Dr. Olajide Adediran, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial candidate in Lagos, popularly known as Jandor, has exposed moves by cartels and godfathers in the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC, alleged to be working against his victory in the state’s governorship election on March 18.
Jandor, on the other hand, expressed confidence that he would triumph in the end, despite all odds, saying, “the battle is of God, not of Jandor or any godfather.”
This came as the governorship publicly presented his wife, Mariam Adediran to the party faithful, in Ikeja, Lagos. This came following a viral video of a lady on social media, claiming to be Jandor’s Mistress, and jilted by Jandor after a series of love escapades together.
Mrs. Adediran, arriving from the United States of America, appeared at the Liberty House, of Jandor’s campaign at a stakeholders meeting at about 5.50 pm .
Addressing the crowd, mainly women leaders and members of PDP across 20 Local Government Areas of the state in the late evening on Tuesday, said he was aware of some godfathers in PDP, who had decided to ensure his defeat at the Saturday polls by endorsing and working for Labour Party candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour, as well as APC, apparently referring to PDP chieftain, Bode George and President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
According to him, ”We are all aware of the whirlwind in the polity towards this governorship polls in Lagos as a result of activities of some godfathers in PDP and APC who are bent on subverting the wishes of the majority.
“The leaders have been beating the drums of war for the last few weeks with provocative statements, harassment, and propaganda. But am sure all these will soon subside. God has exposed them as they are beating the drums of war.
“Because I resisted the move by a godfather in PDP to pick Rhodes-Vivour as my deputy, they lured him (Rhodes Vivour) to Labour Party to confront us and stop our dream but this will definitely fail. We are resolute in attaining victory. We have worked hard for it in the last 10 years. The new wave of LP will not stop us.
“Everything needed to be done to ensure victory we have done, nothing will stop our victory on Saturday. We have our eyes on the ball. The battle I not of Jandor but it’s of the Lord, like the Biblical Gideon. And By God’s grace, we will this election to free Lagosians from the shackles of godfatherism which have held sway for many years in the state”.
Referring to the ruling party, APC, the incumbent governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Tinubu, said “they are in the panic mood as the state governor, Sanwo-Olu has suddenly turned into a jelly-fish, running from pillar to post to save his job. There will be no need for all these if he has performed. ”
Jandor continued: “We know they (APC) have been collecting Permanent Voter Cards, PVC, from the electorate to manipulate the polls’ result. But we are assuring them they will meet their waterloo this time.
“They (APC) do not have the monopoly of madness. Machinery has been put in place to check for any fraudulent moves. We will protect our votes from polling to collation centres.
“This election is to send the ruling APC packing. Remain steadfast, and calm down because the battle is of the Lord. We will win this election.
“To the electorate and PDP faithful, I urge you not to succumb to their threats, and intimidation. We will protect our votes. Our votes will count this time, come out on Saturday, en-masse to exercise your rights.”
Jandor’s wife speaks
Mrs. Adediran was beaming in smiles and excitement amid a wide ovation from the cheering mammoth crowd upon her arrival.
She berated the sponsors of the campaign of calumny on social media about her family and her husband.
According to her, she has been part of her husband’s political movement and has always supported him even from her abode in the USA.
She said, “I have been part of this movement and we, my husband and myself agreed that he would be in Nigeria to drive the movement while I will be in the U.S.A with the children.
“It is disheartening what people do in the name of politics on social media. I am not a social media person but I read everything they put up there.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank you, our mothers, leaders of the paharrasmentrty who have been supportive of my husband. I love you and even though the election is a few days from today we still have so much to do together and I know that God will grant our efforts with success.”
Responding to questions from journalist as to the likelihood of relocating to Nigeria if her husband wins the election, she said, “I am always in Nigeria not just physically because I have my businesses here as well. I sell all over Nigeria. Even if I am not here for a moment my projects will not suffer because I have capable hands.”
“I am in Nigeria and will continue to be here. When my husband emerges as the Governor of Lagos State, we will discuss how we would work but I will tell you that you will not feel the absence of the first lady.
“I will advise women to believe in themselves. I have my first degree and am pursuing my second degree, have my children and other businesses that I am pursuing. I want to say that as a woman if you are determined, nobody can drag you down.
“I will make sure that all the woman in this movement, not only here but also in Lagos stand on their feet and beige on themselves.
“I am always in Nigeria not just physically because I have my businesses here as well. I sell all over Nigeria. Even if I am not here for a moment my projects will not suffer because I have capable hands. I have to support my husband from behind, we are not social persons.”