Senator Ganiyu Solomon, representing Lagos-West Senatorial district at the National Assembly, has declared himself the most qualified of all those jostling to become the next governor of Lagos State.
Solomon, who is the Minority Whip of the upper chamber of the National Assembly, said this on Tuesday during his formal declaration to contest for the governorship seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
He said having served as a local government chairman, a member of the House of Assembly, a member of the House of Representatives and a senator all between 1999 and 2014, he was the most qualified to run the affairs of the state.
The 54-year-old politician, who also inaugurated his Ikorodu campaign office, said he had inborn leadership qualities having learnt from his father, Alhaji Rafiu Solomon, who held key positions in Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group and Unity Party of Nigeria.
Solomon said, “Beyond the legacy of being the son of a politician, I am self-made and my desire to become the Governor of Lagos is borne out of the belief and determination to make a positive change in the lives of our people.
“At the risk of sounding immodest, I wish to say that I stand as the most qualified among my colleagues also aspiring to the position of governor of Lagos, having contested and won elections into the local government, state Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate. I hold an unblemished record of service at every level and position that it has pleased God to place me.”
The party leadership had zoned the governorship to the Lagos-East senatorial district which consists Agboyi-Ketu, Ikorodu, Epe, Somolu, Kosofe and other communities.
However, Solomon, who has been representing Lagos-West since 2007, said he had strong ties with Ikorodu as his father was born in the community and also held a councillorship position in Ebute Ikorodu at the Divisional Local Council in the 1940s.
He promised to reduce poverty, build roads, construct new hospitals and ensure improved security should he become governor in 2015.
“I intend to run a transparent and corruption-free government that will give all stakeholders: civil servants, public servants and residents of Lagos their dues and make everyone happy,” he declared.
