Ambode Rallies For Abuja Support, Following Alleged Fallout With Party Leaders

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode is reportedly rallying for support from the presidency, following alleged fallout with the All Progressive Congress leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Reports have it that Ambode is looking to explore other options should he continue to face rejection from Lagos caucus of the APC ahead of the 2019 gubernatorial elections.

Popular news outlet, ThisDay claim that the Lagos Governor has reached out to the presidency to mediate in the alleged friction with Tinubu, as he also battles to fend off opposition from the Mandate Group, which happens to the politcal machinery of his godfather.

Following Ambode’s announcement to run for second term, two notable aspirants in Obafemi Hamzat and Babajide Sanwo-Olu also went forward to pick their nomination forms with reports that the latter has the backing of Tinubu and the Mandate Group. A development which shocked Ambode, who is said to have sought for backing from Tinubu before picking his form.

However, sources told Naij that the Lagos Governor is being backed by the loyalists to fight back. “Ambode says he is not a politician and did not ask to be a governor. He feels, therefore, that if he is no longer wanted by the powers that be, he should simply ease out in peace. “But there are some of us who feel that loyalty should beget loyalty, and that if Tinubu has become disloyal to Ambode, the governor should not go down without a fight, giving that he has goodwill not only among the people of Lagos State, but also with the seat of power in Abuja,” a source added.

One of the sources was quoted as saying the governor’s strategy is a mixture of diplomacy and war. “First he would seek to persuade Tinubu to change his mind and support him. If that fails, he would fight, believing that he has enormous capacity to do maximum damage to the political fortunes of the APC in the state,” he said.