UPDATED: Lagos APC leaders halt moves to impeach Ambode

…As Tinubu Declares: No Impeachment Against Ambode

National leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola
Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday finally put the impeachment saga which had
dominated the polity in the last one week in Lagos State to rest,
declaring that there is no longer a question of impeachment of the
State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.

Speaking after a peace meeting brokered by the APC leadership in
the State to end the rift between the Governor and lawmakers which
was held at Lagos House, Marina, Tinubu said it was gratifying to
note that the conflict between the Governor and the members of the
State Assembly had been amicably settled.

Tinubu, who spoke on behalf of all the APC leaders in the State,
said the executive and the legislative arms of government in the
State had resolved to work together in the interest of the
State.

“We held a meeting on behalf of Lagos, the entire Lagosians, our
party – APC leadership. In the last one week, there has been noise
about the conflict between the executive and the State Assembly. It
is of great concern to all of us and particularly what Lagos
represents across the country.

“We have been able to look into the source of various conflicts
which is not uncommon in politics; what is the genesis of those
problems? We are one big family and as a big family, you will have
some rumples, you will have some disagreement. As leaders of the
party, we have looked into that; we have looked into areas where we
have to compromise, discuss and build the institutions, encourage
the institutions to really do what is right.

“We have resolved there is no question of impeachment in Lagos
State. Let the two arms of government communicate and continue to
respect one another and build consensus and understanding. That is
all about politics. Conflict and conflict resolution mechanism is
inbuilt in any political system unless leaders are lacking in their
responsibilities,” Tinubu said.

He thanked the Governor, his deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule and the
leadership of the House for agreeing to the peaceful resolution of
the conflict, saying it was evident that consequences of allowing
such conflict to fester would have been dire not just for the
State, but the entire country.

“We thank the Speaker and the entire members of the House of
Assembly leadership. We thank the Governor and the Deputy Governor
who had demonstrated firm respect for the party leadership in Lagos
State.

“You know when Lagos sneezes, the rest of the political equation
catches cold and we are very happy that we are able to resolve
amicably. The Deputy Speaker is also here and all of them put
together, we are assured that things will start to run smoothly in
Lagos both the House and the government,” he said.

Also speaking, a party chieftain, Prince Tajudeen Olusi
corroborated Tinubu’s position, and expressed optimism that the
House would soon meet to resolve other grey areas.

“The National Leader (Tinubu) has spoken and mine is just to
confirm the decision. Conflict resolution is an essential
ingredient of management. We have looked into the problem and the
party has directed the two arms of government – the executive and
the legislature to work together and very soon, the House will meet
and resolve all grey areas,” Olusi said.

The meeting was attended by both the executive and legislative
arms represented by Governor Ambode, Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat
Adebule; Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru
Obasa; Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshinlokun; Majority Leader, Sinai
Agunbiade; Chief Whip, Rotimi Abiru, among other principal officers
of the Assembly.

Others in attendance were all the members of the Governors’
Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision making organ of the
party in the State; Governorship candidate of the party in the
State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Femi Hamzat, among
others.