Tinubu: Ambode Can Dislodge His Godfather Like Obaseki – PDP Chieftain

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and a top lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has urged former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, to take a bold step and go against his godfather in Lagos State.

The PDP House of Representatives aspirant from Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency in Osun State in 2019 made the call in a statement to newsmen on Wednesday titled, ‘Ambode should learn from Obaseki, godfathers can be unseated’.

Olajengbesi asked Ambode to learn from Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State who fought and defeated ‘godfatherism’.

He said: “By breaking his political silence since he was kicked out by the godfathers of Lagos politics in the build-up to the 2019 governorship election, Ambode maybe aspiring something in 2023. Whilst he has not declared that he wants to return to office, time will tell if he wants to vie for any political office in the country.

“However, one consensus in the court of public discourse is that Ambode’s political turbulence in the 2019 governorship election showed how godfathers had monopolised the political space in Nigeria.

“But Ambode chickened out unlike Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, who in 2020, fought his former godfather, Adams Oshiomhole, and won.”

Olajengbesi recalled that Oshiomhole had vowed that Obaseki won’t return as governor after a term of four years but “Obaseki’s indomitable spirit did not quit after the APC governorship ticket of Edo State was handed over to Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who was Oshiomhole’s anointed candidate.

“Obaseki swiftly moved to the Peoples Democratic Party, clinched the ticket of the party and won his return ticket to office, thanks to the objectivity and non-partisanship of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“If Obaseki, with the overwhelming support of the electorate, was able to dislodge and shame the godfathers of Edo politics, Ambode, with the acceptance of Lagosians can wrestle the soul of Lagos from godfathers who have literally turned the state to their private property.

“Overall, Ambode’s political fate in 2023 will be anchored on so many things but one indispensable leadership attribute Ambode cannot afford to have a full dose of going into 2023 is courage, courage to dare the godfathers, courage for freedom from the shadows of the self-imposed kingmakers. Godfathers can be unseated, the only power that be is of God, not any mortal.”

Recall that Ambode, after falling out with the National Leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, was kicked out of office and was replaced by Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Ambode had ignored calls in 2019 to dump the APC and run for re-election in the opposition PDP.