A former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, is not a member of the All Progressives Congress and cannot speak on behalf of the party.
Tinubu said this at a rally in Iganmu, Lagos, while reacting to the controversial comments of the monarch on Tuesday.
The APC National Leader, who noted that he was the first Yoruba governor to ever appoint an Igbo commissioner, said the Peoples Democratic Party, having failed to win last week’s presidential elections, were desperately trying to pull the APC into the Akiolu controversy.
He said the Coordinator of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, Ifeanyi Ubah, and the PDP leader, Bode George, were only making baseless accusations against the APC.
Tinubu said, “The oba is not a politician. His job is to accommodate all political parties, whether PDP, APC or SDP. So, what did he (Ubah) go and do at the palace?
“To you Igbos, don’t we pay your children’s school fees like others? Or is it the palace that pays for it? When we conducted an exam and a spelling competition, an Igbo boy, Ebuka, from Anambra, came first and he became the governor for one day.
“Those that won the competition three times in a row were Igbo. Ebuka was sent to Switzerland computer school and then Obafemi Awolowo University. We did not say he was an Igbo boy and he would not enjoy. He became an executive in Oando and he is now in Canada.
“Another boy, Felix, won and went to Switzerland and OAU. We paid his scholarship; we did not deny him because he is Igbo.”
In a separate statement, the Lagos State APC Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, said the monarch spoke out of anger.
He urged his kinsmen not to take out their anger on the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who knew nothing about the incident.
The statement read, “Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos is not a card-carrying member of APC. He is not a leader in the APC. He does not speak for the APC. He did not speak for Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state.
“He did not speak for our national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He did not speak for the incoming governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode. His Royal Highness is at liberty to speak for himself and he spoke for himself only.
“Lagos APC appeals to Ndigbo not to take the statement as the position of the party in Lagos. We passionately appeal to Ndigbo not to carry the statement credited to Oba Akiolu too far so as not to put a knife on things that have held us together for more than 50 years now.
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We have already decided to vote for APC from onset, I don't know where Oba is coming from with this intimidation that will spoil people's mind.
ReplyDeleteJoe Igbokwe, God bless your soul. Ambode all the way. # no to Jimi Agbaje George.
ReplyDeleteAPC, dig deeper than mere denunciation, you may arrive at something, most likely has gone wrong somewhere, why the sudden outburst from the monarch?
ReplyDeleteIn any case, Lagosians should know that, if Prof Osibanjo is at home for a weekend, it will be easier for him to have a dinner with Ambode, so that they may both share Amala, than with Agbaje since they will need an interpreter in the case of the later. Note, APC speaks English, a language other Nigerians too understand. Whereas, PDP are only good at German, which is why despite their vibrant nationwide campaign, that listed their numerous achievements, Nigerians still voted for change. Be wise as you choose even though no one can coerce any of you as you freely cast your vote.
If actualy we voted for change then change all the way. Ambode is a mad man he is also a theif why should we vote for someone that loot the treasury as commissioner for Finance he is OLE therefore has lost the election sikena
ReplyDelete@Atondu Akaan. I am so disappointed with ur utterances and I feel so sorry for your future and that of the Generation. If someone make a statement and he is to be rebuke let's rebuke him and not show some stupid partisan attitude. Hate PDP hate APC for all I care, however I wont sell my Conscience for sentiments. If Lagos had always survive 16years without Federal Input I believe it can survive under anyone further more as Lagos is like a Country on its own. I am a Lagosian and and Yoruba and I will not say Black when its white.So keep Shut and just use your single vote on whom pleases you. BIG FOOL!!!
ReplyDeleteAll I know and care for is that Jimi is the next Lagos State governor, that is for sure, we don't care if APC candidate is the President what people are looking at not party but individual and some certain things therefore, majority even APC members are shouting Jimi Agbaje
ReplyDeleteAt last the Igbo leader spoke like a Nigerian, Do not mind so many Biafrans making divisive and ethnic comments on the Monarch's error or mouth leakage so to say.
ReplyDelete