All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, including Lagos West APC leader, Chief Rabiu Oluwa; Cardinal James Odunmbaku (Baba Eto), Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Chief Kemi Nelson; Dr. Yomi Finnih, among others, on Friday called on Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, to formally declare his interest in the 2019 governorship election, assuring him that he remained their candidate and would campaign and vote him back into office.
Others who gave similar pledge at an event tagged, “Stakeholders Endorsement Declaration,” organised by APC, Lagos West Senatorial District, which took place at the Blue Roof, LTV premises, Agindingbi, Ikeja, include Chief Funso Ologunde, APC federal and state lawmakers, party chairmen in all the 28 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) that made the districts, market women, the Arewa communities, the South-South and South-East groups as well as APC youth groups.
The State’s Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Idiat Adebule; Hon. Bisi Yusuf, who represented Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; former deputy governor, Princess Sarah Sosan and Lagos APC Chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale were also at the event.
However, what could have turned a bloody encounter between the Senator Solomon Olamilekan (Yayi) and Senator Musliu Obanikoro, former Minister of State for Defence’s supporters and loyalists was averted through quick intervention of leaders and security men at the venue as they both clashed over political ambitions of their principals who were also in attendance.
The supporters and loyalists had stormed the venue, engaging in what could be termed as banner/poster war to communicate their principals’ senatorial ambition for 2019, with the Yayi group, insisting that no vacancy existed in Lagos West currently and that Obanikoro should forget contesting the seat to replace Senator Olamilekan, come 2019.
This is against the backdrop of realisation that Senator Olamilekan aka Yayi had long shown and commenced a campaign to become next governor of Ogun State, under APC platform, with a view to take over power from the incumbent, Senator Ibikunle Amosun in 2019.
In the communique issued at the end of the endorsement, the Lagos West APC stakeholders, which applauding Governor Ambode on achievements of his administration in various sectors of the economy, including health, education, infrastructure, among others, demanded that the governor should formally declare his intention to contest the governorship of Lagos State for a 2nd term.
“We assure Mr Akinwunmi Ambode of our unalloyed and untainted support; we are ready and prepared to work assiduously for him to emerge as the party candidate, and to go on and win the Lagos State gubernatorial election for the Second term.
“We hereby endorse Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for a second term as governor of Lagos State,” the communique said.
Lagos West APC senatorial leader, Chief Rabiu Oluwa, earlier in his address, said the party was impressed by the performance of Governor Ambode during his first term in office, pointing out that that was the reason the district unanimously endorsed him for a second term.
“We don’t want any disagreement in our party. Anybody can contest for elective positions in the party but we believe that Ambode is the best candidate and he should return,” he said.
According to him, Governor Ambode has done very well in the state by putting a lot of infrastructures in place, saying that Lagos West being the largest senatorial district in the state had also benefited like every other district.
“Ambode has done very well in the state by putting a lot of infrastructures in place. Lagos West is the largest senatorial district in Lagos State and we are declaring our support for Ambode to run for the second term,” he added.
Lagos APC Deputy Chairman, Cardinal Odunmbaku; South-West APC Woman Leader, Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson; former deputy governor of Lagos State, Princess Sarah Sosan and other leaders of the party, also in their various remarks, expressed their support for Ambode’s second term and implored all the party leaders and members to work for his re-election.
Chairman of Lagos APC, Otunba Henry Ajomale, assured that he would readily deliver the message of people of Lagos West Senatorial District to Governor Ambode on the demand for him to declare his intention for the second term.
and then