By Lanre Lawal
Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu may have retreated from his support of Mr Akin Ambode’s Lagos State governorship ambition.
Till yesterday, Sunday, November 9, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, is believed in the public place to be the main backer of Ambode, former Lagos State Accountant General who is generally dismissed as an upstart in the State’s political firmament even as it is said by analysts that without the backing of the National Leader, Ambode could not have dared declare his intention to contest for the office of the Lagos Governor.
At a meeting with all governorship aspirants on the platform of the APC in Lagos held at his Bourdilon, Ikoyi residence, yesterday, Tinubu denied anointing any aspirant for the Party’s governorship ticket. Asiwaju reportedly alluded to this while responding to an allegation raised by Mr Tunde Disu, one of the aspirants at the meeting.
Disu had raised issues with Tinubu who, in his opening remarks to the gathered aspirants, had pleaded for unity among the aspirants, explaining that the Party is faced with the growing threat of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in the State. He noted that on account of this threat, aspirants should endeavour to work together for the advancement of the Party.
A source at the meeting informed that as soon as Tinubu concluded his opening remarks, Disu asked to be recognized and pointedly told Tinubu that all the aspirants made themselves available at the meeting as a mark of respect for the National Leader.
“Disu argued that but for the respect they have for the National Leader they would all have stayed away from the meeting in consideration of the fact that the National Leader had already anointed one of the aspirants as his preferred choice for the governorship ticket,” the source said.
But Tinubu was quick to clear himself of the allegation.
“Asiwaju declared that he has not anointed anybody and that he considered all aspirants as equal before him. He also assured the aspirants of a level playing field at the gubernatorial primary election of the Party,” our source added.
In response to Asiwaju’s denial, some other aspirants took the floor and demanded that Asiwaju should make a public statement to deny his anointing any aspirants but Mr Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly who had also declared an interest in the governorship ticket saved Asiwaju the embarrassment of a public statement to deny his backing any of the aspirants.
“Ikuforiji noted in his speech that the rumour about Asiwaju supporting one of the aspirants actually emanated from one of the aspirants gathered at the meeting. He observed that the particular aspirants have been confusing Party members with his campaign which hinged on the fact that he (the aspirant) is being supported by Asiwaju. On that note, it was agreed that none of the aspirant should use the name of the former Lagos State Governor to campaign again,” the source explained.
Asiwaju on the back of this assured that all aspirants will go for primary elections and that whoever the delegates preferred will be the choice of the Party.
“However, on this note, Senator Ganiyu Solomon sought to know how the delegates to the Electoral College that will form the basis for the primary election will emerge. At first, Asiwaju insisted that the Election Guideline had been published to which all aspirants denied. While this was going on Mr Lai Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of the Party arrived the venue of the meeting. Immediately, Asiwaju asked him to clarify the state of things concerning the publication of the election guideline.
“Alhaji Mohammed explained that a clean copy of the guideline had just been forwarded to him and that it would be published by middle of the week. Interestingly, it was Alhaji that brought the import of the meeting to bear on Asiwaju when sullenly announced that the Party must avoid any idea of imposition because voters have started grumbling over the style of the Party, he even accused some of the aspirants of talking to the PDP with intent at abandoning the Party in the event of the Party imposing a candidate on them. Tinubu had quickly defended the aspirants as not being capable of such but he (Lai Mohammed) insisted that things are not as they usually are and that the only way out is to ensure a free and fair primary election.
“As the meeting rounded up, it was agreed that all aspirants will work together with focus on winning the State for the Party,” our source revealed.
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