Lagos 2019: People’s Trust, 30 other parties pledge to adopt Ambode if …
Ambode
By Daniel Kanu
Help may have finally come the way of embattled Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, as a coalition of over 30 political parties led by the newly registered People’s Trust (PT) has decided to adopt him as candidate for the 2019 elections.
Ambode on Monday officially declared his intention to seek re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He said there was more work to be done in the state, adding that he was not tired of continuing.
The governor, who had earlier obtained his expression of interest and nomination forms at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, told party faithful in Alausa to join him to build a prosperous state driven by a vibrant economy, equity and justice.
He said, “In the last three and a half years, I have fulfilled my promises to you to make Lagos work for all.”
Ambode appreciated members of the APC and political leaders in the state, especially a national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for giving him the platform to contribute to the development of Lagos.
“In these three and a half years as your governor, I have seen visible proof that we can achieve unbelievable things when we all come together with no more than our belief in our dreams.
“But there is still a lot more to be done and I am not tired. I am sure you feel the same way because we all envision a better Lagos of our dreams.
“So, I humbly call you again to give me your support as I seek to continue with your mandate to steer the affairs of our state; let us achieve more,” Ambode said.
But news broke on Tuesday, September 11 that a three-time Lagos Commissioner and boss of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSDPC), Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had also obtained the governorship nomination forms, in a bid to take over Ambode’s job.
There was a frenzy in the media immediately Sanwo-Olu announced his intention, with analysts insinuating that Tinubu had dumped Ambode he helped elect in 2015.
Sanwo-Olu has submitted his forms alongside Ambode and both men await their fate at the APC primary.
All the 57 local government area and community development area chairmen are said to be waiting to crown Sanwo-Olu at the primary.
They reportedly met earlier in the week to take a position on Ambode and to work as a group to install his replacement.
When Sanwo-Olu submitted his forms in Abuja on Wednesday at the APC national secretariat, he played up his credential as worthy to occupy the Governor’s Office.
But on Friday, the coalition of 31 political parties led by legal icon and human rights advocate, Dr Olisa Agbakoba SAN, and the son of former Prime Minister, Dr Abduljalil Tafawa Balewa, said it had “offered its 2019 Governorship ticket to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who is currently embattled by factional politics of Lagos All Progressives Congress, APC.”
The group said in a statement made available to TheNiche on Friday that:
“Ambode has proved to be a wizard of development in Lagos, therefore should not be sacrificed on the alter of political intrigues and interests within Lagos APC. So, we as the platform of the fresh breed credible third force stakeholders in Nigeria have mobilised 30 other political parties in our grand coalition to engage him for the purpose of fielding him in the 2019 if APC in Lagos rejects him.
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“The People’s Trust, a product of the political long-suffering of the Nigerian Youths and masses with over 500 thousand permanent voter cards, PVC’s of its members in Lagos is set to adopt Ambode as its governorship candidate in Lagos if the Tinubu-led camp of APC rejects him.
“For us in the Lagos People’s Trust, Ambode is a fresh breed industrious and resourceful Governor, who has since changed the face of Lagos within the shortest possible time and should be encouraged to complete his second term in the interest of the welfare of the people of Lagos, which he has started’ to do.”
Below is the full text of the statement
PRESS STATEMENT
Friday, 14th September 2018
AGBAKOBA’S PEOPLE’S TRUST, 30 OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES ADOPT GOVERNOR AMBODE SECOND TERM
The People’s Trust, PT, a new mega party nationally led by legal icon and human rights advocate, Dr Olisa Agbakoba SAN, and the son of former Prime Minister, Dr Abduljalil Tafawa Balewa, leading 30 other political parties in Lagos State has offered its 2019 Governorship ticket to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who is currently embattled by factional politics of Lagos All Progressives Party, APC
Peoples Trust, a new mega party recently adopted by Nigeria Intervention Movement, NIM, a platform popularly acclaimed as the biggest political movement of fresh breed leaders of the third force movement in the country, in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos, by its Protem State Publicity Secretary, Dr Segun Awe Obe at the end of the elections of its new state executives, said Ambode should be encouraged to consolidate the great development he has started in Lagos
The statement reads “Ambode has proved to be a wizard of development in Lagos, therefore should not be sacrificed on the alter of political intrigues and interests within Lagos APC. So, we as the platform of the fresh breed credible third force stakeholders in Nigeria have mobilised 30 other political parties in our grand coalition d to engage him for the purpose of fielding him in the 2019 if APC in Lagos rejects him”
.
“The People’s Trust, a product of the political longsuffering of the Nigerian Youths and masses with over 500 thousands permanent voters carders, PVC’s of its members in Lagos is set to adopt Ambode as its governorship candidate in Lagos if the Tinubu led camp of APC rejects him
“For us in the Lagos People’s Trust, Ambode is a fresh breed industrious and resourceful Governor, who has since changed the face of Lagos within the shortest possible time and should be encouraged to complete his second term in the interest of the welfare of the people of Lagos, which he has started’ to do”
The new Lagos Exco of PT is made up of Lady Omowunmi Bajulaiye as Chairperson, Mr Ireti Duduyemi, Secretary, Dr Segun Awe Obe, Publicity Secretary among others elected at the meeting, where the party vowed to take over Lagos in 2019