Diaspora Desk

SWAGA Movement Storms Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Published

3 years ago

Nov 2, 2021.

SWAGA, a socio-political movement whipping up support for the emancipated presidential ambition of former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has continued to garner momentum and currency outside the shores of Nigeria.

SWAGA, an acronym that translates to South West Agenda for Asiwaju launched officially in Lagos State on October 7, 2021.

The group believes that Tinubu, a leader in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who served as governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007 has the requisite leadership acumen to fix Nigeria’s perennial woes.

Ahead of a more elaborate launch of the movement slated for next year, some members of Eko Club International during the occasion of the club’s 12 Biennial Convention in the USA expressed confidence that Asiwaju possesses the right credentials to get the job done.

Princess Adeshola Haastrup, {Directorate Of Foreign Affairs And Diaspora Matters}, during a brief interview with our correspondent, said that “what Nigeria needs right now is a leader with intellectual depth and experience in governance, which is what Asiwaju brings to the table.”

Princess Adeshola Haastrup, Directorate Of Foreign Affairs And Diaspora Matters

Dr Shafi Amuwo, a childhood friend of Asiwaju and an elder of Lagosians in Chicago fora called on Nigerians to collectively explore the possibility of modelling the country’s leadership desires after a proven success, which is Asiwaju’s antecedents as a leader in various capacities.

Dr. Shafi Amuwo

He further said the decision to rally support goes deeper than nepotistic or tribal sentiments, but rather a well-measured opinion predicated on Asiwaju’s political antecedents and achievements.

Otunba TJ Abass, a president emeritus of the club described Asiwaju as “one of the greatest leaders of our generation” who has inspired a broken chain of qualitative governance in Lagos State and would doubtlessly hoist Nigeria to greater heights with his unparalleled leadership acuity.

Otunba T.J Abass

He described the launching of the movement as a step in the right direction vis-a-vis ensuring the prosperity of the nation.

Executive Secretary and CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun encapsulated the group’s feeling as a decision not borne out of “politics as usual,” but reflective of the burning desire of the frustrated majority of Nigerians who only want sensible solutions to the problems of our time.

Dr Razaq Balogun

Dr Kayode Opeifa, a former commissioner in the state also expressed optimism that the National Leader of the Ruling Party has the requisite leadership tact to veer the country’s fortunes around.

Even though Asiwaju is yet to officially throw his hat in the ring ahead of the highly anticipated 2023 Presidential race, SWAGA, like many others is taking an off-chance to set up machinery that would drive the Presidential campaign when it finally hits the airwaves.

The public launch of SWAGA in Lagos was attended by the state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and a myriad of Tinubu loyalists.

SWAGA’23 has already been launched in Oyo, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti.

“It is indeed a payback time for our national leader, who had through his years of service contributed to the lives of many others and today you can see his footprints across the country,” SWAGA said in a statement.

Dr Shafi Amuwo, Princess Shola Hasstrup, Kayode Opeifa and Dr Rasaq Balogun

“We shall continue to appeal to him to contest for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because governance is not what to be experim.

“Therefore, we need viable, experienced and a man who understands the diverse nature of Nigerian economy.”

The group believes Asiwaju’s antecedents uniquely position him for the Presidency, a position which could benefit from his depth of experience and political tact at a time when the public’s faith in its political institutions has been strained to breaking point.

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