Ademola Oniand Sunday Aborisade

The confusion over the reelection bid of Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, failed to clear off on Saturday as the All Progressives Congress national leadership could not secure a firm commitment from its national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on governor’s second term ambition.


The APC leaders, led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, who were said to be acting on the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari, met with Tinubu again to prevail on him to “forgive” Ambode his alleged infractions and back the governor to secure a second term.


A source close to the national secretariat of the party, however, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the effort of the leaders could not be said to have resolved the situation as Tinubu did not give Osinbajo and Oshiomhole any specific promise of supporting Ambode for a second term.

The source stated, “The President asked the vice-president and the national chairman to resolve the crisis amicably so that the governor could get a second term. Osinbajo met Tinubu twice in Abuja on Friday on Ambode’s matter, where he relayed the President’s message and the need to keep Lagos for the APC.

He also told Asiwaju was the President would not want the crisis to affect the party in the 2019 general elections.

“The National Leader however maintained that there would be wider consultations back home before he would be able to accede to the request. He said the governor’s matter is beyond him alone.

“It is difficult to say what happened during the second meeting with Osinbajo but it appeared the vice-president and Tinubu were able to arrive at a meeting point, which is difficult to clarify.”


It was gathered that Buhari’s foremost concern was that the crisis in Lagos State, which boasts of the highest number of registered voters, if not well-managed, could affect his political calculations for his second term bid.

SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that as the APC leaders battled to save the embattled governor’s second term ambition, Ambode landed in Tinubu’s house in Abuja, where the governor appealed to the former Lagos State governor to forgive him his alleged offences.

Another very reliable party source said, “Yes, it was part of the efforts we are making from this end to save the party from crisis in the state and the nation. The governor came to beg Tinubu in his residence in Abuja to forgive him. I think the appeal helped to reduce the tension and soften the ground for the governor. It is, however, difficult to say if that had ended the crisis.

“Some governors have also called the national leader, pleading with him to save their ‘poster boy’ the humiliation of not getting a second term. Their fears are that such development in Lagos, which is the economic nerve centre of the country, could have negative effect on the fortunes of the party in other states.”

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A source in the camp of the Lagos ex-governor, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday, confirmed the meeting between Tinubu and his political godson in Abuja.


“Yes, the meeting held. He (Ambode) saw Asiwaju in Abuja but I cannot give you any detail,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu, Tinubu’s loyalists hold Lagos declaration rally today

It was learnt that Tinubu returned to Lagos on Saturday as preparations for the rally and formal declaration of an APC governorship aspirant in the state, Mr. Jide Sanwo-Olu, were being concluded.


The organisers of the rally, billed for City Hall, Lagos Island, on Sunday, had concluded that 1,000 supporters be mobilised from each of the local government areas in the state for the rally.

SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that after the return of Tinubu from Abuja, the chairmen of the local governments held another crucial meeting at Watercress Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on “new development” concerning the Sunday event.


A source at the meeting, who is an aide of one of the council chairmen, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the chairmen were informed that while the rally for Sanwo-Olu would still go ahead on Sunday, the chairmen should no longer “mobilise” 1,000 supporters from their local governments.

“No, the rally has not been called off. The chairmen are in the meeting, but the latest information is that they should no longer mobilise 1,000 people from the councils. Those to attend the rally are the leaders from the ward to the state level; the state and federal legislators and party chiefs,” he said.


One of the aides of Tinubu told one of our correspondents that the rally would still go ahead as planned on Sunday.

“That’s the grand declaration. It’s going ahead; nothing has changed,” he said.

Another source, a former member of the state House of Assembly, however, said the reduction in the number of those to attend the rally was a crowd control strategy at the venue.


“You know the way our people behave. Even the supporters, who are meant to attend, will get to the venue before the organisers,” he stated.

The former lawmaker however said the latest information on the battle to save Ambode’s job was that nothing had changed from the resolve of party stakeholders in the state to see off the Epe-born technocrat.


“As of this afternoon, what we heard was that Asiwaju has not agreed (to back Ambode). I don’t know what happened in the evening o; things might have changed,” he said.

A lawmaker, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday, argued that while the embattled governor had not shown enough political sagacity in handling the affairs of the party leaders in the state, it would be in the interest of the APC to resolve its festering crisis amicably.


He added, “It was the same crisis we faced in the day of (Babatunde) Fashola until we were able to block the funneling of money to the Labour Party by one of our leaders.

“Don’t forget that we lost some seats to the PDP in the last elections. We knew what we had to do to bring some of them back to the APC.


