A veteran journalist, Dele Momodu,
has appealed to a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola
Tinubu to forgive the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode for any “sin” he
may have committed.
Momodu, who is the Publisher of
Ovation Magazine, said Tinubu should forgive Ambode because the APC leader will
be held responsible for any “plight” that his face-off with Ambode may cause
the state and his party.
Momodu, a former presidential
aspirant, claimed that the face-off between Tinubu and Ambode was caused by
some “witches and wizards.”
He stressed that, though Ambode
has been accused of not “looking after anybody,” Tinubu should consider the
good work of the governor.
Following a reported relationship
breakdown between Ambode and Tinubu, the latter was said to have anointed one
Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the next governor of Lagos State.
Just recently, the Vice Chairman
of the APC in Lagos East Senatorial District, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, had
disclosed that Tinubu instructed the 57 Local Council Chairmen in the state to
work towards the emergence of Sanwo-Olu as the next governor of the state.
However, Momodu in his latest
article, Pendulum, urged Tinubu not to “fire the bullet” because Ambode
deserves a second chance.
The article reads partly: “Let me
say categorically that no one has sent me to you because what is fashionable
these days is the web of conspiracy stories on social medial.
“You must have guessed what this
is all about, already. My appeal to you, openly and frontally, is to plead with
you to handle the Akinwunmi Ambode debacle with utmost care and tact.
“Until you brought him out from
retirement, not many people ever knew him and his achievements as the Lagos
State Accountant-General.
“He was obviously a young, shy
but brilliant man who knew how to get results. Your unusual sagacity and
prescience in unearthing gems like Fashola and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the
Vice-President birthed another genius of an administrator in Ambode. He has
succeeded in following and emulating the glorious heights set by you and
Fashola and Lagos State has again been better for the choice you made. I have
read all sorts about how power changed him and how he has not been too grateful
and appreciative to all those who gave him this uncommon favour and the seat of
power that he currently occupies. I have also sat with people who swore never
to forgive him even if you do.
“We all know though, that once
you give direction, all the sabre-rattling by these political journey-men will
cease and they will abide by your decision.
“Hmmm, Asiwaju, at the end of the
day, no matter what happens, you would be held responsible for the plight of
your party, APC and Lagos State, for good or for bad.
“It is normal for every mortal to
feel let down. It is even always tempting for humans to get angry and seek
vengeance but after every war, the gladiators often come together on the table
to start a new life as if they were not killing themselves in recent past. I
can’t claim to know all the sins Governor Ambode committed to warrant his
present predicament. But whatever it was, we are told he has begged and
pleaded, his wife has apologised, many distinguished Nigerians have beseeched
that you forgive and allow him to complete his good work. I have read the
complaints of many of your foot-soldiers, Sir, the reasons and excuses for
dumping Ambode are very similar, he has not looked after anybody, he has been
standoffish, who does he think he is, and so on. These are at the very worst,
personal issues that could naturally lead to bickering and animosity. I doubt
if the issue was more about lack of performance in accordance with the mandate
of improving Lagos which you gave to him. Not even uncharitable persons would
accuse him of that. Politics is indeed a delicate and dangerous game. A few
months back, no one would have envisaged this type of strife or brouhaha to
visit a man everyone called the most hardworking Governor in Nigeria. If I want
to sound superstitious and to put it the African way, this is the handiwork of
witches and wizards.
“I’m aware that my very dear
Brother, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, incidentally, I’m 20 times closer to him than
Ambode, has been dragged into the cauldron of intrigue and power struggle in
Lagos State. I will love him to be Governor, because he is undoubtedly
qualified, but not in the manner many of your supporters are going about it.
“If he is so destined, he may
still be Governor, some day. This is my reason for saying that the apparent
unnecessary and unwarranted humiliation of the current Governor is bizarre and
definitely uncalled for.
“The giddiness of the moment must
urgently give way to sobriety. If care is not taken ‘kata kata’ may burst! It
seems that the Lagos electorate is being taken for granted and that it is
assumed that they are merely dogs that can be controlled by the whistle of the
dog handler. Asiwaju, you never know, the unpredictable may happen and it has
happened before. I do not pray that history repeats itself within a short time,
at a time when you hold sway as the undisputed power broker. If that happens,
God forbid, most of those saying there is no one like you today, will swiftly
disappear before you can blink an eye. I venture to say that most of them do
not personally like you. They live in fear of you and not in awe of you. I hear
and know what many of them say behind you. If one asks them, why haven’t they
told you face-to-face, the usual answer is “you will be called an enemy once
you tell Oga the truth…”
“I remain your dear younger one
who will not shirk from telling you the plain truth!
“These are people very close to
you, but do not have your interest at heart. They are only concerned with their
selfish interests and self-preservation.
“What would be worse is for this
grave matter not to be settled and Babajide’s head is used to break coconut.
This would be sad.
“Everything must be done to bring
your team together again as one. Both of them can still work perfectly for the
good of the State. There is nothing wrong in having two brilliant, diligent and
industrious people on the same ticket to advance the prospects of the State,
with the recognition that the deputy is already anointed to take over. I
believe that this may be a veritable solution to the present imbroglio and that
it can work to assuage the feelings and aspirations of all concerned.
“The present situation is sad and
unfortunate. I seriously pity those who think you and Ambode cannot be friends
again. I know from your antecedents that you do not practice politics like
that. You are much more astute. You are buoyed by the philosophy of ‘itesiwaju
Eko’. That demands sacrifices for the Lagos State you envision. I believe this
is one sacrifice that is necessary to make. It is difficult but not impossible.
You must forgive and make up, before it is too late. All those who have
intervened are waiting, and watching, to see if you would disregard, and
disrespect, them all collectively. That would be truly unfortunate.
“Finally, Asiwaju, you have shown
your power and demonstrated the ability to squash and rout, but, please, don’t
fire the bullet. Ambode deserves a second chance.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com