By Dipo Olowookere
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has stressed that he will not bow to pressure from his political godfather’s camp to step down for his anointed candidate for the governorship primaries slated for Monday, October 1, 2018.
Former governor of the state, Mr Bola Tinubu, who is regarded as the political godfather of Lagos State, had reportedly backed Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to replace Mr Ambode in 2019.
But at a world press conference held in Alausa, Ikeja on Sunday, September 30, 2018, the Governor said he will not step down for Mr Sanwo-Olu.
Mr Ambode said he will participate in Monday’s primaries to pick the sole candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 poll.
“I am going nowhere. We want to consolidate on what we have done in the last three years,” the Governor emphatically told newsmen.
According to him, “The aspirant put up against me is not a fit and proper person. He spent fake American Dollars at a night club in America.”
He further said, “We cannot allow our esteemed members not have an opportunity to participate in the direct primaries,” adding that, “We must allow our people to come out and vote for their candidate in the direct primaries, that is the essence of democracy.”
Mr Ambode expressed confidence that he would emerge victory at tomorrow’s exercise, which has been shifted for about three times now.
Also, he hopes the process would be free and fair, but urged that no card carrying member of the APC in Lagos State is disenfranchised.