Ambode’s sportsmanship in defeat and lesson for politicians

The political party primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as other political parties, to pick their flag bearers for the 2019 election, may have come and gone, but the ripple effect is still being heard nationwide, as many state governors are angry and threatening fire and brimstone, following their inability to have their way at the primary.

But in Lagos State, the scenario is different, as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has remain an example for many to follow in handling political contestations.

While many governors are threatening to lead their supporters to defect from the APC because they did not succeed in imposing their preferred candidates into the various offices as they deem fit, after completing their second term without major challenge,

yet Ambode who has been denied the opportunity to run for a second term on the platform of the APC, making him the first governor in the history of Lagos State to be prevented from contesting a second term, is rather mending fences.

Rather than raise dust as expected, Ambode is going around speaking with his supporters to back the person who won the ticket and ensure he wins the governorship election,

saying that he will rather that his challenger at the primary wins the election for their political party, rather than allow any other political party win the state because of their dispute.

As a proof that he means what he says, Ambode at the party’s convention in Abuja last month was seen hobnobbing with his challenger at the primary, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his predecessor, Raji Fashola and their godfather and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as they hugged and threw banters to the admiration of all.

As if to further prove that he was not joking about his support for Sanwo-Olu, despite openly declaring severally that he will do everything within his powers to ensure victory for the APC,

Ambode early in the week hosted Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Femi Hamzat, in his office to further assure them of his determination to ensure their victory at the poll, despite what many see as an injustice done to him.

The position of Ambode prompted his friend and the Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu in an unusual declaration to describe Abomde as a man gracious in defeat.

Bagudu, who showered accolades on Ambode for the high sense of maturity displayed in the wake of the political developments in the state, said Ambode demonstrated grace which has united the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2019 elections.

The Kebbi State governor, who spoke at the closing ceremony of the 18th National Women Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, said while it was inevitable to offend people in life, Ambode had since moved on and holds no grudges against anybody.

Bagudu also commended Governor Ambode for achieving a lot for Lagos State, adding that history would be kind to him for his great works in the state.

He said, “My friend Ambode doesn’t like to be praised; he is a very private person and I always see a reflection of him in me that how does private people function in all our public work in politics, but gratefully he has done a lot for Lagos; he has continued in the tradition and understandably, he might have offended some people.

“I have done so, many others before us have done so but he (Ambode) has demonstrated grace and being the believers that we are, we believe that history will judge him kindly. He holds no grudge against anybody. He has assured me and he loves the people of Lagos State and he is committed to their will.”

While many people have commended Ambode for his sportsmanlike approach to politics, we believe that it is time Nigeria politicians learn to take politics for what it is, sports and when you lose you take it in good faith, just like Ambode.

It is also important for us to point out here that if some persons believe that they are the only ones good enough for political offices, the best brains may never have the opportunity to showcase their abilities and the people will be the worse for it.

We therefore believe that the political space must always be opened up for new entrants so that new ideas and new ways of doing things will be introduced into the system, as the old ways has not helped the nation. We submit that politicians must allow new faces into the space if the nation must achieve the long sought development.