Lagos 2015: Tinubu Disowns Ambode,Assures APC Guber Aspirants Of LevelPlaying Field

A meeting called by the National Leader of the
APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu with about 10 governorship aspirants in
Lagos has just ended at his Bourdillon, Ikoyi residence where he
openly distanced himself from the candidature
of former Accountant General of the state,
Akinwunmi Ambode who has been in the news
as Tinubu's anointed candidate.
The aspiration of Ambode who is from Ondo state has led to serious
tension and gang up against Tinubu among the latter's associates,
other aspirants, party leaders and members.
But sensing an implosion that may cost the
party the state governorship seat in next
February elections, Tinubu as earlier reported by iReports-ng.com had
summoned an emergency meeting for 8pm local time today.
Some of the aspirants summoned to the
meeting include: Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon,
Femi Kadiri Hamzat, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Lanre
Ope, Tokunbo Wahab, Tola Kasali, Akin
Ambode, Supo Shashore and Leke Pitan.
Some of the aspirants who attended the
meeting today told iReports-ng.com that they were a bit relieved
hearing from Tinubu
himself that he has nothing to do with
Ambode's aspiration and as such, everybody
should go out and seek the party members
support to emerge at the primary. He was
quoted as warning that nobody should drop his
name as his anointed any more saying that he
has gotten to a point in his political life where
he wants to serve and be seen as a father to all.
Findings reveal that with the open disclaimer,
Tinubu will also try to distance himself from
Ambode, a move that will finally nail the Ilaje,
Ese Odo Ondo state born Accountant's aspiration more so that Governor
Babatunde Fashola will spend his last kobo to block the emergence of
Ambode who was forced out of his government in 2012 over financial
impropriety.
"The meeting was a strategic move by Asiwaju because he cannot afford
to lose face within the party in Lagos", one of Tinubu's aides told
iReports-ng.com on the phone. Three of the aspirants who attended the
meeting however
expressed cautious optimism over the
assurance from the party leader. They maintained that they will still
need to watch Tinubu for some days before they can take his words
serious.
"We will count on his words today but we still
need to monitor him close especially any
clandestine move to route any moral or
financial support to Ambode through Oba of
Lagos, Oba Akiolu", one of them added stressing that "some N20 million
was passed through Oba Akiolu to Ambode a day before his declaration
at the Onikan stadium some three weeks ago. We are monitoring such
secret support."
The ruling party at the centre, the PDP and
President Goodluck Jonathan has been working hard to see an implosion
within the Lagos APC so as to take advantage of such for the benefit
of the PDP.