Ambode: Tinubu, Lagos Speaker Plot Next Move

SUPPORTERS OF EX-GOVERNOR PREPARE FOR SHOWDOWN

Fola James

Former Governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode will not appear before the state house of Assembly anytime soon, very close sources to the ex-helmsman have told the magazine.

The Mudasiru Obasa-led assembly last week summoned the former governor to clarify some issues on how he managed the finances of the state while he was governor, particularly the one relating to the purchase of over 800 luxury buses for LAMATA, the state public transport agency.

The ex-governor had earlier in August refused to show up when he was invited by members of the assembly.

The Assembly acting under Motion Number 2,’ by the member representing Eti Osa 2, Gbolahan Yishawu, decided to invite Ambode over his decision to spend N17bn to purchase the buses in the 2017 budget, which was not approved by the Assembly.

“The Lagos State House of Assembly, pursuant to Section 129 (1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) hereby summons His Excellency, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the former Governor of Lagos State (May, 2015 – May, 2019) to appear before the Committee of the House on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium, Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja by 1 pm,” the assembly stated in the summons.

The reason for the summon is that , “You are kindly requested to furnish the committee with 15 copies each of all relevant document(s) relating to the issues raised through the Office of the Clerk of the House on or before Tuesday, October 29, 2019.

“It is pertinent to state that your presence at the proposed meeting would give you the opportunity to shed light on issues that are material to the investigation.”

Before the lawmakers decided to invite him, the state Assembly had set up a committee to investigate the purchase of 820 buses out of the 5,000 buses proposed by the embattled former governor because the lawmakers had originally opposed the idea.

Recall that two former commissioners in the state, Olusegun Banjo and Olawale Oluwo penultimate week told the lawmakers that Ambode gave approval for all transactions under his administration.

Absolving themselves of allege financial recklessness by the administration, they insisted that the ex-governor is in the best position to explain what transpired during his administration.

Governor Ambode, he explained gave approval for all spending for the four years that the administration lasted.

But the former governor has said he will not appear before the lawmakers.

Sources close to him told the magazine at the weekend that, the ex-helmsman will not give the lawmakers the benefit of questioning him, because he regarded their action as witch-hunting to rubbish him.

Besides, the source said the lawmakers were wrong to summon the former governor as a person for whatever reason, as he enjoyed immunity while he was governor.

“What the lawmakers are doing is rascality. Have you ever witnessed a situation where a former governor is invited to manage the affairs of the state.

Obasa (Speaker) and his cohorts are being used by some people in the state to achieve a purpose: they want to destroy Ambode’s legacies in the state. But they will fail,” the source said.

According to him, the people of Lagos state and supporters of Ambode are aware of what’s happening and they will resist attempt to bring the former governor to disrepute.

“What happens in Epe few months ago will be a child’s play if anyone try anything funny to embarrass former Governor Ambode,” he stated.

Another close associate of the ex-governor said what is going on is a battle for the soul of the state ahead 2023, that Amdode will “triumph over the godfather of Lagos state who will not stop to make sure that perceived power blocks in the state are demolished because of his ambition.”

But ‘darkness will prevail over light,” he told the magazine.

The aide to the former governor was referring to what happened in Epe, the hometown of the former governor when his supporters violently stopped some operatives of the EFCC, after they tried to search Ambode’s  house for vital documents.