Akiolu leads peacemakers to placate roaring Lion of Bourdillon

· Otedola considers race if gov is ousted

Gboyega Akinsanmi


The political intrigues shaping the governorship race in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State intensified yesterday as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode indicated that he would not go down without a fight, reaching out to the presidency in Abuja to intervene on his side as he battles the Mandate Group, the political machine of his godfather, Senator Bola Tinubu.

Assured of the support of Tinubu, who is also the party’s national leader, to run for a second term, Ambode had flown to Abuja on Monday morning to obtain the governorship nomination forms.

But by the evening of the same day, the tide had changed with two of his political siblings, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, found to have also obtained the nomination forms by proxy.

While Sanwo-Olu has the backing of the Mandate Group, the political machine that brought Ambode to power, Hamzat rides on the back of the Justice Group, which has the former governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, as its leading light.

The governor, who was said to have been perplexed by the development because he claimed he obtained the nomination forms after due consultation with the party’s national leader on Sunday, had his doubts, about the position of Tinubu, cleared when by yesterday afternoon, the chairmen of the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs) had appended their signatures to the nomination form of Sanwo-Olu.

With Sanwo-Olu as the clear choice even without the voice of Tinubu being heard, Ambode began his survival battle yesterday, reaching out to the presidential villa for help.

THISDAY’s multiple sources said although Ambode was not minded to look Tinubu in the face, he was being prodded by some of his loyalists and friends who believed that having done his best to take care of the political and economic interests of his godfather, he had not been treated fairly, and should consequently fight back.

“Ambode says he is not a politician and did not ask to be a governor. He feels, therefore, that if he is no longer wanted by the powers that be, he should simply ease out in peace,” said a source close to him.

“Bu there are some of us who feel that loyalty should beget loyalty, and that if Tinubu has become disloyal to Ambode, the governor should not go down without a fight, giving that he has goodwill not only among the people of Lagos State, but also with the seat of power in Abuja,” he added.

The embattled governor appeared to be listening to his close confidants who asked him to respond to the challenge to his return bid.

His strategy, said a reliable source close to the unfolding power game, is a mixture of diplomacy and war. First he would seek to persuade Tinubu to change his mind and support him. If that fails, he would fight, believing that he has enormous capacity to do maximum damage to the political fortunes of the APC in the state.

Consequently, THISDAY gathered that Ambode had contacted the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha, to intervene, the earlier involvement of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo having failed.

On the home front, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, is expected to lead a delegation of the Council of Traditional Rulers in the state to Tinubu’s Bourdillon residence today to plead the case of Ambode.

It was gathered last night that Akiolu is expected to point out to Tinubu the dangers in allowing the rift to fester. The traditional ruler is believed to be worried that the widening of the crack between the governor and his godfather could do incalculable damage to the fortunes of the APC in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Ambode is, however, said to have a battle plan should the efforts to persuade Tinubu fail. The battle line, according to competent sources, would be drawn today if Tinubu fails to sign Ambode’s nomination form.

“The governor would be presenting his nomination form to Tinubu for endorsement tomorrow (today). If he refuses to sign, it would be a clear signal that he no longer supports Ambode. At that point, he would have to activate his battle plan,” a source said.

The governor is said to have placed all his commissioners and political appointees on notice that should peace fail, they would be required to rise to the occasion and mobilise their constituencies for delivery at the primary scheduled for later in the month.

He is also said to have opened communications with Hamzat and his Justice Group, Hamzat too is said to be unhappy that Tinubu had dumped him for Sanwo-Olu. He is said to be ready to ally with Ambode in the event of a showdown with the man popularly called Lion of Bourdillon.

Ambode is also hopeful of support from outside as the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is said to be waiting in the wings to reap from the fall out of the impending fight in the APC.


Otedola Considers Race

Meanwhile, billionaire businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola, is said to be considering joining the governorship fray should his kinsman be denied a second term in the APC.

Femi, a PDP stalwart, is also from the Epe Division homestead of Ambode. Both are said to be working on the modalities to ward off the offensive from Tinubu and his Mandate Group.

There were indications yesterday, however, that Otedola had accepted an offer by the PDP to run in 2019.

Although Otedola could not be reached for confirmation due to vacation abroad, but a reliable source close to him said he was seriously considering contesting the 2019 election if given the opportunity.

Also, popular celebrity publisher, Dele Momodu, yesterday said PDP had offered Otedola the governorship ticket and that he had accepted it.

