The former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has disclosed why he refused to support the incumbent governor of the State, Akinwunmi Ambode, for a second term in office. Tinubu said he reason is because Ambode deviated from the master plan created for the development of the State.
Tinubu also accused Ambode, whom he supported in 2015, of alienating those that “contributed so much to our development”.
“Whenever a government departes from this plan without [a] compelling reason, the state and its people have borne the painful consequence of the improper departure,” Tinubu said.
Tinubu, however, agreed that the said master plan may not have been perfect.
After months of rumours, Tinubu also formally endorsed the candidacy of Jide Sanwo-Olu, who served under him when he was the governor.
He described Sanwo-Olu as being “endowed with superlative vision and commitment.”
Sanwo-Olu also has the backing of all but four members of the State’s Assembly, and all the chairmen of local councils in the State.
But Ambode, apparently fighting back, described Sanwo-Olu, who also served under him as commissioners, is not being fit to lead Lagos, alleging that he has a sordid past.
“This particular aspirant is somebody that has been arrested for spending fake dollars in a nightclub in America, and he has been detained for months,” Ambode reportedly alleged.
“He doesn’t have the competence to do what he is being propelled to do. This is somebody that has gone for rehabilitation before. The records are there at the Gbagada General Hospital.”
Ambode further said that he is the better aspirant, adding that he will defeat the aspirant supported by his erstwhile godfather and also has the support of the Mandate Group, one of the most influential blocs in Lagos APC.
But Tinubu insisted that his anointed choice, having served in the last three administrations in the State, is better placed to continue the implementation of the Lagos master plan.
“While possessing a wealth of experience and exposure, he is a young man endowed with superlative vision and commitment,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
“Most importantly, he understands the importance of the blueprint for development.
“He esteems it as a reliable and well-conceived vehicle for the future development of the State.”
This is not the first time Tinubu will be antagonistic to the second term bid of his endorsed candidates. In 2011, he was reportedly against the re-election of Raji Fashola as the governor of the State.
Both, however, were able to resolve their differences and Fashola was presented by now-defunct Action Congress of Nigeria as its candidate.