The Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, his aides including commissioners and supporters across the state are currently in a panic mode over the second term bid of the governor which has been hanging in the balance for months.
Competent sources in Alausa told COMPLETE NEWS on Monday evening that the governor and his commissioners are apprehensive over the likely outcome of the Stakeholders’ meeting which holds tomorrow, Tuesday, August 14 at the party secretariat at ACME, Ogba.
The National Leader and a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is confirmed to be in attendance. Tinubu who has kept everyone’s including the incumbent governor in suspense over his preferred choice for Lagos governorship in 2019 is expected to declare his anointed candidate.
All political parties are expected to conclude primaries this month and forward the names of flag bearers to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
It will be recalled that COMPLETE NEWS had exclusively reported in June that Tinubu was in a dilemma over Ambode’s second term bid(https://completenewsng.com/exclusive-tinubu-in-dilemma-over-ambodes-second-term-bid/).
Meanwhile, sources told this medium that the governor’s supporters and top aides are holding nocturnal meetings, consultations even considering other viable options if the ‘Oracle’(Tinubu) did’nt favour the governor.
It was gathered that despite Tinubu’s unambiguous disapproval of parallel political structures and machines founded and funded by the governor, Ambode refused to disband the various political organizations even after his victory in 2015 making the godfather uncomfortable.
The governor’s interference in the structures at the local governments also angered Tinubu. The development, it was gathered has pitched the political war horses at the grassroots against the governor who are likely to work against his victory if fielded as party candidate in 2019.
The source said, “ You see, Asiwaju does not want to gamble with Lagos come 2019 having lost control of some key states in the south west region. Governor Ambode created huge problems for him and opened him up for unnecessary political battles.
“If the governor had displayed some wisdom and maturity, some of the internal squabbles which the national leader is contending to contain would not have arisen. The fact is that Tinubu can’t be fighting for political survival at the national and at the same time be quelling internal rebellion at home caused by the governor.
“It has been a very difficult decision for Tinubu to make. If he sticks with the governor and ignore his trusted allies who had been in the trenches with him for years who are opposed to Ambode’s second term bid, they might team up with powerful aggrieved elements and wrestle Lagos from him.
“Forget it that you have not started seeing candidates throwing in their hats into the ring. They are watching closely for the political moves of Tinubu before showing their hands. Twenty-four hours is too long in politics. I can tell you confidently there are strong candidates who will show up.
“The governance style of the governor is another top concern for Asiwaju. The governor is said not be receptive to superior arguments, even at the cabinet meeting commissioners are like primary school pulpils who dare not challenge his proposal”.
