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In a swift reaction, Tinubu’s anointed candidate to replace incumbent governor of Lagos State Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in the forthcoming elections, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the only aspirant challenging Akinwunmi Ambode on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said he would rather pay attention to the barrage of problems facing the state and not resort to dirty street fighting with the man he wants to push out of Alausa. Alausa is the popular name for the office of the governor of Lagos State.
Ambode had alleged that he was arrested for spending fake dollar notes at a night club in the United States of America (USA) and so was unfit to lead Lagos as he was also at some point underwent rehabilitation at the Gbagada hospital. In a statement on Sunday, the aspirant said Ambode’s claims against him “were beneath the dignity of our people and the exalted office he now holds.”
But as the tension mounts over who grabs the APC’s governorship ticket at the primaries, Sanwo-Olu said he had forgiven the Lagos governor but was sure that Ambode would later regret his “descent into such low conduct” if given a chance to reflect over what he said. He said, “As a candidate for the party’s nomination and hopefully as your next governor, my approach will not be to sling insults but to propose solutions to the problems of the day.
“My pursuit of office will continue to be based upon issues that matter to Lagosians and not on attacks against someone’s character, even when he attacks mine. For anyone to engage in unwarranted character attacks against me, reveals more about that person’s character than it says about mine. Thus, I felt sad for Lagos as I watched the press conference by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Many things he said was beneath the dignity of our people and the exalted office he now holds. Perhaps the tension and anxiety of the moment got the better of him. If given a chance at cooler reflection of what he said, I am sure he would regret his descent into such low conduct. In this vein, I forgive him and hope he regains his balance and proper comportment no matter the outcome of tomorrow’s contest (today). After all, we are both here to improve Lagos not to wrestle in its streets.”
Sanwo-Olu however denied the allegations levelled against him, saying he believes that Lagosians know that the governor only tried to be smart. “I must clear up some inaccuracies in the governor’s statement. His allegation that I was arrested for spending fake dollars at a night club in the US is untrue. For avoidance of doubt, let it be stated that I never received any treatment whatsoever at the Gbagada general hospital.”
