Ambode may shame PDP, bow to Tinubu’s supremacy – Report

By Bashir Adefaka

This kind of Ambode’s offence, The DEFENDER findings revealed, was however what led to the Olusegun Osoba camp defecting from APC to Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2015 when the same Tinubu was alleged to be supporting Ogun State Governor Ibikunke Amosun in his style of running the collectively installed government without carrying the party leadership along.  Butwhat has worked for Tinubu in spite of everything resides in his ability to know when to assert and when to play low.

In what looks like maturity of politicians of All Progressives Congress (APC) in handling their differences, 2019 players in Lagos APC may have resolved to let go with grievances against one another and bow to party supremacy in the interest of all.

By this, it was learned that, overtures from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to exploit the Ambode’s travail within his party would have paved to nothing as, according to an account, “the PDP will now be out to shame for always pokenosing into in-house affairs of APC when they have their much complex problems to battle with. And they started doing this to APC not just now that the APC is ruling but as opposition party”.

This is coming as an exclusive report, sighted by The DEFENDER, hinted of the readiness of embattled Governor Akinwumi Ambode to bow to the wishes of the Garrison Commander of Lagos politics, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and finally shelves his re-election bid.

Ambode, with carriage of overburden ranging from sins against party and some administrative inadequacies hung against his neck, had recently obtained the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms of the APC to seek it’s ticket for re-election to continue in 2019.

He was however shocked when Tinubu’s former chief detail during his administration as governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also picked his own forms to slug it out with him.

The governor though boasted he was unruffled, he knew clearly that there was a push giving Sanwo-Olu the confidence to do what he did and thus vowed to get re-elected APC or without APC.

The DEFENDER had recently published an opinion article listing out the inadequacies of Ambode with particular mention of his aides arrogance but going ahead to plead on his behalf to allowed his second term.

After a week-long struggle to seal his second term deal with APC failed, it has been reported that the Governor Ambode may have no choice but bow to party’s supremacy by endorsing Sanwo-Olu, who is also a former Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions in Lagos State as his successor.

If this information is correct, then, the governor’s formal pronouncement on the matter will happen thus Sunday September 16, 2018.

Sanwo-Olu, who is billed to declare his intention to run for the governorship seat of Lagos for 2019 at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, any moment from now, may take over the seat of power from the incumbent governor of the state, should he emerge as winner of primary election of the party, slated for September 19.

The DEFENDER reports that in event that Ambode does not get the face of his party in Lagos State, there will be no way any of Abuja boys will be of help to him, no matter how opposing they her to controller of the state politics.

This, we gathered, is so because when the day was shining for him and his now estranged godfather, the governor had played unpardonable role in the effort to deny his immediate predecessor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) the opportunity of being one of Nigeria’s most vital ministers, as, according to a yet to be denied information going round at the time, the petition of corruption against the man who worked assiduously well on campaigns to install him as governor was said to have emanated from Ambode.

Another offence of Ambode against Fashola being that immediately after coming to power, government aides believed to be working for him mounted a media campaigns to rubbish the now good work of the now Minister of Power, Works and Housing and tell Nigerians about many abandoned projects of the past administration.

This, expectedly, is said to work against his effort to get help from Abuja, which actually played out in how the governor, after being in Abuja since Friday where he met with top echelons of the All Progressives Congress (APC), returned to Lagos on Saturday with no cheering news.

Government sources reportedly revealed that the governor met with APC leaders in Abuja in a bid to resolve the crisis, but that he was told to support the aspiration of Sanwo-Olu and that he would be given an appointment at the Federal level.

It was gathered that President Muhammadu Buhari told Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to take charge of the closed door meeting, which was also attended by APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and other top leaders of the party.

A top source told our also said that it was agreed at the meeting that Ambode should go and support the aspiration of Sanwo-Olu as he was promised a juicy appointment in Abuja next year if Buhari wins second term.

Part of the reasons why he was asked to step down, a government source said, was that he ran the affair of Lagos State as a one-man show, awarding contracts and others solely, as well as failing to carry party faithful along in the scheme of things, among others.

This kind of Ambode’s offence, The DEFENDER findings revealed, was however what led to the Olusegun Osoba camp defecting from APC to Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2015 when the same Tinubu was alleged to be supporting Ogun State Governor Ibikunke Amosun in his style of running the collectively installed government without carrying the party leadership along.

But what has worked for Tinubu in spite of everything resides in his ability to know when to assert and when to play low. This time, it is obvious from his reply to Redeemed Church General Overseer Enoch Adeboye that Ambode’s plight is truly not from Tinubu but from the same people who installed him as governor and he has pushed under since coming to power.

The lesson in the Ambode’s experience, we learned, is that “If you don’t treat people you meet on your way up well, when you are coming down you will meet them and then you face consequences of your earlier actions.” It was also learned that “What this has taught us is that a governor’s performance should go in line with ideas jointly put together by both government and party that fielded him”.

Another source said Ambode might come to the declaration of Sanwo-Olu for governor at the Police College on Sunday to raise up his hand as his successor.

With that, the governor may not contest the governorship primary of the party on 25 September, 2018.

Moves by prominent people to intervene to ensure that Ambode got a second term ticket on the platform of APC had proved abortive.

One of such intervention was said to be founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeobye.

Tinubu was said to have told him that, “Sir, people have been accusing me of imposition. They say I imposed candidates at will. That is why I said all aspirants including the governor to get to the field and test their popularity among the people in an open contest of direct primaries.

“Sir, my hands are tied on this matter, I cannot ask those who have picked expression of interest and nomination forms to withdraw or not to contest. That will be greatly unfair. We will ensure a level-playing ground for all governorship aspirants including the incumbent governor, Tinubu told Adeboye on the phone.”

But Ambode had also recently denied rift between him and Tinubu, saying reports to such effect were untrue.

Addressing party faithful in Epe during the election of delegates for the Presidential primary election and national convention of the party, Ambode said the reports indicating a fight between him and Tinubu were out of place and that there was no fight anywhere.

“I want you to know that there is no fight anywhere. The National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and my good self we are not in any fight, we are not in any controversy.

“We are praying to God that the best is yet to come and the best will be what Lagos State deserves and I want you to just continue with your prayers that at this time, God will show His hand and make sure that everything that is of blessing to Lagos State and also blessing of Epe will come to pass,” Ambode said.