“So, it is in the interest of the party to resolve this crisis to prevent such crack again.”

Epe Christians, Muslims, others organise prayers to save son’s job

Meanwhile, it was learnt that some segments of Epe, the hometown of Ambode, had embarked on prayers to save the head of their son, whom they believed had positively contributed to the modernisation of the ancient town.


The prayers, it was learnt, cut across Muslims, Christians and traditional worshippers.

The Olu-Epe of Epe town, Oba Sefiu Olatunji Adewale, attended a special Islamic vigil organised by the Muslim Community at the Epe Central Mosque, on Friday night and lasted till the early hours on Sunday.

The prayer session is an annual programme meant to pray for the general well-being of all Epe indigenes.


A resident of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told SUNDAY PUNCH that notable indigenes of the town, especially Muslims, attended the prayer session.

Asked if special prayers were offered for the governor, the source said, “Definitely, he (Ambode) would be the special focus of such prayers at this time.

“Everybody in the town wants him to return for a second term and we are not happy with his current predicament.”


“The Christians and traditional worshippers have also joined in the prayers. If we miss this opportunity, only God knows when Epe will have the same opportunity again.

“In this place, everybody is for Ambode; no division. That is why you don’t see any of the chairmen from this area in the meetings that had been held on this crisis. The seven Epe chairmen were not at the Watercress Hotel meeting on Saturday either.


“If anyone is believed to be against Ambode, the person could go missing, either now or later.”


https://punchng.com/second-term-bid-suspense-in-lagos-as-ambode-flies-to-abuja-to-beg-tinubu/

I know he will later Beg him naani. Tinubu and Lagos.

Make Tinubu go Daura.

Ambode will go for second term.
Tinubu will sign better deals with Ambode.

Make poor man see food chop.

Wicked & selfish godfather.

Tinubu should enjoy his time until the gods are ready to disgrace him.

okomile:
Make Tinubu go Daura.

Ambode will go for second term.
Tinubu will sign better deals with Ambode.

Make poor man see food chop.

lol

Who is this Tinubu that everybody is prevailing on him to accept a sitting governors bid for second term....ehn!

President talked,clergymen talked,party chairman,Vice President, even my humble self have talked to no avail.

Tinubu who are you sef....ehn!

I think we should allow Ambode to go to the polls or decamp to PDP, contest and win and demystify this greedy fool called Tinubu.

Tinubu your political end is near

Didn't know this level of primitiveness and backwardness still exist in South West, how can the fate of a whole region be in the hands of one man (Tinubu)? This is so disgraceful.

I stand with jagaban

It was gathered that Buhari’s foremost concern was that the crisis in Lagos State, which boasts of the highest number of registered voters, if not well-managed, could affect his political calculations for his second term bid.

This is all buhari cares about and not the killings and sufferings in the country. Shame on him and anyone who supports the old vegetable.

JudasNaCarrot:
Who is this Tinubu that everybody is prevailing on him to accept a sitting governors bid for second term....ehn!

President talked,clergymen talked,party chairman,Vice President, even my humble self have talked to no avail.

Tinubu who are you sef....ehn!

I think we should allow Ambode to go to the polls or decamp to PDP, contest and win and demystify this greedy fool called Tinubu.

Your political end is near....idiat.

Well, speaking of Lagos it will be very difficult for Ambode to defeats Tinubu.

Lagosians might eventually have to do away with both Ambode and Tinubu because the protracted imbroglio might not be settled in the overall interest of Lagos State.

It is clear what Tinubu wants is renegotiation.

Ambode wants to disgrace the aggressive pigs from Biafra, by begging Tinubu.

JudasNaCarrot:
Who is this Tinubu that everybody is prevailing on him to accept a sitting governors bid for second term....ehn!

President talked,clergymen talked,party chairman,Vice President, even my humble self have talked to no avail.

Tinubu who are you sef....ehn!

I think we should allow Ambode to go to the polls or decamp to PDP, contest and win and demystify this greedy fool called Tinubu.

Tinubu your political end is near

Pray to God to make you that relevant

Ambode performed credibly well but the party should give him support to complete a second term too.Perhaps Fashola's case is giving Tinubu nightmares.

Fesomu:
Pray to God to make you that relevant

Taaaaah!

Lazy youth!

he can only beg the god of Lagos politics

mumu ambode has no option

Racoon:
Ambode performed credibly well but the party should give him support to complete a second term too.Perhaps Fashola's case is giving Tinubu nightmares.

