2015: Tinubu's empire crumbling as his ‘Boys’ vow to revolt against Ambode

 

Clockwise, Tinubu, Fashola, Akiolu and Ambode

What can sensationally be described as a political roforofo fight is in the offing in Lagos – thanks to the shocking and sudden endorsement of Akin Ambode as the next governor of the state by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Oba of Lagos, HRM Oba Rilwan Akiolu. The rumour that Ambode may succeed Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola had been hovering in political quarters, but in hushed tones, until recently when the two men who wield enormous influence in Lagos came out openly to throw their weight behind him. And as would be expected, this has not gone down well with the other members of Tinubu’s kitchen cabinet who are also believed to be eying the seat, this SHOWBIZPLUSng gathered from a report in Yes International Magazine.

 Among these alleged people are Gbenga Ashafa, former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau and now senator representing Lagos East; Ganiyu Solomon, an erstwhile Mushin local government boss and senator representing Lagos West; Femi Amzat, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure and Fashola’s alleged choice; Dr. Leke Pitan, a two-time Commissioner in Lagos and Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly. An inside source in Tinubu’s political camp told YES INTERNATIONAL! that with what is on ground now, APC may lose Lagos to PDP in the next governorship election.

“The affected aspirants have been meeting, and except a miracle happens, all of them may ultimately join forces to battle Ambode. In fact, from what I heard, it’s either they present their own candidate or frustrate Ambode at the polls. They are very, very bitter that Ambode could be brought from nowhere and imposed on them. Some of them are even saying that their loyalty to Asiwaju has not been rewarded and appreciated; that how can they always work for him with all their hearts, and from nowhere he will just impose somebody on them; that it’s not fair. One of them said during their meeting that if Asiwaju does not find any of them fit to succeed Fashola, then it means that he’s only been using them; and that now is the time to tell him that no man can play god. He tried it with Koro (Amb. Musiliu Obanikoro) and the man messed him up. Thoroughly o! Look at the man today, the only thing he’s yet to become is a governor. He’s become a Senator, an Ambassador and now our Minister of State for Defence, all in quick succession. All that would not have happened if he had continued to kow-tow to Tinubu. He saw farther than us and today he’s happier for it. Those of us who have been pledging our loyalty to Asiwaju, what have we benefited? Nothing! Instead, year after year he keeps bringing outsiders to come and eat where they did not sow.  This 2015 governorship election is going to be an exception because he’s going to regret this action. We are going to fight back. Enough is enough. How monkey go dey work and baboon go dey chop”. An erstwhile Accountant-General of Lagos State, Ambode (51) is coming to right the finances of the state. Lagos State is allegedly battling a debt of over N1 trillion. Explaining their choice of Ambode, Oba Akiolu said on Thursday, May 15, 2014, during the launching of his biography, The Art of Selfless Service, at NIIA, Victoria Island, Lagos: “When APC leader, Bola Tinubu chose Fashola in 2007 to succeed him, it was met with stiff opposition, but today Tinubu has been justified. We see a similar character of Governor Fashola in Ambode. You people know me well that I do not hide my feelings on where I stand on issues. We all know why we are here and we shouldn’t be talking about book launch now. We are here to meet our governor”. Undone, Kabiyesi added: “We, the Royal Fathers, have consulted widely within the state with sons and daughters of Lagos, and have come to the conclusion that the best person to take over from Mr. Babatunde Fashola, the iconic governor of Lagos State, is Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. We cannot have a man like this and allow somebody whose father is an Oba in Ewekoro, Ogun State be the governor of Lagos…Akinwunmi Ambode remains the best man with the required pedigree and character to take Lagos to the next level”. Oba Akiolu’s public endorsement of Ambode, of course, is not going down with the other aspirants, particularly those he accused of not being from the Lagos. And now they are all coming together to fight what they have labeled ‘unacceptable and an imposition’. The months ahead will surely be interesting – especially with both camps now at work to outwit each other. APC’s arch rival in the state, PDP, meanwhile, is so happy with what is currently going on. Some of their chieftains have also been reaching out to the aggrieved APC aspirants secretly and quietly and trying to structure a deal with them on how to win their support and possibly take over the reins of power from APC in 2015. “They (APC) should not just allow PDP to capitalize on this and take over Lagos. This matter is very, very serious and has to be attended to immediately. For Tinubu, it won’t be as easy as it was for him in 2007 this time. This is 2015, and Lagosians and his ‘boys’ are now wiser. They must not be taken for granted or…”, warned one follower of the unfolding political drama in the state.