2019: Why I Dumped Ambode – Tinubu

A former Lagos State governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, further explained why he dumped Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the party’s preferred choice, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Speaking shortly after voting at Ward C, Ikeja council, when he had participated in the Lagos APC governorship primary, Tinubu who acknowledge that Ambode has done well in office, was however quick to add that the party preferred his challenger because the governor lacks “character.”

Tinubu, who insisted his withdrawal of support for Ambode was not personal, further said “this is an elixir for the general election. Ambode Akin, he’s doing well, yes; he hasn’t been a good party man; not only the glamour, not only about brick and mortar. A talent is determined by character. For you to become an influential person, you have to respond to the yearnings of the people. This is politics; democracy, one man, one vote.”

The ex-Lagos governor also noted that, by his (Tinubu) action, he was only responding to the yearnings of the party supporters as a leader by acceding to their request not to anoint Ambode ahead of next year’s governorship election in the state.

He added that without followers, there can never be a leader, saying that should he decide to go against the wishes of the party members, he would have failed in his role as a leader.

“Who did I support in 2014? Ambode. Life is dynamic. It’s those who made me the leader of the structure in Lagos who said it was what they want. It’s only if you have followers that you’re a leader in democracy.

“If I look back and I don’t find them again; if I don’t respond to them, if I fail to accede to their request, I would have failed the leadership test.

“This is not personal; it is beyond me as a person. Every democratic constitution is preceded by ‘We, the people’. So, I had to submit myself to the wishes and the yearnings of our party,” Tinubu declared.

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