2019: Group rallies support for Ambode, warns APC against dropping him

Ambode 1

A cross section of Ambode supporters protesting in Alausa on Friday

A cross section of Ambode supporters protesting in Alausa on Friday

A group, Ambodemania Movement Support Worldwide on Friday urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to perish the thought of ganging up against the second term bid of Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.

Ambode’s re-election bid is hanging in the balance owing to alleged decision of APC’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to support the governorship aspiration of the current Managing Director of Lagos State Property Development Cooperation, Jide Sanwoolu come 2019.

Already, Sanwoolu and a former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in the State, Obafemi Hamzat have obtained forms to slug it out with Ambode at the governorship primary of the party slated for September 25.

But in a peaceful protest staged by Ambodemania in Alausa, the group said Ambode eminently deserved another term having performed brilliantly well and upheld the ethos of good governance in the State since assumption of office in 2015.

President and founder of the group, Mr Olawale Oyebo, said the movement was non-religious and non-partisan, but basically propelled by the need to celebrate good governance in Lagos State and Nigeria which Ambode aptly represented.

“We saw what Governor Ambode is doing and we decided to follow him. We know that the governor needs the people; when you look at the politicians and non-politicians, we realized that we the populace are more than the politicians and that is why we decided to come out today to mobilize support for our dear Governor.

Related News

“He (Ambode) is our icon, he is our legend and he is our role model. We want to celebrate him from Lagos State to Nigeria and the world. As I am talking to you, in the United States, we have a coordinator for Ambodemania; in Dubai, we have a coordinator; in the United Kingdom, we have coordinator; in Ogun State, we equally have a coordinator.

“But we have noticed the political trend going on against him in Lagos and we are saying we will not accept that; we are mobilizing ourselves from the grassroots to support the Governor. Governor Ambode is not a politician in the Nigerian parlance and that was why he was able to perform. When someone is performing well, we celebrate him and we know he will do more and so we are saying no to any move against the Governor’s second term bid,” Oyebo said.

He added that members of the group were ready to do whatever it takes for the Governor to be re-elected and even supported to go for higher offices after his second term, adding: “We already have our Permanent Voters Card (PVCs).”

Responding, Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Hon Benjamin Olabinjo thanked members of the group for conducting themselves in orderly and peaceful manner, and assured that the matter would be resolved by the party.

“I just want you to understand that this is a party affair. It does not have anything to do with the people outside our party. We are still going for our primary election and it is normal for many people to come forward to contest. It is after the primary that you will know the winner and that is what we call democracy.

“So, what we are talking about now is a party matter and it is after that that we will invite you all to come and vote for our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). My appeal is that you should wait and allow the party to come up with its candidate and I want to assure that it is a party affair and it will be settled,” Olabinjo said.

Load more