With due respect sir,
If u take the 2 or 3 bridges out, what other achievement,is it the dilapidating cosmetic road constructions, the irrelevant bus stops(copy and paste concepts). Mind u, dis are all in one ministry (transportation) out of the several ministries.
Bro, Leave Tinibu out of this, Ambode didn't play is leadership role well enough, evident in his grassroot disapproval.

Tinubu is a crook. He wants to stretch Ambode out to squeeze him in the last minute; he will continue this until 48 hrs to the primaries, at that time, any request/demand he makes to Ambode, he will fulfill it out of desperation. He could say, he and the Mandate Group wants 100 billion and contract worth 200 billion, Ambode will have no choice

Dem no born am well, who be Ambode!

Dem no born am well make he no beg.............you think say JAGABAN na mouth.

Jagaban! I get your back!

This whole begging of Tinubu is now getting irritating. Thought ambode was adjudged the best governor 2018, was all that bullshiit?
Is he so naive politically that he can't stand on his own Is Emmanuel udom of akwa ibom state not his mate, is Ganduje or whatever his name is of kano not his mate? Enough of this nonsense, let him take a stand or step aside for another to take his place.

JudasNaCarrot:
Who is this Tinubu that everybody is prevailing on him to accept a sitting governors bid for second term....ehn!

President talked,clergymen talked,party chairman,Vice President, even my humble self have talked to no avail.

Tinubu who are you sef....ehn!

I think we should allow Ambode to go to the polls or decamp to PDP, contest and win and demystify this greedy fool called Tinubu.

Tinubu your political end is near

You go die young!

ibedun:


You go die young!

Your entire generation....

bamidbamid:


With due respect sir,
If u take the 2 or 3 bridges out, what other achievement,is it the dilapidating cosmetic road constructions, the irrelevant bus stops(copy and paste concepts). Mind u, dis are all in one ministry (transportation) out of the several ministries.
Bro, Leave Tinibu out of this, Ambode didn't play is leadership role well enough, evident in his grassroot disapproval.

you are very stupiid and dumb,so all the achievements of ambode is now cosmetics? i laugh at your deep rooted ignorance

HisSexcellency:
This whole begging of Tinubu is now getting irritating. Thought ambode was adjudged the best governor 2018, was all that bullshiit?
Is he so naive politically that he can't stand on his own Is Emmanuel udom of akwa ibom state not his mate, is Ganduje or whatever his name is of kano not his mate? Enough of this nonsense, let him take a stand or step aside for another to take his place.

it's because he doesn't have the majority of the assembly members with him.if he defects to another party he may be impeached

moufan:
it's because he doesn't have the majority of the assembly members with him.if he defects to another party he may be impeached

Did he not know that a time like this will come? Did Tinubu just woke up from sleep one morning and decided to dump him? The handwriting has been on the wall all along maybe he was too dumb and naive to see it. Decamping is not the solution, let him take a stand as the chief security officer of lagos state. All these begging is childish and unbecoming of a supposedly state governor

JudasNaCarrot:
Who is this Tinubu that everybody is prevailing on him to accept a sitting governors bid for second term....ehn!

President talked,clergymen talked,party chairman,Vice President, even my humble self have talked to no avail.

Tinubu who are you sef....ehn!

I think we should allow Ambode to go to the polls or decamp to PDP, contest and win and demystify this greedy fool called Tinubu.

Tinubu your political end is near

That's why ambode didn't chose you as special adviser.he should decamp and taste impeachment and he will then taste the butter pill of losing election again.sanwo Olu is ready

I really don't understand. How will a sitting governor be begging just to contest again. Worst thing is that he's not even begging the populace.
I said it before, Tinubu is smart, Ambode will just have to beg me

All this hullabaloo about ambode second term is to divert attention from tinubu and alpha beta scam, since this ambode issue started everybody have conveniently forgotten that tinubu has turned lagos to his piggy bank which he access anyhow at the expense of hard working lagosian who had to endure mutiple taxation to fund the life style of the man that is now richer than his state of osun

HisSexcellency:
This whole begging of Tinubu is now getting irritating. Thought ambode was adjudged the best governor 2018, was all that bullshiit?
Is he so naive politically that he can't stand on his own Is Emmanuel udom of akwa ibom state not his mate, is Ganduje or whatever his name is of kano not his mate? Enough of this nonsense, let him take a stand or step aside for another to take his place.

D difrence be say ambode na afonja n d rest no be afonjas. Afonjas are known to be number 1 in beggy beggy in d whole univarse.

Tinubu's days of godfatherism in Lagos are numbered.