” he said.
Earlier, LASU Chancellor and retired justice of Supreme Court, Justice Adesola Oguntade, and Chairman, Governing Council of the Institution, Professor Adebayo Ninalowo, in their respective speeches, commended Governor Ambode for matching his words with action in terms of huge investment in infrastructure and academic excellence in the Institution.
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