The director of media and communications of the APC presidential campaign council, Dele Alake, has reacted to a claim that his princiapal denied Akinwunmi Ambode a second term as governor of Lagos.
During a Twitter Space organised by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (ABAT) Media Centre, on Sunday, August 28, Alake made it clear that Tinubu did not reject Ambode contrary to popular suspicion, Daily Trust reports.
Alake said Ambode only lost to Sanwo-Olu at the primary
The former commissioner for information and strategy in Lagos noted that Ambode was only defeated at the primary by his successor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and that this was decided by votes, not by Tinubu.
Alake explained that while Ambode might have had some flaws and made wrong move at one point or the other, it was not Tinubu’s responsibility to choose who governs Lagos, even if he has the right to support a preferred candidate.
He said:
“In a political competition, there must be supporters here and there. Yes, Fashola’s successor (Ambode) came into office, he was supported by Asiwaju as Asiwaju supported
Fashola. But let me use this opportunity to clear one point, a misconception that Ambode wasn’t given a second term. It is not true.
“The governorship mandate is not for Asiwaju to give or take. It is for the people of Lagos State to give or to take or withdraw. Ambode was in office, for whatever reason he might have committed, of course he did commit gaps and faux pas but he also went through election.
Maybe people have forgotten or they have selective amnesia, Ambode went through the political process and lost.
“Asiwaju did not take the ticket from him. He contested the primaries with Babajide Sanwo-Olu and lost. The primary was conducted in the open all over the state and the media covered it and it was shown everywhere. Why do people always succumb to such partisanship occasioned by blind prejudices.
“Yes it was Asiwaju’s right to support any candidate or aspirant, it is a natural phenomenon.”
