No one should contest against Ambode, says Oba Akiolu

Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has warned aspirants in the 2019 general election not to bother wasting their time, money or resources on the gubernatorial election of the state.

The monarch said this on Thursday at the grand finale of 21st convocation of the Lagos State University (LASU) while eulogizing the achievements of Prof Peter Okebukola who was conferred the Distinguished Professor award by the university.

Oba Akiolu who described the father of the awardee as his junior officer in the Police Force, a Cadet Officer, said no contestant would win gubernatorial election in Lagos state under any political party because of governor Akinwumi Ambode whom he described as divinely appointed governor for Lagos state.

“Governor Ambode still has six years to spend as Lagos state governor so nobody should waste his or her time contesting as governor in 2019. If any of my children or close allies are looking for the post of a commissioner, I would drive him away but if he is looking for contract, I would press it upon the governor until he awards the contract, I would not give him rest,” he said.

In his address, Governor Ambode lauded the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, for translating the image of LASU as he challenged the governing council to strive to make the university one of the best five in Nigeria as well as the preferred university of choice by 2023.

“I am pleased with the peaceful atmosphere that Lagos State University now parades, we will continue to invest massively in infrastructure. I also want to implore students to take the Ready Set Work project seriously. I also urge the graduands to go out and conquer the world, make LASU proud, make Lagos state government and Nigeria proud,” he said.

Three eminent Nigerians: Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija and Sir Kessignton Adebutu were conferred with the honorary awards.

While Alakija and Adebutu were present to receive their awards, Alhaji Dangote was absent thus his award postponed till next convocation.

Responding on behalf of the awardees, Alakija said graduating over 26,000 students is not a mean feat by any standard in the world.

She said there is direct relationship between education and national development as no country can achieve economic development without investing massively on its human capital.

“Education raises people’s productivity and creativity as well as promoting entrepreneurship and technological advancement. It leads to an improvement in the quality of life, therefore it is imperative for our nation to take its place in the comity of nations to invest constructively in quality education at all levels,” he said.

Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Fagbohun, spoke on the challenges of the University to include equipping the laboratories and additional lecture halls, renovation of staff quarters, replacement of generators which are no longer delivering optimal performance and vehicles for the use of Faculties.

“In this respect, we will plead for the support of potential benefactors and the good people of Lagos state. LASU needs your help,” he said.

The grand finale ceremony witnessed the convocation of 8,050 postgraduate and 57 Ph.D holders.