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| President Bola Tinubu and Samuel Ajose |
BADAGRY, LAGOS – In a bold declaration that is set to reshape the political calculus of Lagos State, Samuel Mawuyon Ajose, a prominent governorship hopeful, has announced his readiness to personally finance the 2027 re-election campaign of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu within the Badagry Division.
Ajose made this stunning pledge on Thursday during the official launch of the SMA Foundation, a philanthropic initiative aimed at empowering local communities through targeted programs in education, healthcare, and enterprise development.
Addressing a gathering of supporters and community leaders, Ajose declared that the era of Badagry waiting for financial handouts from the state capital for political activities is over. He promised that all funds required for President Tinubu's re-election efforts within the division would be generated locally.
"I have said it that come 2027, for the re-election of President Tinubu, you won't wait for money from the state again. The money we are spending in this division is coming from here. This is to show our readiness to take our rightful place in Lagos State," Ajose stated emphatically.
Moving beyond mere financing, Ajose issued a clarion call for unprecedented unity among all Badagry indigenes, irrespective of their current political affiliations. He framed the 2027 elections as a critical opportunity for the division to leverage its collective strength and negotiate for its rightful place in the state's power structure.
"We all need one voice on this, not minding the political parties or affiliation, as that will help us to negotiate. Come 2027, we must speak with one voice this time," he urged. This call for a unified front suggests a strategic move to consolidate Badagry's voting power as a bargaining tool for greater political and economic inclusion.
Ajose also confronted the pervasive narrative that Badagry lacks the capacity to determine its own political destiny. He acknowledged that internal divisions have been a significant hurdle, stating, "Some are still saying Badagry does not have capacity, and at the same time, Badagrians are the challenge to themselves, which could be partly true."
He argued that this internal disunity has led to a deliberate reduction of the division's influence. "Our capacity has been reduced politically and economically, and that is why we don't have a say in the affairs of this state," Ajose concluded, positioning himself and his new foundation as catalysts to reverse this long-standing marginalization.
The SMA Foundation launch, focused on creating "lasting impact and generational change," is seen as the first step in this broader mission to build socio-economic capacity and, in turn, political capital for the people of Badagry.