He shared the news on his Twitter handle, @DeleMomodu.
He tweeted: “Breaking news: Lagos 2019 promises to be interesting. PDP offers Femi Otedola governorship ticket. He’s accepted and personally confirmed to The Boss newspaper.”

On his Instagram page, Otedola shared a video of himself enjoying a ride in a miniature vehicle. He captioned the video: “Never too old to catch some fun …”


How Policy Alteration Pitted Tinubu against Ambode

Tinubu decided not to support the re-election bid of Lagos State Governor Ambode due to alteration of the state’s major policies the governor made after he assumed office, THISDAY has learnt.

This came as some APC chieftains including former APC Deputy Chairman, Cardinal James Odumbaku and former Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr. Kaoli Olusanya, allegedly directed Ambode to return his nomination form or face impeachment at a meeting held at Watercress Hotel, Ikeja Monday night.

At the meeting, THISDAY gathered, all Chairmen of 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Area (LCDAs) signed the governorship nomination form of Tinubu’s anointed candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

THISDAY obtained video clip, which showed some of the council chiefs signing Sanwo-Olu’s nomination under the supervision of some state party leaders led by Cardinal Odumbaku and encouraging the council chiefs to support Asiwaju’s anointed candidate.

As shown in the video, Odumbaku said there was no other political group in Lagos State again than the Mandate Movement, noting that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organisation had been fused into the Mandate Movement.

He said Sanwo-Olu “is Asiwaju’s annointed candidate for 2019. We gathered here on the instruction of our leader. We must honour by supporting his choice candidate for the 2019 governorship election in the state. The era of Ambode has gone. This is a new era. In 2019, Sanwo-Olu will be the one to occupy the State House.”

However, multiple sources revealed main reasons the APC national leader refused to endorse his political godson for re-election yesterday, ascribing it to Ambode’s decision to alter, modify and scrap some state’s policies initiated under the Tinubu administration between 1999 and 2007.

One of the sources mentioned the affected policies to include Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), which the Ambode administration scrapped and modified to serve the residents more effectively.

While KAI was replaced with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), the source said LAWMA gave way for Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI), which he said, designed for effective management of the state’s residential wastes.

However, according to him, the CLI later created grievous waste management challenges in the state. Asiwaju see these legacies. When scrapped, Asiwaju believed Ambode just wanted to rubbish legacies. He was indeed displeased.

Apart from KAI and LAWMA, another source cited the case of Lagos Bus Reform Initiative, which the Ambode administration invested over N30 billion Paris Club refunds the state received from the federal government between 2016 and 2017.

Specifically, the source disclosed that Tinubu’s idea of public transportation “is completely different from the Bus Reform Initiative, which Ambode introduced in 2017. Asiwaju believes public transportation should be driven by the private sector
.
“Ambode’s decision to invest such huge amount on the construction of bus terminals and procurement of about 6,000 air-conditioned high occupancy vehicles is at variance with Asiwaju’s position. Asiwaju never bought into this initiative.”

Besides policy alteration, an entirely different source said Asiwaju was displeased with his godson because he set up a political group of his own called Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Organisation (AAMCO) with networks across all LGAs and LCDAs.

According to the source, all political groups in the state have been collapsed into Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organisation (BATCO). Asiwaju felt the creation of AAMCO was a violation of his directive. But the truth is Ambode created the group because he won the APC governorship ticket in December 2014.

Ambode had expressed interest to run for a second term as governor of the state on the platform of the APC.

The governor made the official declaration on Monday, September 10, in Alausa. Ambode recalled how he was called upon by Lagosians to come and serve the state four years ago and thanked them for their support.

He said: “In the last three and a half years, I have fulfilled my promises to you to make Lagos work for all. With your support, we have made Lagos a better place and changed the face of our State. I did not do it alone; we did it together, because you believed.

“Our state has remained steadily prosperous because of your positive outlook. I urge you to always stay positive in your personal and communal lives and continue to aspire to great things.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/12/ambode-fights-back-moves-to-neutralise-mandate-group-rallies-abuja-for-support/?amp

Tinubu is a bastard drug dealing vagabond

only yeroba Muslims love this criminal

The "god fatherism" in Nigeria politics is the reason someone with good intention is forced to join bad gang or be exterminated.

Being greedy is one thing, wickedness is another. These are two evil traits are common among the "baba isales'" dictating the percentage of fund that must be remitted to their purse and they don't bother if the populace are suffering.

Aside the waste management scheme where Ambode failed, he is doing his bit in other sectors. Is it because he is not remitting the required amount which is the reason the party is flagging wrecked looking bull dog to contend against him?

