By Akinwale Kasali
Less than a week after the defeat and demystification of former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, and APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at the Edo State Governorship Election by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP stalwarts plan to storm Lagos en masse to teach Tinubu another lesson in his own backyard.
They plan to defeat him at the Lagos East Senatorial Seat by-election. The seat became vacant on the sudden death of Senator Mayo Oshinowo via COVID-19.
The plan is to deal Tinubu an early blow, ahead of 2023 elections, during which he is allegedly planning to run for the Presidential seat.
The newly re-elected Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, is also committed to fully campaign for Babatunde Gbanamosi, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.
The plan is to use the Lagos East Senatorial By-Election as a referendum on the strongman of Lagos politics, Tinubu.
Sources close to Obaseki confirmed the governor has enlisted to the full and joint participation of the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on the mission.
Other governors on board in the project are Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.
The strategy to be employed is to mobilize residents from the South South and South East in Lagos to come out massively to vote for Gbadamosi who will be going against the candidate of the APC Tokunbo Abiru, an alleged Tinubu imposition on the party.
The thinking is that the momentum being from the Edo victory will embolden that segment of Lagos voters to come out, and embolden their South West neighbors to also come out to deal a decisive defeat on Tinubu and his candidate.
Former Lagos Governor, Ambode is also from the Senatorial zone, and even though he is of the APC, may not be disposed to support a Tinubu candidate.
It was Tinubu who not only denied Ambrose a second term ticket, but humiliated him at an ill-arranged direct primaries. Ambrose woefully lost to the incumbent Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The Ambrose group is not likely to support a Tinubu candidate.
Governor Obaseki is said to be particularly irked by the arrogance of Tinubu treating the then upcoming election as a coronation for the APC candidate, and his call on Edo people to reject him.
Abiru, who, until now was assumed would simply walk into the office, may not, now, find it that easy. Obaseki’s victory seem to have awakened many, and dealth a blow on the politics of godfatherism. The spirit may extend to Lagos.
The plan is firm that Obaseki, Wike, Makinde will headline a massive rally for Gbadamosi, the candidate of the PDP.
A Gbadamosi victory in the senate race will raise his profile for a 2023 governorship election in Lagos state.
