Day Lagos shut down for Ambode

On Wednesday, the city of Lagos literally went down on its knees when members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) hit town for their governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode. It was the day they chose to unveil their youthful flagbearer to the public.

That sunny Wednsday, all roads led to the Sky Power open playground near Arch Bishop Vining Memorial Anglican Church, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
Leading the August crowd to the venue was no other person but the National Leader of the party and former Lagos State Governor,  Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He led other party chieftains like the state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), his deputy, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefolure state chairman of the party, Chief Henry Oladele Ajomole, his deputy, Cardinal James Omolaja Odunbaku and other party leaders like Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji and former Yaba LCDA Chairman now Lagos Mainland APC House of Representatives candidate, Abdur-Raheem Olajide Jimoh (JJ).
The party’s Woman Leader, Chief Kemi Nelson led the women folks to the arena. Some of them were the First Lady, Dame Abimbola Fashola, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, former Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan among others.
When the candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode along with his running mate, Alhaja Idiat Oluranti Adebule was heralded into the venue in an open motorcade, the ecstatic crowd welcome the duo with ovation while the popular Fuji Maestro, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, (K1 De Ultimate), treated the jubilant crowd with praises of Ambode and his ancestors.
Welcoming the crowd of party faithful and supports, the state chairman of the APC, Chief Ajomole expressed gratitude to God “for making this day possible,” just as he was full of thanks to all and sundry, “who found time out of their tight schedule to be here.”
The elated chairman, who said his remarks would be very brief had this to say, “By the grace of God, we are going to win. Somebody who has destroyed the economy of the country does not deserve re-election. When America had problem, they changed their government. We are having problems now. So, we are changing the government at the center as we are putting another round peg into a round hole in Lagos State for continuity.”
He thereafter invited the National Leader, Asiwaju Tinubu amid shout of, “Jagaban Borgu,” “Asiwaju of Africa,” “Governor Emeritus,” and so on.
After the preambles spiced with funny proverbs and rip cracking quotations that sent the audience into uncontrollable laughter, Tinubu now told the August gathering “why Jonathan must go and why Lagosians should vote for Ambode and other APC candidates across Nigeria.”
To start with, he described the PDP an “an Ebola-infested party that should be avoided,” urging the people to flee from its candidates and whatever is associated with it at the elections.
According to him, it was evident that the APC will win the general elections, asserting that, Ambode is better than the PDP candidate in terms of experience about governance.
Tinubu said: “There is no way for the Poverty Development Party, the Peoples Deception Party in Lagos because Lagos is not for experimentation.”
He spoke further: “Lagos has faith in a better and rewarding future. We said Lagos will not spoil (Eko o ni baje). PDP is Ebola. But, we say Lagos is not for experiment. We know where we are coming from. We know where we are going. We don’t need experiment in Lagos.”
While stating that the APC government has lived up to expectation in the last eight years under Fashola, Tinubu, who described himself as an expert in talent hunt, added that, “continuity is desirable,” adding that the choice of Fashola as the 2007 flag bearer has produced fruits of development, progress and prosperity for Lagosians.”
He then declared: “Today is a great day. I am a proud man. I am happy. I thank the Almighty God. This crowd makes me to be proud of Lagosians. In 2007, I handed over to one young man. I brought him before you. I told you he would perform better; that he is a SAN with a sound mind. That man is Babatunde Raji Fashola.
“It has been eight years of performance, unequalled performance, unbroken promises, sound experience, construction of good schools and roads, employment for younger people, youth skill development. Mother and Child hospitals are getting better. The state has made progress under the leadership of Fashola.
“I am a proud leader and father. Whatever they may say, who is the father of this talent? I am the one. Our prayer is that our children will live and perform better than us. May your children live and perform better than you.”
Noting that Lagos State also produced Prof. Yemi Oshinbajo (SAN) as the APC vice presidential candidate, he said the legal scholar will team up with General Muhammadu Buhari in the implementation of the commonsense revolution. He said, since Nigeria is facing grace challenges, it needs  special leaders at the state and federal levels to navigate the ship of the state.
Tinubue stressed: “I am happy that Osinbajo, a former member of Lagos State cabinet, is the running mate to Buhari, who is a straightforward, bold, honest Nigerian. A nation needs a special leader in its time of trial. Nigeria made a mistake in electing Jonathan in 2011. Jonathan is a man who gives excuses. He has admitted that he has failed. No more repeat. We want Buhari. Jonathan must go.
“Jonathan has spent all the money. He is spendthrift. Now, revenue is dropping. We need a man of intellect and an expert in financial engineering. When the Lagos money was seized, Ambode
Recalling how Ambode became the candidate, he said it was in response to the yearning of the youths, women and leaders of Lagos who rooted for him because they wanted a talented, experienced youth to continue where Fashola would stop.
He thereafter presented Ambode to the public thus: “It is therefore my joy to present Akinwumi Ambode to you.”
In his his address, Fashola, amid the shout of; “the Actualizer of our time,” from the audience urged Lagosians to reject the PDP at the polls, regretting that, “PDP leaders are fond of peddling falsehood,” just as he said that, “PDP is more terrible than Ebola.”
Fashola therefore advised Lagosians of 18 years and above to vote wisely, adding that they could not be disqualified if armed with their permanent or temporary voter’s cards. The governor, who berated the President for failing to fight the infrastructure battle, said that he does not deserve re-election.
He added: “Jonathan is complaining that Buhari who was in power in 1985 did not buy guns for the military. But, Nigerians solders have been part of the ECOMOG in their peace-keeping mission in West Africa. Does Jonathan want to fight insecurity with 1985 guns?”
Noting that the next administration will face some challenges, Fashola said, since the next challenge is financial management, Ambode is fit for the job.
Admitting that the task of a governor is tedious, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) urged Lagosians to endorse the youthful governorship candidate, saying that he is full of vigour, zest and energy.
He stressed: “It is a tough job, no doubt. I took the job at the age of 44. Now, I am 52. When I took the job, I could count the number of grey hairs I had. Now, I can only count the strands of black I have left. I thank Lagosians for giving me the job. I thank Lagosians for also taking care of me. Akinwumi Ambode is younger than me. You need youthfulness to do this job. That man (the PDP candidate) is already 60. An old man cannot do the job. If you call him at midnight, he will not pick your call.”
Exuding confidence and radiating air of joy, the flagbearer, Akinwunmi Ambode, who was described as the choice of the youths, waved his broom to the crowd as he promised to run an accountable government, if elected at the February 28 poll. The youthful finance expert and accountant of repute cum politician, who was accompanied by his wife, Bola, reminded: “I have been an accountant all my life. I will be accountable to you. We will make life more economically viable. We will make Lagos safer. We will set up an Employment Trust fund that will make youths have access to finance for entrepreneurship.
“I will be like BRF. I will be like Asiwaju. I have learned under them. They will pray for me. I will perform better than them. I will not disappoint Lagosians. Our party exists in all local governments and nooks and crannies. We stand for the protection of lives and property. We will carry all the people along, irrespective of their tribes.
“At the centre, we need change. The economy may collapse, if it is left in the hands of the PDP. Some parts of the North has been taken over by the Boko Haram.  Enough of suffering under the PDP. We should vote for Buhari and Osinbajo on February 14 and 28.”
Ome actors, actresses and artistes that thrilled and spoke in turns at the event included but not limited to, ace fuji musician, Alhaji Ayinde Wasiu, Buga, Kunle Afod, Iyabo Oko, Remi Surutu, Doris Simon, Segun Ogungbe, Sikiratu Sindodo, and the dreaded actor, Ojo Arowosoge  popularly called, Fadeyi Oloro.
While Alhaji Kabiru Ahmed of LASEPA addressed the gathering in Hausa, Chief Chris Ekwilo also made comments in Igbo.