Akinwunmi-Ambode lagos Governor
Ambode
Akinwunmi-Ambode lagos Governor
Ambode Officially Endorses Sanwo-Olu for
Governor
…Urges Aggrieved Aspirants To Unite For APC’s Victory In 2019
…As Tinubu Thanks Lagos Gov, Others For Respecting Party’s
Decision
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday officially
endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) in the State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy,
Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, saying that the duo were prepared for the
campaign and ready to take on the task of moving the State to
greater heights.
The Governor, who spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the
State secretariat of the party on Acme Road in Ogba, raised the
hands of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat before scores of party leaders and
faithful and wished them well in the March 2, 2019 election.
“As we are looking forward to February 16, 2019, we know it is
the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket that the whole of Lagos will vote for.
As we proceed two weeks after on March 2, we also declare that it
is the Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat ticket that will come to take over from me
by the special grace of God.
“I pray for them and bless them that they will take over from me
successfully in good health and in good spirit,” he said.
He urged those still aggrieved with the fallout of the primaries
of the party to follow his example, and accept the party’s
supremacy.
“The first thing I want to say is to appeal to all our party
members who, in one way or the other, have been wronged or
aggrieved that they should find a place in their hearts to let it
just be the same way that I have accepted the greatness of the
party.
“I want us to know that the party is supreme to all our
individual interests because it has the common good for all of us
and we must find a place in our hearts to let the party reign
supreme,” he said.
The Governor also appealed to the leadership of the party to go
a step further by looking for avenues to compensate aggrieved
aspirants, saying such was necessary to spur them to work for the
party and also move the party forward.
According to him, “I want to further appeal to all our leaders
and our party leaders also that when there is a platform for
reconciliation, we should proceed also to continue to reconcile and
when there is a platform for compensation, we should also make
those promissory notes so that all our aspirants who are not
candidates must be ready to sacrifice for the overall collective of
our party.
“This is very important so that we can move this campaign
forward because it is only when we win that we can compensate, it
is only when we win that we can reconcile and so let us have that
collective decision to move APC forward.
“We are one party and we are one family and if we are one family
and one party, then we should proceed and make APC the reigning
party at the centre and the reigning party in Lagos. So, all our
stakeholders, all our elders I seek for your cooperation, your
solidarity and your support for our candidate at the gubernatorial
level, senatorial level, House of Representatives and Assembly and
also Presidency,” Governor Ambode said.
The Governor, also urged Lagosians to vote massively for the
reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo come February 16, 2019 for continuation of the good works
in the country.
National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his
part, commended the courage of Governor Ambode and others for
accepting the outcome of the primaries of the party, saying their
act of sportsmanship deserved to be appreciated.
Tinubu said Ambode, his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule, and all the
leaders and members of the party had done commendably well in
respecting the supremacy of the party.
Addressing the gathering which was attended by key leaders of
the party in the State, Tinubu said: “I want to say thank you to
all of you and God bless you. I thank all of you for respecting the
party, particularly the present Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and his
deputy, Idiat Adebule. May God continue to bless you and guide you
and you will live long with everlasting progress.
“Thank you to all our leaders, the Government Advisory Council
(GAC) of Lagos State and the membership of the party who had
embarked on reconciliation efforts to appeal to all our members who
are initially aggrieved. The party supremacy has been demonstrated;
the party discipline has been demonstrated. You are our leaders and
we respect all of you,” he said.
While recalling that the direct primary option adopted for the
shadow election of the party was taken after a GAC meeting, Tinubu
said it was gratifying that all members of the party accepted and
endorsed the decision, adding: “I want to thank you for maintaining
peace, harmony, unity and love.”
He said having crossed the hurdle of the primaries, it was now
time for all members of the party to unite and maintain a strong
outing for APC during the 2019 general elections, saying APC
remains committed to Nigeria’s progress, development and economic
transformation.
Other leaders at the meeting are the State’s Deputy Governor,
Idiat Adebule; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru
Obasa; State APC Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun; GAC members led by
Prince Tajudeen Olusi; Chief Lanre Razak, Senator Ganiyu Solomon,
Chief Kemi Nelson, Cardinal James Odumbaku, former Speaker of Lagos
State House of Assembly, Jokotola Pelumi, among others.
SIGNED
HABIB ARUNA
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY