Ebira community throws weight behind Ambode

Ahead of the 2019 elections, the leader of Ebira community in Lagos State, Asiwaju Odayani, Chief Momoh Sanni Yakubu, has called on members of his tribe to support the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the state.

Chief Yakubu, who made the call at the commemoration of his recognition and inauguration as the Asiwaju Odayani of Ebira community in Lagos, commended Governor Ambode following what he described as “rapid developments witnessed in the state” in the last three and a half years.

The Asiwaju Odayani averred that the APC government in the state has continuity in progress since inception of the present democratic dispensation.

The Ebira leader further charged his kinsmen in the state get their Permanent Voters Card to return Governor Ambode to power in 2019.

Describing the Ebira people as peace makers, Yakubu tasked members of his community on peaceful coexistence with other tribes in the state.

He called on the youths ahead of the elections not to be used as tools for political violence.

“Ebira people are peace loving people,” he said, “I am using this medium to call on my people to support Governor Ambode for re-election. The governor in this first term has surpassed everyone’s imagination with the way he performed; the development we all witnessed in Lagos in the last three years is a great one.

“All Ebira people in the state must get their Permanent Voters Card and vote for continuity; they should vote Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

“The governor, without any form of sentiment, is doing a great work. Many would agree with me that Lagos is the luckiest state in the country because since 1999 till date there has been successive continuity. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu laid the foundation, followed by Babatunde Fashola and now to Governor Ambode. The case is not like this in other states.

“So we are proud of what the Lagos State government is doing,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the Asiwaju Odayani however expressed concern on the need by the state government to recognise the Ebira community, especially in the areas of employment, appointments, and other benefits traditional leaders enjoy, amongst others.

The leader, who noted that the Ebira community has been in the state for over 400 years, said the people are yet to directly benefit from the government in these areas.

“We are appealing to the governor and government of Lagos State to remember our people for employments, appointments, and other benefits other tribes and their leaders are getting in the state. We have been in this state for more than four centuries; they should please consider us for better opportunities,” Yakubu concluded.

Also speaking, Asiwaju of Ikeja I, Ebira community, Lagos, Dr. Ojo Jimoh, appealed to the state government to support the Ebira community in the state.

“The government should try and give our people the needed support by extending to us employment opportunities for our youths,” Jimoh said.