Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Rotimi Odunaike, has pledged to prioritise residents’ welfare and ensure that the state’s internally generated revenue translates into tangible improvements in their quality of life.
He identified transportation, affordable housing, healthcare, water supply, electricity, environmental protection, climate resilience and economic development as critical sectors requiring urgent attention.
“Our standard of living, our cost of living is not commensurate with the IGR that’s generated in this state,” he said.
Odunaike maintained that the state’s economic growth must produce visible benefits for residents, particularly through improved public services and reduced commuting time. He expressed concern that many Lagosians spend several hours travelling between their homes and workplaces, arguing that such conditions undermine their quality of life despite the state’s economic performance.
“If our IGR keeps going up and the impact on your lives is not going up, you can’t leave home at 7.00am and get to work at 8 or 8.30. You have to leave home at 7 and get to work at 10 or 11. “That’s not life. That’s not thriving. That is even beyond survival, and that’s what we want to change in Lagos,” he said.
Unveiling his proposed development framework, tagged the Building EKO agenda, Odunaike outlined four guiding commitments: building EKO, delivering excellence, expanding opportunities and ensuring that no resident is excluded from the state’s development process.
Under the first pillar, ‘We Will Build EKO’, the candidate pledged to protect Lagos’ cultural heritage while developing the state into a leading destination for innovation, creativity, tourism, entrepreneurship and investment. He explained that his vision centred on preserving the state’s identity, strengthening its reputation and pursuing environmental protection alongside the regeneration of communities.
The second pillar, ‘We Will Deliver Excellence’, focuses on improving essential infrastructure and public services, including roads, schools, affordable housing, healthcare facilities, markets, neighbourhood security, water supply, electricity and mass transportation. Odunaike said his administration would introduce measurable performance standards to ensure that government projects meet established objectives and public resources are used effectively.
“Every commitment will have a target. Every project will be tracked. Every naira will be expected to create value, because public money belongs to the public, and public trust must be earned through performance,” he said.
The third component, ‘We Will Grow Opportunity’, is designed to stimulate economic participation by supporting entrepreneurs, artisans, young people, women, workers and businesses. Odunaike said the proposed administration would focus on providing better infrastructure, dependable utilities, digital connectivity and skills development to strengthen productivity and expand access to economic opportunities.
He also identified technology, manufacturing, tourism and the creative industry as sectors with significant potential to generate employment, encourage enterprise and sustain economic expansion. According to him, a Labour Party government would work to improve the business climate, strengthen support for small-scale enterprises and modernise markets, which he described as an essential part of Lagos’ economic structure.
The fourth pillar, ‘We Will Leave No One Behind’, is aimed at making development more inclusive by directing greater attention to communities and population groups that require improved access to government investment and basic services. Odunaike specifically identified Makoko, Mile 12, Badagry, Epe and Ikorodu as areas requiring attention, while highlighting the needs of children, traders, fishermen, farmers, families, senior citizens, women and persons living with disabilities.
“A city’s success is not measured by the wealth of its richest neighbourhood; it is measured by the opportunity available to every citizen.
“Growth that excludes people is not progress. Development that leaves communities behind is not development,” he stated.
Odunaike said the four pillars would form the basis of his administration’s policy decisions, with government initiatives evaluated according to their ability to strengthen the state, improve service delivery, create economic opportunities and promote inclusive development.
“These four commitments are more than policy, they are a covenant,” he said.
He acknowledged that transforming Lagos would require collective responsibility, stressing that residents must actively participate in efforts to address the state’s challenges rather than leave the task entirely to government.
“Impossible is nothing, and I do believe that impossible is nothing, but I cannot do it alone. We cannot do it alone. It has to involve every single Lagosian,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Esther Usman, called on Lagos residents to support the party’s candidates in the 2027 governorship election, pointing to Abia State as an example of the party’s approach to administration and public service.
Usman described the gathering as a formal presentation of the party’s governorship candidate and an opportunity to mobilise public support ahead of the next election.
“I would say it’s an unveiling for us to show our candidate for the next gubernatorial election, which will come in 2027, and to solicit support from the people of Lagos State,” she said.
She said the Labour Party’s political philosophy was anchored on social justice, equal opportunities and policies that place citizens’ welfare at the centre of governance. Urging Lagos residents to assess the party’s performance in Abia State, Usman maintained that its governing principles were reflected in the administration’s approach to public policy.
“My message to them is, please look at Abia State. That is a practical example of what the Labour Party stands for. Our party has a clear-cut ideology: social justice, equal opportunities,” she said.
According to her, a Labour Party government in Lagos would ensure that public policies prioritise the interests of residents without discrimination based on ethnicity, religion or personal beliefs.
“The human being comes first. The citizens of Abia come first as far as every policy that has been put in place by Governor Otti.
“Likewise here, if the Labour Party is given the opportunity, the citizens of Lagos, no matter what tribe, no matter their religion, creed or faith, would come first,” she said.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Chairman of the Labour Party, Comrade Rasheed Adebayo Bamishe, said the party was strengthening its preparations for the 2027 governorship election, citing what he described as growing public demand for a change in the state’s leadership.
Bamishe argued that the living conditions of residents had failed to improve as anticipated since the 2023 general election, insisting that the situation had deteriorated and reinforced the need for an alternative approach to governance.
“The reason is as simple as the fact that between 2023 till date, nothing has changed, which is rather worse than it was before the 2023 general election. And of course, the masses are still awaiting that genuine change,” he said.
The party chairman expressed confidence in Odunaike and his running mate, Prince Lateef Adele, describing both candidates as individuals familiar with Lagos and the challenges confronting its residents. He said their understanding of the state’s needs would position them to deliver on their campaign promises if elected.
“Our amiable candidates in person of Rotimi, and of course, Prince Lateef Adele, are Lagosians. And they know what Lagos requires. So they will not disappoint. They will deliver right from day one,” he said.
Addressing concerns about disagreements within the party, Bamishe maintained that the Labour Party remained united and was focused on pursuing a new political direction ahead of the election. He urged party members and supporters to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and take the protection of votes seriously.
“The message to our supporters and members is that we must double our efforts against what happened in 2023. And of course, the situation now, the living condition requires determination, positive determination to vote, defend and protect the vote so that the result will count,” he said.
