Strongman of Lagos, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu today brushed aside internal wrangling within the Lagos All Progressives Congress, (APC) today calling for party faithful to come out in large numbers on Monday to vote for Babajide Sanwoolu.
Tinibu said his position on who rules Lagos is about the interest of the people.
Though the former Lagos governor was proverbial in his response, the veiled support for Sanwoolu was evident.
He said he was happy that an alternative candidate had emerged who would heed the aspirations of majority of the people of Lagos.
“When the final word is given let it be said that we want all Lagosians to look to the future with the hope and optimism that our best days remain before us and not behind us.
“We walk into this primary strong and confidently believing in the right course we are to take. We shall emerge from this primary even stronger and more confident that we have taken that course by returning Lagos and our party to their finest path” Tinibu said.
According to him “What is at stake is nothing less than the future of the people of this state and how we can best maximise our collective destiny.”
The APC had earlier cancelled the bitter contest initially fixed for Sunday.
Meanwhile, the embittered state Governor Akinwumi Ambode addressed the media today saying his chief rival, Mr Babajide Sanwoolu has unethical backgrounds and was unfit to rule Lagos.
Midweek efforts including emissary from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had failed to make Ambode renege nor ensured his political foes stop pulling the trigger.
In a midday statement today, Asiwaju defended his preference for direct primary saying it was in response to the clarion call by party members.
More than I million voters will tomorrow chose the candidate that will represent APC in the governorship election fixed for early 2019.
Major stakeholders had rejected Ambode who appear to have relaunched a new battle campaign to win the public outside the institutional box dominated by party leaders who largely oppose him.
According to Tinibu in today’s statement.
“We are democrats in the truest sense of the word. As such, we forever search for what is good and right for the people. With this ideal as our guide, tomorrow’s primary cannot be shaded by selfish ambition or the perceived personal grievance between this or that person. Something much greater waits in the balance.”
He said “By resort to direct primaries, the party places the people’s future soundly in their hands. As democracy would have it, you shall be the authors of the party’s nomination and hopefully our next state government.”
He said further “With the holding of direct primaries to elect governorship candidates in Lagos and other states, the APC takes a groundbreaking step toward greater internal democracy and progressive governance for the benefit of all people.”
Asiwaju said while the APC was young, it has nevertheless grown fast and has travelled far in a short time.
He said what, in other nations, has taken political parties generations to achieve, the APC have done in a few brief years.
Asiwaju said ” I thank and commend all APC members and all Lagosians who have lent their support to this historic and humane mission upon which our party has embarked.
“I trust in the wisdom of the people and will abide it. However, as a leader of the party and as a former governor of our beloved and excellent Lagos, I would be remiss if I did not make a few observations regarding the primary.
He said his goal “is and shall always be a better Lagos. To this objective, I have dedicated the greater part of my public life. Roughly 20 years ago, a corps of dedicated and patriotic Lagosians, put aside personal interests and rivalries, to put their minds and best ideas together for the good of the state. Out of this collaborative effort, was born a master plan for economic development that would improve the daily lives of our people.”
Tinubu said “My administration faithfully implemented that plan. The government of my immediate successor, Tunde Fashola, also honoured this enlightened plan.
“Where state government remained true to that blueprint, positive things happened. During my tenure and Governor Fashola’s, Lagos state recorded improvements in all aspects of our collective existence, from public health to public sanitation, from education to social services, from the administration of justice to the cleaning of storm and sewage drains. Businesses, large and small, invested, hired millions of workers and thrived.
“All Lagosians were to fully participate and justly benefit from the social dividends and improvements wrought by this plan. From the common labourer, to business leaders, to professionals and our industrious civil service. We all were to be partners in a monumental but joint enterprise. None was to be alienated. None was to be left out. And none were to be pushed aside. This is especially true for those who contributed so much to our development, whether as a business leader who has invested heavily in Lagos, the homeowner who struggles to pay his fair share of taxes or as someone employed in the hard work of keeping our streets and byways clean so that others may go about their daily tasks unimpeded.”
“I make no pretence that the master plan is perfect. It can always be fine-tuned. However, whenever a government departed from this plan without compelling reason, the state and its people have borne the painful consequence of the improper departure.
He said to ignore the Lagos blueprint for progress in order to replace it with ad-hoc schemes of a materially inferior quality contravenes the spirit of progressive governance.
“For reasons unknown to me and most Lagosians, we have experienced such deviations from enlightened governance recently.
“This trend is that which most concerns me as the primary nears. We must arrest this trend before irreparable harm is committed against the people and their future. For the record, let it be known that I shall vote in this primary because I see it as one of extreme import to our state and our party. Just as I shall vote, I equally urge all party members to do so.
“We must vote in a manner that returns Lagos to its better path, the one that promises a just chance for all to enjoy the fruits of our prosperity. We must always pursue our goal of a Lagos energised by creative dynamism, tolerance of others, and guided by a leadership capable of extending a collegial hand to all stakeholders, far and wide.”
