Popular R&B singer turn politician, Olubankole Wellington, better known as Banky W has flagged off the campaign as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives candidate for Eti-Osa federal constituency of Lagos State.
During the flag-off on Monday, the seasoned actor promised the people of Eti-Osa quality representation in the House of Assembly.
Speaking at the Mega Fitness Walk at Lekki Phase, Banky W said he has a people-oriented agenda that he would pursue in the constituency if elected. He expressed his determination to engage the constituents on the agendas he has for them in the next four years.
Speaking at the Mega Fitness Walk at Lekki Phase, Banky W said he has a people-oriented agenda that he would pursue in the constituency if elected. He expressed his determination to engage the constituents on the agendas he has for them in the next four years.
He said, “I’m very optimistic about winning the election and I think that for once the Electoral Act has been a game changer in our elections because the typical way that elections used to be rigged is not really effective anymore and now people have that assurance and confidence that votes actually do count.
“So, once you have your people behind you, then you stand a better chance because this election would be won and lost at each specific polling unit.
“That is why our focus is on engaging the communities and letting them know where we stand and working together with them to get the seat at the end of the day. I think we have a great chance of winning this constituency because the people are excited about my candidacy.
“I ran in 2019 on an independent party platform and for me, 2019 was about planting the seed but 2023 is about winning the seat and we will win the seat with the support of our people.
“We have a robust legislative agenda that we have fine-tuned over the past few years. They focus on areas like education and try to bring technology into all the various wards in Eti-Osa to give young people a chance to have the kind of skill that makes them relevant and able to become entrepreneurs in this century.
“They are things we want to focus on with healthcare. For instance, it will shock people to know that we don’t have a general hospital with all the internally generated revenues from this constituency. So, if somebody falls sick in Sangotedo they have to go all the way down to Lagos Island before they get healthcare.
“So, we will be fighting for things like that in healthcare, education and gender equity. I’m excited about the plans that we have for the people because they are very good.”
The apex leader of the Banky W campaign council, Adeniyi Adams, said his candidate is saleable, popular and intelligent. “The chances are extremely high because things are changing and with the new electoral law, it is going to be extremely difficult to rig the people out. So, they know that their votes will count and they are all out to support him.
“He has empathy for the people and he has been showing love to the people of this constituency not because he wants to come out for the election. He has been doing it for over a decade. So, you understand that people are actually yearning for him because it is no longer about him but about the change people want,” he said.
Tolani Animashaun, the Director General Admin and Finance for BankyW House of Reps campaign organisation, said, “We are here to kick off the campaign for Olubankole Wellington for the House of Representatives and this is a way of sensitizing the people that we are here as PDP.”
On the chances of the candidate, she said, “Do you think that people are happy with the way things are? If you have that answer you will know that our candidate’s chances are 100 per cent. We have a candidate that is passionate, a candidate that knows what he is going there to do. Apart from the fact that he is a celebrity, he is a people person, forget about his celebrity status. The main attraction about him is that he is a man of the people.
On the crisis in the party, she said. “PDP’s house is in order. Forget about what the media write because they want to have some sensation. What is put out is different from what is happening inside.
“The ones that you don’t hear about are the ones that you should be scared of, so you need to go and find out why you don’t hear about them. We don’t have issues in our party.