Lagos State chapter of APC seems to be on a path that may shake the perceived cohesion among its ranks and make it lose the 2015 governorship election to the opposition, writes Head, News Desk, VICTOR EBIMOMI
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Lagos State wing of All Progressives Congress (APC) may be heading towards crisis ahead of 2015 governorship election, unless it quickly puts its house in order. Analysts note that the party seems to be rocking its own boat and toying with its political fortune over how it is going after its governorship candidate in 2015.
There were, for instance, allegations that despite a long list of aspirants eyeing that position, some of whom have invested money, time and energy for years, the party’s godfathers are trying to veer off democratic principles by imposing a candidate of their choice.
One name that has consistently been thrown up is that of Akinwunmi Ambode, former Accountant-General of the state. Before now, those who had shown interest in the position were Senator Ganiyu Olarenwaju Solomon; former Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Miuz Banire; and of recent, House of Assembly Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji.
Others also said to be eyeing the position include former Health Commissioner, Leke Pitan; Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Commissioner for Agriculture, Gbolahan Lawal; Executive Chairman, Lagos Internal Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler; and the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat; and Senator Gbenga Ashafa.
Among the lot, however, Solomon (known as GOS) has never hidden his interest for position, as he had angled for it in 2007 until Babatunde Fashola emerged the preferred candidate of former Governor Bola Tinubu. Solomon was subsequently compensated with Lagos West Senatorial ticket. He, nonetheless, seems to be back in the race with a booming campaign and mobilisation machinery on ground as others.
The first pointer that that the party might be heading for the unpredictable is the blanket zoning of the position to Lagos East Senatorial District, which analysts say shuts out some aspirants from the race. The district stretches from Kosofe to Ikorodu and Epe and their territories.
No sooner was the zoning announced than the humming and discontent set in among top contenders and stakeholders. The agitation increased after the name of Ambode sprang up as anointed candidate of Tinubu.
Particularly, a group, Visioners for New Lagos (VNL), kicked vehemently, saying that the regime of imposition is gone in Lagos, vowing that those throwing up Ambode would never have their way this time around.
Coordinator of the VNL, Bambo Akin-Johnson, alleged that despite the ideals of the APC as a mega party, Tinubu has refused to key into the new dream, but is, instead, exhibiting a hang-over from the days of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), when “self-centredness, political Darwinism and perceived ownership of the state” was the practice.
But Tinubu has since denied any allegation of imposition. His Media Adviser, Sunday Dare, said: “It is the season of politics and an election year; such allegations and insinuations will be common place. This particular one is unfounded. Let them provide proof. He who alleges must prove.”
Even with this, there are insinuations that the unfolding development may not be in the best interest of the party.
“The party may play into PDP (Peoples Democratic Party)’s hand, if this matter is not settled well,” an APC youth leader told TheNiche.
What seems to have rendered the denial flat in the face of the party’s stakeholders, however, was the alleged endorsement of Ambode on Friday, May 16, by Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu.
That act triggered a whirlwind of reactions, which observers said are gradually exposing the underbelly of the party that had prided itself as Nigeria’s face of democracy and good governance.
Pitan was reported to have frowned at the role of the monarch, arguing that such pronouncement negates the processes mapped out by his party to pick its governorship candidate.
VNL alleged that the monarch had derailed from his eminent role of being a custodian of culture and father of all.
“Lagos is not the property of any one person or group, but a collective heritage that we will all protect with our very last.
“We will fight Lagos elders and put a final stop to their extremism. We would not honour them by offering a covering. At their level and status, they should be left to face the consequences of their greed,” the group riposted.
It added that the disposition of the “phantom Lagos elders” showed that the Oba of Lagos had veered off his brief “by arrogating to himself the right and power to determine who governs Lagos State”.
But another group, The Protectors of Lagos’ Legacy (PLL), fired back on behalf of the monarch, claiming that he has constitutional right to endorse anybody he deems fit.
“Oba Akiolu has only exercised his constitutional right as is the case all over the world. This should not attract butt of uncultured vituperation by some faceless people in the name of politics. The revered Oba only aired his opinion,” the group said in a statement by its coordinator, Olatunji Williams.
Apart from denials and verbal gymnastics about the would-be candidates, political watchers believe that the imputation of religion was also a well-hatched plan which can never go down well with many aspirants who would be affected.
Many have been agitating that a Christian should be given the opportunity this time around to rule, but majority of those aspiring are Muslims, a situation that might make them believe that the issue of Ambode is a settled one since he is a Christian and more importantly said to have come from the preferred zone.
Nevertheless, Fashola, a Muslim, would not buy into the idea of religious consideration when it comes to who succeeds him. On Monday, May 19, the governor advised religious leaders to abstain from making incendiary comments.
He spoke at an inter-faith conference organised by the state’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Lagos, with the theme: ‘Peace, Religious Harmony and Good Governance: Issues and Challenges’.
At the event, the governor said he could not remember the last time the governor of the state was elected based on his religious belief, or if it had ever happened.
“What will the preference for a governor of one faith over the other benefit us? Will it give one religion what the other faith cannot use? Will it give them schools that children from the other faith will not be able to use?” he asked.
