Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, is currently battling for a second term ticket in the All Progressives Congress, APC, against his subordinate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Sanwo-Olu gathered the Lagos political establishment yesterday to hear his political manifesto.
Sanwo-Olu is currently an appointee of Governor Ambode, having been appointed by the embattled governor as Managing Director of Lagos State Property Development Corporation, LSDPC.
Sanwo-Olu’s declaration was witnessed by an intimidating cross-section of the Lagos political establishment, including Senator Gbenga Ashafa, who remarkably, had earlier endorsed Ambode alongside two other Lagos senators.
Ashafa, who is fighting a political battle of sorts for his senatorial seat was joined by members of the House of Representatives, state legislators and the 57 local government chairmen at the declaration where he vowed complete loyalty to the people and the party leadership.
Among other prominent personalities at the brief ceremony, held at City Hall, Lagos Island were Mr. James Faleke, representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, in the House of Representatives; Chief Demola Seriki, former Minister of State, Defence; Wale Edun, former Commissioner for Finance; Chief Sunday Ajose, former Head of Service and Vice-Chairman, Lagos West APC; Wahab Alawiye, former Lagos Island council boss and former member, Lagos State House of Assembly; Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Chief Sunny Ajose, Alhaji Abdulai Enilolobo, Chief Kaoli Olusanya, APC Vice-Chairman, Dr. Tola Kasali, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, Director General, campaign organisation for Sanwo-Olu, who was also Chief Detail to former Governor Bola Tinubu; Lola Essen who is the Chairman of Conference 57, comprising all the council chairmen, Kayode Omiyale, and Rotimi Agunsoye.
Reaching out for survival, Supporters of Governor Ambode, who are yet to give up the battle, were also making their way towards appeasing their foes with a subtle warning that the crisis could open the state to the forays of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The Ambode camp, it also emerged yesterday, was also desperately trying to reach out to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State who is said to have a strong influence on the Mandate Group, the grassroots machinery of the party that is stoking the revulsion against Ambode.
The Ambode camp, while claiming that their problems originated from Aregbesola apparently because of what they claimed as the Lagos governor’s refusal to support a bid by Aregbesola for the Lagos West senatorial seat, were nevertheless still reaching out to the Osun governor.
