Otedola

Why Femi Otedola joined Lagos guber race

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Barring no change of mind in the last minute Business mogul Mr. Femi Otedola may join the Lagos guber race to finally introduce a new dimension into the crisis plaguing the ruling party as a result of the apparent refusal of the power brokers in the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) to allow incumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to run for a second term.

 

Apparently acting in anticipation of  this development which this time around has gone beyond the level to have encouraged the business mogul who is from the same town with him to join the race and repeat the 1991 governorship scenario which led to the emergence of the then National Republican Convention(NRC) candidate, Sir Michael Otedola as the governor of Lagos State.

 

Otedola’s emergence then was necessitated by the deep intrigues and power play in the then most popular party, the Social Democratic Party(SDP), where both the late Professor Femi Agbalajobi and Chief Dapo Sarumi, had a deep dissagrement over the party ticket.

 

This led to a protest vote by Sarumi’s supporters which led to the emergence of Sir Otedola who was least expected to win the election.

The calculation by the Ambode group, the AA Vanguard, NewDawn sources revealed is hinged on the fact that should the Mandate group which belongs to the National leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu carry out its threat by denying him the second term ticket, he would easily join hands with his supporters to support Otedola, a fellow indigence of Epe to clinch the governorship slot and complete his second term slot which they claim rightly belongs to the Epe division of the state.

 

To confirm the deep schism in the state branch of the APC, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos east in the upper legislative chamber was present on Monday when Governor Ambode picked his nomination paper.

 

He declared then that Ambode’s second term has the blessing of Asiwaju Tinubu but those who can read between the lines knew that trusted aides of Tinubu were with Mr. Jide Sanwoolu, the former  Commissioner for Establishment in the state during the tenure of former governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

 

Those present at the ceremony where Sanwoolu picked his form included Cardinal James Odumbaku,leader of the Mandate group and a very close ally of Asiwaju Tinubu.

 

Beside the crisis of confidence that led to the irreconcilable difference in the ruling party, the attitude of the incumbent governor to party issues and frequent disagreement with the party leaders on ruling of the state were said to have irked Asiwaju Tinubu who was said to have then conceived the idea of direct primary to curtail the governor now that he is still in control of the party apparatus.

 

To show the seriousness of the party to deny Ambode the second term ticket, Asiwaju the arrow head of the direct primary in the APC was said to have three weeks ago threatened to deal with any party local chairman who refused to enroll fresh members into the party in order to have as many loyalists as possible to vote during the primaries and outsmart Ambode.

Sources also disclosed to NewDawn that the crisis of confidence between Asiwaju and former national legal adviser Dr. Muiz Banire, on one hand and former governor Fashola on the other hand may have been put aside by both parties to unite to remove Governor Ambode from power.

 

Apart from Ambode’s attitude to the party leaders and members in the state, his handling of the new refuse disposal system in the state was said to have irked the party leaders who thought he took the job away from Private Sector Participants who numbered into thousands and most of who are party faithfuls.

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This action they contended led to   thousands of job to contract a new system to Vision scope which ironically lacked the wherewithal to manage the refuse with its bad image for the state and government.

 

Besides, Ambode’s treatment of the former contractors during the BRF regime who were being owed millions of Naira was also said to have pitched the party against him coupled with his leadership style.

 

As things stand today,the APC may not find it so easy to remain in power more so if the opposition is able to fully get the nod of the governor who would not want to decamp to another party but would prefer to stay within the APC should he be denied the ticket and ensure the success of Otedola, thereby paying back the party leaders by ensuring his kinsman gets the job to run the state for the next four years.

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