APC Leaders Mount Pressure On Tinubu To Support Ambode’s Re-Election
Fortune seem to have smiled on Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s second term agenda as the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) steps up pressure on National Leader Bola Tinubu to back the incumbent’s re-election.
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, may be facing good fortune as the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) steps up pressure on National Leader Bola Tinubu to back the incumbent’s re-election pic.twitter.com/0VYVXQQUH8
— seriousmata.com (@seriousmatta) September 20, 2018
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, may be facing good fortune as the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) steps up pressure on National Leader Bola Tinubu to back the incumbent’s re-election pic.twitter.com/0VYVXQQUH8
— seriousmata.com (@seriousmatta) September 20, 2018
The duo have been at loggerheads, with Tinubu allegedly throwing his weight behind a former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, ahead of the September 29 primary to select the party’s flag-bearer.
Sanwo-Olu reportedly has the nod of the powerful Mandate Group, which is loyal to Tinubu. But indications that the crisis might be resolved in favour of Ambode became apparent following a meeting attended by President Muhammadu Buhari and some APC governors on Tuesday.
This was at the mega rally for Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, APC’s aspirant in Saturday’s Osun State gubernatorial election.
The party’s leadership was said to have pleaded with Tinubu to let go of his grievances and allow Ambode return for a second term. It was learnt that former governors of Osun and Ogun States, Chief Bisi Akande and Aremo Segun Osoba, started the peace overture, as they led Ambode to entreat the national leader.
Sources said Tinubu, out of respect for Akande and Osoba, promised to let pass his grouse. But with a condition: his political loyalists in Lagos, who have made up their minds that Ambode must go, must be consulted.
Tinubu Burst Into tears at meeting with Buhari & APC Governors https://t.co/KIk2abUbSR pic.twitter.com/z4Gof7x3rC
— Olorunfemi Oladele Kayode (@Kaymoneylive) September 20, 2018
The two advocates then led the incumbent to Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who is perhaps the closest loyalist of Tinubu. On the advice of the former governors, Ambode was said to have prostrated pleadingly, while the Osun governor expressed his grudges and those of Lagos party members. He also explained why the members insisted they wanted Ambode out.
Aregbesola Reveal Several Sins Of Ambode
One of the many sins Aregbesola noted was Ambode’s alleged moves to destroy his (Aregbesola’s) political structure in Lagos West, especially in Alimosho. He said Ambode kept him waiting for several hours when he visited the Lagos government house. He further accused Ambode of vindictiveness towards party members that aided his emergence as governor in 2015. Aregbesola however reportedly promised Akande and Osoba that he would look into the matter.
At the meeting with Buhari and the APC governors, sources said Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu led the plea with Tinubu.
“It is not in the culture of Hausa people to prostrate. What we normally do is express respect to our elders or leaders by saying Ranka Dade. But today, I am going to break that protocol,” he reportedly said, and prostrated.