How can one man hold a whole region and its people under his palm and use them to play Ludo like this...
ehn!

Tinubu's greed and quest for power will destroy him and make him completely irrelevant if he continues in this fashion.

Greedy yellow teethed drug Baron.

U

am in support of ambode.i believe that he will win the election no Matter what because he is the best governor in Nigeria so far

Ote-fe-di-ola le Keji bayi o

The same intrigues and scenario that made Sir Michael Otedola governor in 1991 want to combine and make the son governor in 2019. Their name is indeed very prophetic

Otedola inviting the quarrel between Tinubu and Ambode like.....

Otedola go win

solve this

ABCDE is a regular Pentagon and the sides AB and DC are produced to meet at X ,show that triangle BDX has two equal angles


pls I need it now

No comment!

Hmmmm


Interesting

Shukuakukobambi:

Baba, even if you put just dot, as in ".", I go still like the comment!

You dey give me joy lai dat.

Time bomb for Lagos apc

It's funny how one man will hold an entire state to ransome for over 16 years now.
With all the level of learned entities, wealth, exposure, develolment, resources, men and women of timber and caliber found in the state, yet all is been controlled by one man.

Ambode has done excellently well as a Governor in Lagos state earning him the best Governor in the country, and yet a group of selfish entities wants him out just because of their greedy and selfish gains, its very unfortunate and will be a big shame if Lagosians allow this to happen.
This also shows us their real plan for Nigeria. Am just wondering Osibanjo's stance on this and why he has been silent about this whole drama.

Lagosians Liberate yourself from the shackles of Godfatherism.

Never outshine your master

Corrinthians:
Baba, even if you put just dot, as in ".", I go still like the comment!

You dey give me joy lai dat.

My own personal person, I dey feel you. We need to meet someday

go against Tinubu at your own peril,Ambode. Tinubu as locked down lagos,if ambode Decamp, he would lose the election,is best bet is to work on the direct lagos apc primaries.

wristbangle:
The "god fatherism" in Nigeria politics is the reason someone with good intention is forced to join bad gang or be exterminated.

Being greedy is one thing, wickedness is another. These are two evil traits common among the "baba isales'" dictating the percentage of fund that must be remitted to their purse and doesn't even bother if the populace are suffering.

Aside the waste management scheme and which Ambode fails woefully, he is doing his bit in other sectors. Is it because he is not remitting the required amount which is the reason the party is flagging wrecked looking bull dog to contend against him?

On the waste management ish, Ambode truly messed up but if Tinubu is truly trying to push Ambode out, like this, he might have just overreached himself and is due for demystification

"private sector driven bus system". Where will that lead us to? Why did Tinubu not allow the private sector take over absolutely when he was the governor. Why did he apply PPP? If Ambode agreed with him, he would simply buy the buses with money - only God knows how he amassed. Before he became the governor in 1999, we were never informed of or showed a factory that belonged to him. That bat eyes look alike man should just stop feeding fat from gullible and very stupid people who follow him around everyday. Ambode has improved the face of Lagos greatly which is a fact. Tinubu and his men should just leave these men who took over from hin concentrate and face the job they got elected to do. Can he swear that there is no backdoor through which Ambode has been giving him state funds?

The battle for kings is here

Tinubu is not foolish enough to discard Ambode.
Ambode is the most popular and marketable aspirant now for the Guber election in Lagos. He might have had some short comings but, trust me, thats by the way.


All these sensational news can't work.

Apc is a party that believes in equity and fairness. Whether you are incumbent, you popularity will be tested before re-election.
That's simply what's playing out and the media has chosen to sensationalized it for their commercial purpose

Shukuakukobambi:


On the waste management ish, Ambode truly messed up but if Tinubu is truly trying to push Ambode out, like this, he might have just overreached himself and is due for demystification

Sure bro! In life, one can't have it all. If a person has gotten to a point where he thinks without him, nothing must be done, aside being a dictator, he has seen himself as a God, that form of arrogance might lead to his huge downfall. Tinubu should dread carefully!

Why is this allah of Yoruba moslems greedy?

Tinubu & co should neved play God as far as Ambode is concern.The consequency will not be funny @ all.

Ambode should present the form to him... If he refuses to sign then and then he should use every power available to him to crush Tinubu... All I see here is greed from tinubu's camp... POWER IS NOT GIVEN, IT IS TAKEN...

