Akinwunmi Ambode, the Lagos State governor, on Monday officially endorsed Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, his running mate, saying the duo are prepared for the campaign and ready to take on the task of moving the state to greater heights.
The governor, who spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Party’s state secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, raised the hands of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat before scores of party leaders and faithful, wishing them well in the March 2, 2019 election.
Ambode said: “As we are looking forward to February 16, 2019, we know it is the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket that the whole of Lagos will vote for. As we proceed two weeks after on March 2, we also declare that it is the Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat ticket that will come to take over from me by the special grace of God.
“I pray for them and bless them that they will take over from me successfully in good health and in good spirit,” he said.
He urged those still aggrieved with the fallout of the APC primaries to follow his example and accept the party’s supremacy.
He also appealed to the APC leadership to go a step further by looking for avenues to compensate aggrieved aspirants, saying such was necessary to spur them to work and move the party forward.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC National Leader, commended Ambode’s courage and others for accepting the outcome of the party’s primaries, saying their act of sportsmanship deserved to be appreciated.
Tinubu said Ambode, his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule, and all the APC leaders and members had done commendably well in respecting the party’s supremacy.
Tinubu said: “I want to say thank you to all of you and God bless you. I thank all of you for respecting the party, particularly the present governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, and his deputy, Idiat Adebule. May God continue to bless you and guide you and you will live long with everlasting progress.
“Thank you to all our leaders, the Government Advisory Council (GAC) of Lagos State and the membership of the party who had embarked on reconciliation efforts to appeal to all our members who are initially aggrieved. The party supremacy has been demonstrated; the party discipline has been demonstrated. You are our leaders and we respect all of you.”
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While recalling that the direct primary option adopted for the shadow election of the party was taken after a GAC meeting, Tinubu said it was gratifying that all members of the party accepted and endorsed the decision, adding: “I want to thank you for maintaining peace, harmony, unity and love.”
He said having crossed the hurdle of the primaries, it was now time for all members of the party to unite and maintain a strong outing for APC during the 2019 general elections, saying APC remained committed to Nigeria’s progress, development and economic transformation.
Other leaders at the meeting included the State’s Deputy Governor, Idiat Adebule; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; State APC Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun; GAC members led by Prince Tajudeen Olusi; Chief Lanre Razak, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Chief Kemi Nelson, Cardinal James Odumbaku, former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Jokotola Pelumi, among others.
