How we tried to save Ambode’s second term – Adefuye

Leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in Lagos East Senatorial District have denied insinuations that leaders of the party in the district did not make case for Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on his second term ambition.

Speaking at a reconciliatory meeting of the district held at CMD Shangisha, Lagos on Thursday, Senator Anthony Adefuye who spoke on behalf of the leaders disclosed that they did their best to have a meeting with the Governor before the issue went out of hand all to no avail.

“People accused me of removing Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, but the truth is that we saw this crack four months ago and we decided to meet with our Lagos Central Senatorial Leader, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi and three of us went to see Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

“We asked Tinubu if there was any problem, and he said that there was a problem and narrated it.

“We prostrated and asked him to call the governor and speak with him. He agreed to call him that day and asked him to remove the Commissioners for Finance, Hon. Akinyemi Ashade and Commissioner for Justice, Kazeem Adeniji (SAN).

“We left the place and started calling the governor to give him a hint of the meeting, but he did not pick our call.

“Tinubu also said the governor was not picking his calls too. I actually tried my best, but it continued like that. However, Tinubu promised to call us after speaking with him,” Adefuye stated.

The former Senator also revealed that he spoke with the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo during Sallah that Asiwaju Tinubu would not return the governor and urged him (Osinbajo) to see Tinubu over the issue.

Adefuye further explained that he went to Epe on the second day and tried to see the governor, “while in Epe, I called him, (Ambode) but he did not pick his calls.

“They said I would not see him until the following day, a Sunday, but they later said he would not see me that he was going to Lagos.

“We also tried to see Asiwaju Tinubu, but they said he was not around and we called Hon. Sikiru Oshinowo to help us see Tinubu so that we could see him.

“We later met with Tinubu, unfortunately, the governor did not get back to us despite all our efforts.

“We saw Asiwaju at 10pm and he told us a lot of things till 12 midnight. We then told Asiwaju to call GAC meeting and invite the governor and the governor was able to speak with us for the first time. It was a great opportunity that we lost,” Adefuye stated.

The party leader therefore, advised party faithful in the district not to put anybody that is not a member of the party in any sensitive positions.

Pointing out that politics is about what one can get for his people as a good leader, saying a leader may be disgraced when fighting for his people.

Another leader of the party in the district, Chief Lanre Rasak said the district has not been able to resolve its issues like those in the Lagos Central and West Districts.

He then gave a report of a meeting held by the leaders in the district on 31st May, where it was agreed that the district should be divided into zones.

“We decided to have a senatorial leader and deputy senatorial leader as well as a district committee. Members would be the Chairman, then a zonal leader from Ikorodu and another one from Epe, and Kosofe would be members.

“It was agreed that three zones shall be established. Senator Anthony Adeduye was appointed the new Senatorial Leader, while Alhaji Akanni Seriki (Baba Bamu) was appointed as the Deputy Senatorial Leader.

“For Ikorodu, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye is the Vice Chairman, while Omooba Sosanya would be Vice Chairman for Kosofe Zone while Chief Lanre Rasak is the Vice Chairman for Epe Division.

“Each vice chairman would chair the meeting in their areas while it was also agreed that nobody should break the chain of command in their area,” Lanre Rasak explained.

The new committee according to Chief Rasak would comprise members of the Governors Advisory Council (GAC), Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Hon. Sikiru Oshinowo, and the Vice Chairman of the party in the East, Chief Asipa Kaoli.

Also speaking at the forum, the Deputy Senatorial Leader of Lagos East, Alhaji Sikiru Akanni Seriki (Bamu) thanked Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for all his efforts.

While thanking the party’s Senatorial Candidate for Lagos East, Hon. Sikiru Oshinowo, Alhaji Seriki advised that the party should reward those who are working for the party before talking of those who did not work for the party.

“We should all go back home and work amongst our people at the ward levels. Those, who left for Labour Party then regretted it. We pray not to have a repeat of our bad experiences. We should all work for the unity of the party in our local levels,” Seriki concluded.