I know Buhari is not a Saint but at least he loves Nigeria but his dullness, cluelessness, hatred for christians and a section of the country coupled with the righteous looters he is surrounding himself with won't allow him to turn that love into something Nigerians can see.

One thing I know Buhari will NEVER do is to hand over Nigeria to Tinubu's Mandate Group.

Tinubu and his priest can never rule this country as long as Buhari lives.

Buhari will rather support a Tambuwal in PDP or an Okorohausa than to allow the Presidency to go SW.

Ambode didn't carry all that supported him along, ban most of their sources of income( psp and some tax collecting avenues), refused to listen to his party elders especially in handling some projects and legacy fashola left behind, blocked the state party chairman and blocked every avenues to see him. I learnt in different occasions, they will wait for him more than 3 hours ,after giving them appointments, yet will not see them for no reason. Fingered massively in alpha beta fraud, and to worsen it all, refused to listen to the yelling of the masses while Lagos is now scattered and very dirty.
The same way fayose overlooked those that helped him up. Unfortunately for ambode, he doesn't have anyone to run to now. Tinubu liked him and want him to continue but the machinery and forces that make Lagos APC won't allow him because they control everywhere. And his godfather, oba akiolu won't save him either.
If he decamps, that will be his political suicide and he will be silenced forever because as it stands now, not even otedola can win Lagos from cabals based on the structure of winning elections put on the ground by APC in the state. He may try but he won't win imho.
If he support direct primaries, the LG chairs are waiting for him, if he want indirect primaries, the delegates will vote him out, as it stands now, it's like all forces are against him beyond redemption. He should just accept whatever comes his way because his greediness has failed him. Unfortunately Lagos cabals are too strong to fight with and survive.

clarocuzioo:
It's funny how one man will hold an entire state to ransome for over 16 years now.
With all the level of learned entities, wealth, exposure, develolment, resources, men and women of timber and caliber found in the state, yet all is been controlled by one man.

Ambode has done excellently well as a Governor in Lagos state earning him the best Governor in the country, and yet a group of selfish entities wants him out just because of their greedy and selfish gains, its very unfortunate and will be a big shame if Lagosians allow this to happen.
This also shows us their real plan for Nigeria. Am just wondering Osibanjo's stance on this and why he has been silent about this whole drama.

Lagosians Liberate yourself from the shackles of Godfatherism.

I love your first two paragraphs. One man controlling a state with PH.d, BSC and MBS holders ooo... Yoruba's are supposed to be the most educated for God's sake. I expected this from Abia but not from Lagos!

Even though, I would have preferred Tinubu to allow the incompetent Buffoon to run his tenure, I am, however afraid how Lagos might look like after Ambode's eight years..

How can one explain the fact, all the internal roads in Lagos have all but collapsed.

Everywhere in Lagos is home for dumping refuse with its attendant stench. Traffic situation the worst.

Abeg make him and Tinubu go sit down one place..

Ambode should open Lagos expenditure book for all to see, administration of fund has been shredded in secrecy, he could garner more support by doing that.

priceaction:
Ambode didn't carry all that supported him along, ban most of their sources of income( psp and some tax collecting avenues), refused to listen to his party elders especially in handling some projects and legacy fashola left behind, blocked the state party chairman and blocked every avenues to see him. I learnt in different occasions, they will wait for him more than 3 hours ,after giving them appointments, yet will not see them for no reason. Fingered massively in alpha beta fraud, and to worsen it all, refused to listen to the yelling of the masses while Lagos is now scattered and very dirty.
The same way fayose overlooked those that helped him up. Unfortunately for ambode, he doesn't have anyone to run to now. Tinubu liked him and want him to continue but the machinery and forces that make Lagos APC won't allow him because they control everywhere. And his godfather, oba akiolu won't save him either.
If he decamps, that will be his political suicide and he will be silenced forever because as it stands now, not even otedola can win Lagos from cabals based on the structure of winning elections put on the ground by APC in the state. He may try but he won't win imho.
If he support direct primaries, the LG chairs are waiting for him, if he want indirect primaries, the delegates will vote him out, as it stands now, it's like all forces are against him beyond redemption. He should just accept whatever comes his way because his greediness has failed him. Unfortunately Lagos cabals are too strong to fight with and survive.

Forget about being greedy, Ambode is clueless and incompetent. He does one kilometer of road, and spend billions in the media to hype it, while Lagos state decay.

Realdeals:
Ambode should open Lagos expenditure book for all to see, administration of fund has been shredded in secrecy, he could garner more support by doing that.

The support that failed you in 2015

This may be the time to end god fatherism in Lagos