The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 31st October Lagos East Senatorial by-election, Mr Tokunbo Abiru on Saturday played host to the Community Media Practitioners within the Lagos East Senatorial district to unveiled his candidature to journalists as part of his ongoing consultation.
The former Group Managing Director of Polaris Bank turned Politian explained to newsmen at the media parley in his Ikorodu resident that he has accomplished his career hence the need for a new challenge to help contribute back to the society.
Abiru stated that “even modern democracies are continuously fine-tuned. It’s a continuous process, so number one, I think we should also give kudos to those who have let themselves out in the last twenty years to continue this journey, we have to give it to them”.
“For somebody like me, with all sense of humility, I am an accomplished private sector person. Competences that I have acquired are things that I will bring into this assignment”.
I have had the opportunity of becoming the commissioner for Finance, like somebody said, perhaps is the most lucrative job in most of the political appointments. But I have the audacity not to serve a full term I resigned, I wasn’t under any pressure, it was a four-year term, after two years I chose to leave on my own accord”.
“In order to go and complete my private sector experience, which is quite uncommon. Haven gotten to the peak of my private sector career, haven delivered on the mandate and haven done over thirty years in that business, it’s about time to leave the space for others to bear”.
The public sector development is a lifelong arrangement. So I believe I can bring those competences to complement and improve upon governance and leadership in this country. That is what I am bringing to the table” the eminent banker averred.
He was accompanied by leader APC Lagos East, Chief Kaoli Olusanya, APC Publicity Secretary Seye Oladejo, the Director General of the Tokunbo Abiru Campaign Team (TACT) former House of Assembly member Hon Segun Olulade, Igbogbo/Bayeku Council Chairman Hon Sesan Daini and his Bariga counterpart, ALGON President Hon Kolade Alabi.
Reflecting on his emergence as APC candidate, Abiru described himself as a product of consensus, which has fostered cohesion, peace and unity in the ruling party.
He described himself as part and parcel of the Lagos East District, having been weaned at Ikorodu, saying he is popular with the stakeholders, including monarchs, community leaders, women and youths.
Abiru said he had ploughed back to the district through intervention programmes, which he had organised silently during the COVID-19 lockdown with over 8,000 families benefited.
He acknowledged that he had aspired to be senator at a time of grave economic situation when economic and financial experts, who are members of the National Assembly, will assist the executive in the course of policy formulation.
He said: “I have ideas about poverty eradication and empowerment programme, which I will do through a foundation”.
He noted that he is still consulting with all the stakeholders in the senatorial district for their supports and contributions.
