The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the Lagos State governorship candidate of the party, Jimi Agbaje, his deput
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the Lagos State governorship candidate of the party, Jimi Agbaje, his deputy governorship candidate, Haleemat Busari, and legislative candidates, visited four major Lagos markets in the city on Wednesday, assuring traders of a robust economy should their party come into power.
Accompanied by the PDP entourage received tumultuous receptions when they held town hall meetings with businesses at the Computer Village in Ikeja, Games Village in Surulere, Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market in Ladipo and FESTAC Town. Obi placed the blame for country’s recession on the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC), whom he accused of lacking capacity to manage businesses.
No be by Tradermoni ooo. Na by street credibility home and abroad! #BetterNigeria #BetterWithAtiku #PeterObiLagos pic.twitter.com/FNKCgAb45U
— #BetterNigeria (@BetterWithAtiku) January 23, 2019
“How can a man who does not have a shop aspire to be the chairman of the traders in the market?” Obi asked rhetorically at Computer Village. “I have always been a trader. You know that Jimi Agbaje too is a trader. So we understand your needs.”
According to him, Nigeria’s problem began when her administration was placed in the hands of people who neither participated in nor understood business and trading.
“You know that the Vice President runs the economy. With me, you have someone who understands business and understands your need.”
Describing ICT as the future, Mr Obi said that Nigeria’s exchange rate would regain health when the country became an exporter of computer technology. Mr Agbaje blamed the Lagos government for Google corporation diverting to Ghana and Uganda a plan to provide free Wi-Fi in all schools, pointing out that, if the scheme had succeeded, it would have created more business for Nigerians in the sector.
“If all the schools get free Wi-Fi, Computer Village go benefit abi e no go benefit?” he asked, to which his audience roared, “We go benefit!”
Criticising Lagos State’s current tax system that had given room for multiple taxation, Mr Agbaje assured the business representatives that his government would put in place a tax regime that would eliminate double taxation. Lamenting that there had been no improvement in Ladipo since his last campaign visit in 2015, Mr Agbaje promised that he would not indulge in the current APC’s government rhetoric of threatening to shut down the market, but rather he would improve access roads to and facilities in the market.
