Some prominent stalwarts in the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress have kicked against the possible choice of erstwhile Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as the beneficiary of the ministerial appointment slot for the state.
President Bola Tinubu submitted the first batch of ministers containing 28 names to the National Assembly last week with no nominees from many states including Lagos where he is from.
Although Dele Alake and Olawale Edun who have their political base in Lagos were on the list, they were said to be filling the slots for Ekiti and Ogun states respectively.
However, the delay by the President to name a nominee from Lagos has unsettled the party base in the state.
The President is said to be trying to harmonise various interests in the state before a final decision would be taken. Several names have been considered for the slots including three former governors Babatunde Fashola and Ambode.
However, the possible choice of Ambode is causing ripples within the party as those against the former Governor believe he didn’t work for Tinubu’s emergence and shouldn’t be the beneficiary of his presidency.
Ambode had fallen out with his political godfather after he lost the second term ticket of the party to the incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwoolu in 2019.
It was believed that Tinubu orchestrated Ambode’s disgraceful exit from office and the former state Treasurer consequently exited the APC.
He appeared to have been reintegrated into the progressives family after Sanwoolu attended his 60th birthday. Ambode also attended the homecoming victory party of President Tinubu who expressed his happiness to see his political godson by saying, “Akin, thank you” during his address.
He erased doubts about his return to the progressive fold when President Tinubu invited him to Aso Rock for a meeting fuelling insinuations he is now being considered as minister.
“Our Leader, President Tinubu, is noted for rewarding loyalty and commitment and we believe he would do the best thing in the interest of the party in the state by picking somebody who worked for the success of the party during the last election,” a member of the state executive committee who sought anonymity said.
“It is still a rumour that Ambode is being considered for Lagos State slot, we believe it will remain as a rumour because we are talking about somebody who left the party because he was denied a second term and didn’t lift a finger for APC in the last four years. We strongly believe that the slot should be given to those who worked for the party in the last election and that is the position of the most members of our party.”
Senator Tokunbo Abiru who is representing Lagos East in the red chamber is another strong candidate for the slot while the National Youth Leader of the ruling APC Dayo Israel is also said to be lobbying for it.
“Abiru has always been Tinubu’s choice but the dynamics appeared to have changed because of Ambode. The Senator is being prepared to take over from Sanwoolu as Governor of Lagos State in 2027 and his role as minister would boost his chances but it remains to be seen if the President would stick to his initial plans.
“Head or tail, Ambode would still benefit from the arrangement even if Abiru is picked as Minister because the former Governor is likely going to replace Abiru in the Senate as the two come from the same Senatorial district,” another party source told our correspondent.
