By Adeoba Michaels
In the viral article I wrote, titled, “Ambode Incurs God’s By Touching His Anointed”, I postulated that the travail of the embattled Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is heaven-backed. I still hold the view today.
Apart from the priest, Rev Femi Taiwo who was unceremoniously sacked by the governor, I strongly believe that God is fighting for those Ambode had vowed to crush but instead getting them crushed, the governor crushed himself.
Ambode’s predecessor, Babatunde Raji Fashola who was subjected to public ridicule shortly after the incumbent governor took over the reins of power would have been confined to history if not for God’s mercy.
The grand plot of Ambode was to bury his immediate predecessor politically and delete him completely from the consciousness of Lagosions who loved him dearly. But God of Fashola showed that he rules in the affairs of men.
The man who was supposed to face shame was made prime minister in the Buhari government despite all the smear campaigns of alleged fraud against him in the media sponsored by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his acolytes.
Today, Fashola’s political future is not hanging in the balance and his influence looms nationwide.
Meanwhile, his arch-traducer has lost relevance in the state. He unprecedentedly lost a second term ticket to his appointee, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. That was a grand humiliation from God to humble the power-drunk emperor who is currently facing impeachment.
A former boss of Lagos Inland Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler was also frustrated out of Lagos by the governor who was intimidated by the intellectual prowess and achievements of Fowler.
What Ambode meant for evil was actually an avenue for Fowler’s national regcognition and honour. Ambode forced him out but he got a bigger promotion as the chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS.
Fowler got a bigger platform to re-enact his wizardry in revenue drive and generation to the admiration of millions of Nigerians. The man demoted by Ambode is being celebrated for raking in unprecedented N5trillon into the coffers just last year. That was the highest earnings from tax in the history of Nigeria.
In a similar vein, Mr Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, a former commissioner of Culture, Arts and Tourism in Lagos State now the Director-General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC is a man loved by God.
The former Personal Assistant to the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was also vindictively sacked by the governor.
Folarin-Coker who conceptualized and implemented One Lagos Fiesta which endeared millions of youths and fun-loving people to the Akinwunmi Ambode government only got a sack as thank you. I gathered from the grapevine that he instigated phantom corruption charges against him just to bury him.
Folarin-Coker soars to Abuja to head a federal parastatal . The man’s exploits blossom as he refocuses the nation’s tourism framework and introduced laudable initiatives to Nigerian tourism.
If President Muhammadu Buhari wins February 16 presidential election, Folarin- Coker will either retains his position or gets higher office while the former power-drunk boss will be lobbying for appointment in the Buhari government.
Dr Muiz Banire, SAN , a former National Legal Adviser of the ruling APC tasted the wrath of Ambode. Banire was saved from Ambode’s claws by sheer God’s mercy. Though, I learnt that Ambode was trying to impress the lion of Bourdillon whom he perceived wanted Banire castrated politically at all cost.
Strangely, the lion he idolized devoured him. If Ambode was a man of peace, he should have brokered truce parley between Banire and Tinubu and not to fan ember of discord just for cheap political gain.
Ambode bore his fang on Banire and his associates. The governor even went as far as issuing demolition notice on the building where 91-year old Banire’s mother lives. He cited nebulous development plan contravention just to act wickedly. He backdown when the condemnation became unbearable for him.
Banire like a cat with nine lives survived the most coordinated and well-oiled campaign of calumny in the history of Lagos politics and state-sponsored protests. Attempts to suspend him from the party by some sponsored clowns in his Mushin constituency failed.
Against all odds, he triumphed against all machinations and was confirmed as the Chairman, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON. Banire will chair AMCON for five years according to the AMCON Act. But Ambode who waged war against him is battling to finish turbulent first term tenure.
I have no doubt in my mind, that these men and several other victims of Ambode’s vindictiveness are being defended by God. These are people who don’t have what it takes to fight the governor even if they had wanted.
Adeoba Michaels, a public Affairs Analyst writes from Lagos
1 Comment
Lovely concept