How Ex-LAGOS Gov. AMBODE Ended Rift….

…With Pres. TINUBU & Gov. SANWO-OLU

One trending video which went viral last Wednesday was the visit of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, to his predecessor, Akinwunmi Ambode, at his residence on the occasion of his 60th birthday celebration. The video went viral because that will be the first social event that brought Governor Sanwo-Olu and ex Governor Ambode together. For some time Governor Ambode went off the scene and only resurfaced few weeks back when he attended the book launch of Steve Ayorinde, one of his commissioners when he was the governor. Not until about a week ago when he celebrated his 60th birthday that Governor Sanwo-Olu attended the event that his face surfaced again. Many believed that this was how Governor Sanwo-Olu and Ambode actually reconciled their rifts. Mr Ambode lost his second-term bid to Mr Sanwo-Olu in the APC primary in 2018. But let’s tell you that they had reconciled few years back shortly before Governor Sanwo-Olu became the governor of Lagos State. Infact it was at the national convention of 2018 in Abuja that their reconciliation came to the public when Governor Sanwoolu and ex Governor Ambode walked in hand in hand together into the Eagle Square Arena. Governor Sanwoolu also posted it on his social media page where he referred to Ex Governor Ambode as his brother attending the convention together. It was then at the Abuja convention that President Tinubu also took picture with Governor Sanwoolu and Ambode together. Ex Governor Ambode was also seen in a warm embrace with ex Governor Fashola. After then, ex Governor Sanwo-Olu has also been seen at Bourdillon after Governor Sanwwo-Olu’s visit where he went to pay a courtesy visit to President Sanwo-Olu few years back. It was all this that showed that President Tinubu and Governor Sanwo-Olu had forgiven ex- Governor Ambode and accepted him back into their midst.

The 60th birthday of the ex-Governor that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu attended further solidify that the rift between them is over. In fact Governor Sanwo-Olu gave the toast at the private 60th birthday party.The governor had since congratulated his predecessor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on the occasion of the 60th birthday.

The governor, in a congratulatory message posted via Twitter on Wednesday by his media adviser Gboyega Akosile, described Mr Ambode as a seasoned administrator who contributed his knowledge and expertise to the growth of the public service in Lagos State.

The governor said his predecessor contributed immensely as a former accountant-general as well as governor to the growth and development of Lagos State in different capacities, especially in the finance sector.

“On behalf of my adorable wife, Ibijoke, the government and good people of Lagos State, I join family, friends and political associates of my predecessor, former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, to congratulate him on his 60th birthday,” the governor was quoted as saying.

“Mr Akinwunmi Ambode dedicated his young and adult life to the service of Lagos State, first as a civil servant and later as the 14th governor of our dear Lagos State.

“As Council Treasurer, Auditor General for Local Government, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Accountant-General of Lagos State, he displayed a high level of integrity, dedication and professionalism to service in the public sector.

He recorded the same achievements as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and as the State’s Accountant General.”Mr Sanwo-Olu also commended Mr Ambode for making “positive and significant impacts in some sectors” during his tenure as the state governor. “I wish His Excellency, former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, a happy birthday and pray that he witnesses many more fruitful years in good health. Amen,” he said.

Recall, the governor and his predecessor, Ambode clashed, prior to the 2019 governorship election by extension to President Bola Tinubu but then President Tinubu debunked the news that he was the one that chose Governor Sanwo-Olu whereas it was the party’s decision.

Ambode, who served one term in office, lost the All Progressives Congress (APC), governorship primary in the state to Sanwo-Olu.

His loss was reportedly due to a fallout with President Bola Tinubu and some APC stakeholders in the state.Despite the face-off between them, Sanwo-Olu had felicitated with Ambode.

During their face off 5 years ago, the Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was ex Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s main challenger for the Lagos State governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he will not descend into the low conduct of the current occupier of the office.

While addressing a ‘World Press Conference’ in Lagos at a time, Ambode had alledged that Sanwo-Olu “is somebody that has been arrested for spending fake American dollars in a night club”. Ambode also said Sanwo-Olu “is also known that he doesn’t have the competence to do what he is being propelled to do”.”His records are there at Gbagada General Hospital,” the governor added. “This is somebody that has gone for rehabilitation before.”

