Lagos East: Abiru denies being handpicked by godfathers, reveals core strengths against opponents
Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming Lagos East Senatorial bye-election in the state, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru has denied being handpicked by some godfathers to contest the senatorial seat.
Abiru noted that neither the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu nor any other leader within or outside the state influenced him to contest for the vacant seat occasioned by the death of Senator Adebayo Osinowo.
The senatorial hopeful said his professional pedigree pave way for his candidature and it will see him through the race scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold on October 31.
Abiru disclosed this on a monitored programme anchored by Dr. Reuben Abati on Arise TV on Tuesday.
According to him, “I am coming into this not just like any one but in a manner that present quality representation. I am eminently qualified by my training, even by my career wide experience that I have had. I have functioned as economist, qualified accountant and equally function as a banker, commissioner for finance in Lagos, as a top executive of a bank (the foremost bank) oldest bank in Nigeria for that matter.”
Abiru spoke further: “I also had a privilege of saving a sinking bank and transformed it. I have been trusted and I have been entrusted with human and material resources.
I have delivered on that and I think these competencies will make me stand out any day with any contestant in Lagos.
I believed I’m eminently qualified and it can stand me out victoriously in October 31st.”
The seasoned banker highlighted some of his legislative agenda if elected as senator:
“I will support initiatives that will continue to champion the sustainable development goals that will continue to improve poverty, health condition of people, education and all that.
I will join forces with my other colleagues to make sure that we continue to push that and equally I will also be supporting initiatives that will continue to support physical federalism because we need to continue to preserve the rights and privileges of the states in them and their resources in a manner that will also continue to ensure that they have the capacity to provide the need for their immediate constituent.”
Abiru also promised to work in areas of financial literacy, financial inclusion, financial deepening those are the areas where my focus will be and I support legislation along those areas.
“I will also support the acceleration of completion of Ikorodu road to Epe, Epe road to Lekki and Lagos-Ibadan expressway.”
The former managing director of Polaris Bank said the challenged that confronted the defunct Skye Bank could have claimed 8,000 jobs and one trillion Naira customers’ funds, if he had not been there on a rescue mission.
“We were able to save no fewer than 8,000 jobs, and by extension, protect the livelihoods of about 40,000 families.
“We kept our four million customers and saved the deposits of about one trillion Naira that could have been lost.
“We did our best, if elected; I will make the same impact and even do more for the people of Lagos East Senatorial District.”
The APC standard-bearer said he was made the chief executive officer with a mandate to turn the bank around.
He said with focus, dedication and support of his team, he stabilised Polaris Bank before he retired in August.
Abiru promised that if elected, he would replicate his interventionist strides and bring to bear his over 32 years’ experience in the banking sector in the Senate.
“I want to thank you all, party members, for your support and for choosing me as candidate of the party. I thank you, and I assure you that I will deliver, if elected.
“I will bring the competence acquired in the banking sector for about 32 years to serve the people in the Senate,” the APC candidate said.
