Group Drums Support For Ambode’s Re-election

Members of a group, known as Human and Consumer Rights Advocacy
Centre, staged rallies in various parts of Lagos on Monday to
support Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s re-election.

It was reported that the group staged rallies at Ojota, Ogba,
Berger and Iyana Ipaja, chanting solidarity songs in support of
Ambode.

The rallies are coming against the backdrop of speculations that
Ambode has fallen out of favour with his political godfather, Sen.
Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu is said to be currently rooting for a former commissioner
in the state, Mr Jide Sanwo-Olu, who has already declared his
intention to contest the governorship on the platform of the APC
party, where Ambode also belongs.

Analysts view the development as a trying political season for
Ambode, who has since announced his desire to seek re-election.

Tinubu, a former Lagos Governor and Senator, has dominated the
politics of Lagos State, Nigeria’s economic capital for many
years.

Members of the HACRAC group chanted solidarity songs as they
moved from one place to another in the city, clutching placards
with various inscriptions.

The placards read: “Let the good man continue. Asiwaju, Ambode
is your son. In solidarity with Ambode. Ambode is a resilient
responsible governor.

Others read: “Gov. Ambode is our man. Asiwaju, pls, leave Mr
Actualiser. Let the good job continue. Let Ambode continue his good
but unfinished job.”

On Sept. 14, a group, called `Ambodemania Movement/Support
Worldwide’, staged a similar rally in Lagos to celebrate what they
called “good governance in Lagos’’.

One of the leaders of the rally, Mr Alex Omotehinse, told
reporters that the rallies were holding simultaneously at Ogba,
Iyana-Ipaja, Berger and other areas to drum support for Ambode.

He said that the action was aimed at supporting “the good
governance and sterling performance of the governor since his
assumption of office.

“We are in support that Ambode should be returned as the next
governor of Lagos State. The rally is because of insinuations that
there is going to be an imposition because of god-fatherism.

“Nigerians and Lagosians believe that the man has tried. Nobody
is perfect. Some of us believe that Ambode has tried his best and
that no one knows it all. We believe he deserves another term.

“He should be given an opportunity to complete what he has
started,” Omotehinse, the Lagos State Chairman of the Committee for
the Defence of Human Rights said.

According to him, if a new governor is elected, it will slow
down the pace of development as such governor will start afresh,
learn and come up with new policies.

“It is a must for Ambode to return. Let us applaud his sterling
performances and good will from the masses and encourage him to
continue. Ambode is tested okay. We know what he can offer.”

Also speaking, an activist, Mrs Funmi Ajayi, said that if
Ambode’s re-election was what Lagosians wanted, the leadership of
APC should field Ambode for a second term.

“The people of Lagos State are saying they have enjoyed the work
that he has done, so they want him to continue.

“People are pleading with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on behalf of
Ambode to grant him the second term to continue his infrastructural
development. Kudos to Gov. Ambode, he is working,” Ajayi said.