In his response, Sanwo-Olu said: “I felt sad for Lagos as I watched Press Conference by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Many things he said were beneath the dignity of our people and the exalted office he now holds.”Perhaps the tension and anxiety of the moment got the better of him. If given a chance at cooler reflection of what he said, I am sure he would regret his descent into such low conduct.

“In this vein, I forgive him and hope he regains his balance and proper comportment no matter the outcome of tomorrow’s contest. After all, we are both here to improve Lagos not to wrestle in its streets.”

Sanwo-Olu vowed not to attack anybody in the buildup to the primary, saying: “Let it be heard by all that I hold the people of Lagos State with great respect and affection. Their welfare is my utmost concern and it is what drives my pursuit for the governorship nomination of the APC.

“As such, I also hold the office of governor of our state in high esteem. I shall never consciously do anything that will undermine the dignity of the office nor will I engage in personal attacks against the holder of that officer.

“My pursuit of office will continue to be based upon issues that matter to Lagosians and not on attacks against someone’s character, even when he attacks mine. For anyone to engage in unwarranted character attacks against me, [it] reveals more about that person’s character than it says about mine.

“However, I must clear up some inaccuracies in the governor’s statement. His allegation of that I was arrested for spending fake dollars at a night club in the United States is untrue. In fact, the governor knows I travelled to the United States just last month. I would not have been allowed to travel or even get a visa if I had been involved in what the governor falsely alleged.

“That the governor claimed I underwent some unidentified type of ‘rehabilitation’ at the Gbagada General Hospital is also shameless and untrue. Promulgation of salacious rumour should not be part of the job description of a governor. This is not the stuff of high office.

“People should question whether it is ethically right for the governor to turn what should be confidential medical information about a citizen into a weapon of political warfare. But for avoidance of doubt, let it be stated that I never received any treatment whatsoever at the Gbagada General Hospital.

“Today, instead of making a convincing defence of his performance, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode sought to sow fear into the hearts of Lagosians. But Lagosians are an intelligent and brave people. They can see through the smoke and the fog.

“I am here not to tear my opponent down but to help build Lagos up. With me, you will hear about progress on education, health, sanitation, proper tax levels, economic development, infrastructure, jobs, public services and other things that enhance the lives of people.

“I am a serious person and this primary is a serious matter. I have not the time or inclination to attack character when there are so many real issues to address. We will continue to focus on the issues that matter in the lives of the people of Lagos. Lagosians want an answer to the sanitation crisis cast loss of jobs caused by Mr. Ambode’s Visionscape misadventure.

“Our people will want to know why Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has not been able to build a single General Hospital in the state when his immediate predecessor Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) built 11 General Hospitals. Lagosians are waiting to hear what our solutions are. They want to know why hundreds of competent civil servants got summarily dismissed and how this has undermined public services. As a candidate for the party’s nomination and hopefully as your next governor, my approach will not be to sling insults but to propose solutions to the problems of the day.”

Ambode lost his bid for second tenure to Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu in a direct primary conducted by their party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

In what apparently surprised opposition and mischief makers, Ambode accepted the result of the exercise and pledged to work with the winner and the party.

He has courageously demonstrated his resolve with his full participation and in the party National Convention for the affirmation of the President Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate for 2019 election. Ambode came with the Lagos delegates and with “his brother, Sanwo-Olu’’ during the convention. Both of them were seated with others at party national convention in Abuja alongside the former chairman of the party, Chief Tunde Balogun.

His defeat in the primary seems not to have dampened his political enthusiasm as he cheerfully participated actively in the convention aligning with all his party members from the Lagos. He was with Sanwo-Olu and former governor Raji Fasola and other Lagos State party bigwigs to demonstrate his loyalty to the party.

In a tweet on the situation, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, captioned a photograph, “Myself and My brother, Executive Governor of Lagos State, AkinwunmiAmbode at #APCNationalConvention tonight.

#SanwooluForGovernor. hand in hand into the #APCNationalConvention arena at the Eagle Square. It was also at this convention 5 years ago that President a Tinubu brought them together and took pictures with them.

-TAYO OYEDIJI

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